Representative Frank Annunzio

Frank Annunzio (January 12, 1915 – April 8, 2001) was an American politician and long-serving Democratic Representative from Illinois, whose 14 terms in the United States House of Representatives spanned from 1965 to 1993. An Italian-American, he was born in Chicago, Illinois, where he spent his entire childhood and much of his adult life. His early years in Chicago shaped his later commitment to labor issues, consumer protection, and the interests of working-class constituents.

Annunzio was educated in the Chicago public school system and attended Crane Technical High School, a prominent vocational and technical institution in the city. He later pursued higher education at DePaul University in Chicago. This combination of technical and university training provided him with both practical and academic grounding, which would inform his later work as a teacher, labor leader, and legislator.

Before entering high-level public office, Annunzio worked as a high school teacher, reflecting his early interest in education and public service. He then became a labor leader with the United Steelworkers of America, where he gained experience in collective bargaining, workers’ rights, and the broader labor movement. His leadership in organized labor brought him to the attention of state officials, and under Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson II he served as the state’s Secretary of Labor from 1949 to 1952. In that role, he was involved in labor policy and administration at the state level, further solidifying his credentials as an advocate for workers.

Annunzio’s federal political career began when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives in the 1964 election from a district in Chicago as a member of the Democratic Party. He took office on January 3, 1965, and went on to be re-elected 13 times, serving continuously until January 3, 1993. Over these 14 terms in Congress, he participated actively in the legislative process and represented the interests of his Illinois constituents during a significant period in American history that encompassed the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War era, the Cold War, and major economic and social changes.

During his long tenure in the House of Representatives, Annunzio held several leadership and committee positions. In his later terms, he served as chairman of the House Administration Committee, a powerful body responsible for the internal operations of the House. He was also particularly notable for his work on a subcommittee for consumer affairs, where he became known as a strong advocate for consumer protection. In 1989, in a widely publicized effort to draw attention to the dangers of excessive personal debt and high interest rates, he urged Americans to burn their credit cards as a symbolic protest intended to pressure lenders and to discourage individuals from incurring unsustainable debt.

Annunzio chose not to run for reelection in 1992, bringing his congressional service to a close on January 3, 1993. His decision ended nearly three decades in the House, during which he consistently aligned with Democratic Party priorities and worked to advance the interests of working families, labor, and consumers in his Chicago-based district and across the country. His career reflected both his roots in Chicago’s neighborhoods and his long-standing ties to the labor movement.

In his later years, Annunzio remained in Chicago. He died there on April 8, 2001, from complications arising from Parkinson’s disease. He was interred at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. His life and career are documented in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, as well as in archival collections such as the Congressman Frank Annunzio Photo Collection at the University of Illinois at Chicago and televised appearances preserved by C-SPAN, which together provide a record of his decades of public service.