Representative Sidney Richard Yates

Sidney Richard Yates served as a Representative from Illinois in the United States Congress from 1949 to 1999. A member of the Democratic Party, Sidney Richard Yates contributed to the legislative process during 24 terms in office.

Sidney Richard Yates’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the House of Representatives, Sidney Richard Yates participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Sidney Richard Yates (August 27, 1909 – October 5, 2000) was an American attorney and Democratic Party politician who represented the state of Illinois in the United States House of Representatives for twenty-four terms from 1949 to 1963 and 1965 to 1999, one of the longest tenures in the history of the House. He was a staunch advocate for liberal causes and a long-time member of the House Appropriations Committee, where he became known for staunch U.S. support of Israel, and federal funding for parks, historical conservation, and the arts. A native of Chicago, he graduated from Lake View High School in 1928. He received bachelor’s (1931) and J.D. (1933) degrees from the University of Chicago, was admitted to the bar, and practiced law in Chicago. In addition to working as an attorney, Yates also played semiprofessional basketball in the 1930s. He gained his initial experience in government as an attorney for the state bank receiver (1935–1937), and an assistant state attorney general specializing in traction railroads for the Illinois Commerce Commission (1937–1940). During World War II, Yates served in the United States Navy for two years (1944–1946) as an attorney based in Washington, D.C. In 1948, Yates was elected to Congress, and he served from 1949 to 1963. After an unsuccessful run against Everett Dirksen for the United States Senate in 1962, in 1964 Yates was again elected to the House. He served from 1965 to 1999, and did not run for reelection in 1998. He was a longtime member of the House Appropriations Committee, where he became known for staunch U.S. support of Israel, and federal funding for parks, historical conservation, and the arts. Yates was also an advocate for several liberal causes, including opposition to discrimination based on age. At the time he concluded his service, he was the third oldest person to ever serve in the House (age 89) behind Charles Manly Stedman and Isaac R. Sherwood, and one of the longest-tenured members in the history of Congress (total House service of 48 years). Yates died in Washington in 2000. He was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, Illinois.