Representative Thomas Mankell Rees

Thomas Mankell “Tom” Rees (March 26, 1925 – December 9, 2003) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served six terms as a U.S. Representative from California from 1965 to 1977. Over the course of a career that spanned local legal practice, state legislative service, and more than a decade in the United States Congress, he participated actively in the legislative process and represented the interests of his California constituents during a significant period in American political history.

Rees was born on March 26, 1925, in Los Angeles, California, and was educated in the city’s public schools. He remained closely tied to the Los Angeles area throughout his early life and education. In 1950, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles, an institution known for its emphasis on liberal arts and public service. Following his undergraduate studies, he began legal training at the University of California, Berkeley Law School in 1951, preparing for a career in law that would later underpin his work in both the private and public sectors.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Rees served in the United States Army, contributing to the nation’s military efforts before embarking on his professional and political career. After his military service and legal education, he entered private practice as a lawyer, establishing himself in the legal profession. He also developed business experience as president of Compania del Pacifico, a Latin American export firm, gaining familiarity with international trade and economic issues that would inform his later legislative interests.

Rees’s formal political career began in the California State Legislature. He was elected to the California State Assembly, where he served from 1955 to 1963, representing his district during a period of postwar growth and change in the state. In 1963, he advanced to the California State Senate, serving there until 1966. During these years he became an active figure in Democratic Party politics at the national level as well, serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1968, thereby participating in the selection of presidential nominees and the shaping of party platforms.

Rees entered the United States Congress during a time of major social and political transformation. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-ninth Congress by special election to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Representative James Roosevelt. He took his seat on December 15, 1965, and was subsequently re-elected to the five succeeding Congresses, serving continuously until January 3, 1977. Over these six terms, he contributed to the legislative process in the House of Representatives, participating in debates, committee work, and votes on a wide range of issues confronting the nation in the late 1960s and 1970s. His tenure coincided with the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and evolving domestic policy debates, during which he represented the interests and concerns of his California constituents. He chose not to seek reelection in 1976, concluding his congressional service at the end of the Ninety-fourth Congress.

Following his departure from Congress, Rees remained active in civic and business affairs in California. He lived in Scotts Valley, in Santa Cruz County, reflecting a shift from his earlier base in Los Angeles to the central coast region of the state. In his post-congressional career, he served as president of Community Development and Management in San Jose, California, a role that drew on his combined experience in law, legislation, and business to engage with issues of local development and management.

Thomas Mankell Rees died on December 9, 2003, in Santa Cruz, California. His career encompassed military service, legal practice, business leadership, and more than two decades in elective office at both the state and federal levels. As a member of the House of Representatives from 1965 to 1977, he played a part in the democratic process during a consequential era in American history, leaving a record of service that reflected his long-standing engagement with public affairs in California and the nation.