The John Lesinski Jr. papers document the career of a seven-term congressman from Michigan's 16th Congressional District. Included are files relating to his campaigns for office and activities as a member of the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee. The papers are particularly valuable for legislation he introduced and the views of his constituents on such issues as civil rights, immigration, and the "captive nations" of Eastern Europe. As his opposition to the Civil Rights of 1964 contributed to his loss in the 1964 campaign, the correspondence and other papers on that topic are particularly valuable both for Lesinski's viewpoints and the opinions of his constituents. In addition, Lesinski worked closely with the Polish-American community in Detroit and there is much material reflecting that involvement.
The collection is divided into the main series of Congressional Files with two smaller series of Biographical/Personal Materials and Visual Materials. The Congressional files in turn are divided into several subseries including Legislation; Committee files; Speeches, statements and news releases; Campaign materials; Topical Files, and Case Files.
John Lesinski, Jr. was born in Detroit in 1914, moving with his family to Dearborn when he was 11. He graduated from Fordson High School in Dearborn. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1933 to 1937. During World War II he again served from February 1941 to October 1945, and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. From 1939 to 1943 and 1951 to 1954, Lesinski served as vice president of Hamtramck Lumber Company, and president of Dearborn Properties.
In 1950, following the death of his father Congressman John Lesinski, Sr., Lesinski was elected to serve as Democratic congressman from the 16th District of Michigan. He served seven terms from January 1951 to January 1965. While in Congress, Lesinski served as a member of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, and the House Administration Committee. Outside of his committee assignments, Lesinski took a special interest in the "Captive Nations" of eastern Europe, Polish-American issues, and the work of anti-communist organizations.
In 1964 Lesinski lost in the Democratic primary to John Dingell. Both Dingell and Lesinski were incumbent Congressmen, but as a result of redistricting which combined parts of their districts -- 15th and 16th - into a new Sixteenth Congressional District, they were forced to face-off against each other. There were many causes for his defeat. Dingell was a popular candidate who had the support of organized labor and much of the state Democratic party organization. Their opposition to Lesinski was based in part on his voting against the Civil Rights Acts of 1964.
Following his loss to John Dingell in 1964, Lesinski summarized what he considered to be his principal accomplishments as a member of Congress. He believed himself to be instrumental in getting Congress to place government contracts in communities with high unemployment; he played a key role in getting the $20 million Rouge River flood control program underway in Dearborn; he helped get health benefits for retired government employees; and he worked to have new or improved postal facilities in most communities within his district
Lesinski died in October 2005.
