US Congressman. A member of the Democratic Party, he served Pennsylvania's 4th (1958 to 1963) and 2nd (1963 to 1979) Congressional Districts in the United States House of Representatives. His father was a slave who later became the dean of South Carolina State University, Robert was sent to live with relatives in New York City and graduated from Townsend Harris High School. He attended Lincoln University from where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree and later attained a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He practiced law in Philadelphia and served as the special deputy attorney general of the Pennsylvania State Department of Revenue, prior to serving as the special deputy attorney general of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He succeeded Earl Chudoff (when Chudoff resigned to serve as a judge on the Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas) and made history becoming the first black Congressman from Pennsylvania. During his tenure, Nix supported both Presidents Kennedy and Johnson's policies including Civil Rights legislation and served on the Committee on the Post Office and Civil Service. In 1971, Nix was among a group of black Congressional members who founded the Congressional Black Caucus. He was defeated for reelection by William H. Gray, III in 1978. After leaving Washington, he remained a leader of Philadelphia politics until his death. His son Robert N.C. Nix, Jr. served as Pennsylvania's first black Chief Justice and was the first black Chief Justice at any state level.
US Congressman. A member of the Democratic Party, he served Pennsylvania's 4th (1958 to 1963) and 2nd (1963 to 1979) Congressional Districts in the United States House of Representatives. His father was a slave who later became the dean of South Carolina State University, Robert was sent to live with relatives in New York City and graduated from Townsend Harris High School. He attended Lincoln University from where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree and later attained a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He practiced law in Philadelphia and served as the special deputy attorney general of the Pennsylvania State Department of Revenue, prior to serving as the special deputy attorney general of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He succeeded Earl Chudoff (when Chudoff resigned to serve as a judge on the Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas) and made history becoming the first black Congressman from Pennsylvania. During his tenure, Nix supported both Presidents Kennedy and Johnson's policies including Civil Rights legislation and served on the Committee on the Post Office and Civil Service. In 1971, Nix was among a group of black Congressional members who founded the Congressional Black Caucus. He was defeated for reelection by William H. Gray, III in 1978. After leaving Washington, he remained a leader of Philadelphia politics until his death. His son Robert N.C. Nix, Jr. served as Pennsylvania's first black Chief Justice and was the first black Chief Justice at any state level.
Bio by: C.S.
Family Members
Spouse
Advertisement
See more Nix memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
