Howard Morton Metzenbaum (June 4, 1917–March 12, 2008) was an American politician who served for almost 20 years as a Democratic member of the U.S. Senate (1974, 1976–1995).

Unabashedly liberal, the former labor lawyer and union lobbyist considered himself a champion of workers and was a driving force behind the law requiring 60-day notice of plant closings.

He was a cantankerous firebrand who didn’t need a microphone to hold a full auditorium spellbound while dropping rhetorical bombs on big oil companies, the insurance industry, savings and loans, and the National Rifle Association, to name just a few favorite targets.

Metzenbaum is survived by his wife, Shirley, and four daughters.

Link, via CNN

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