The Nation - News from Sept. 7, 1989
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the first Cuban-American to serve in Congress, was sworn in as a Republican member of the House from Florida. Ros-Lehtinen, 37, succeeded the late Democratic Rep. Claude Pepper, giving the House 176 Republicans and 255 Democrats. There are four vacancies. In a brief speech on the House floor, Ros-Lehtinen said: “ . . . I think that this day serves to solidify the belief and the truth that the United States truly is the land of opportunity . . . “ She beat Miami attorney Gerald Richman in a special election last month.
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