Aime Forand

Aime Joseph Forand (May 23, 1895 – January 18, 1972) was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, Forand served in the United States House of Representatives for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district from 1937 to 1939 and 1941 to 1961.

Aime Forand
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Rhode Island's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1961
Preceded byCharles Risk
Succeeded byFernand St. Germain
In office
January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939
Preceded byCharles Risk
Succeeded byCharles Risk
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
In office
1923-1926
Personal details
Born(1895-05-23)May 23, 1895
Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJanuary 18, 1972(1972-01-18) (aged 76)
Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
Resting placeBoca Raton Municipal Cemetery and Mausoleum
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Gertrude Bedard
​
(m. 1931)​
Alma materMagnus Commercial School
Military service
AllegianceUnited States United States
Branch/serviceUnited States United States Army
Rank Sergeant first class
UnitMotor Transport Corps
Battles/warsWorld War I

Early life and career

Aime Forand was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, on May 23, 1895 and later grew up in Cumberland, Rhode Island.[1] He attended the public and parochial schools of Fall River, Magnus Commercial School in Providence, Rhode Island, and Columbia University Extension.[2][3]

During World War I, Forand served in France as a sergeant first class of the Army's Motor Transport Corps under General John J. Pershing.[4]

From 1924 to 1930, Forand was a reporter for the Providence News and News-Tribune.[5]

Political career

A Democrat, he was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1923 to 1926, and congressional secretary for Representative Jeremiah E. O'Connell from 1929 to 1930 and Francis B. Condon from 1930 to 1935. In 1935 and 1936 Forand was Chief of the Rhode Island Division of Soldiers' Relief and Commandant of the Rhode Island Soldiers' Home.[2]

He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from Rhode Island in 1936 and served from January 3, 1937, to January 3, 1939, having lost his re-election campaign in 1938. He sought election to the House in 1940 and won, and won re-election nine subsequent times, serving from January 3, 1941, to January 3, 1961.

In the 1950s, Forand was a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. He repeatedly introduced comprehensive legislation to reform public assistance. He and Cecil R. King first proposed legislation in 1957 that became known as Medicare and was enacted in 1965.[6]

Post-political career

After leaving Congress Forand lived in Boca Raton, Florida and was the founder and first president of the National Council of Senior Citizens from 1961 to 1972.

He died in Boca Raton on January 18, 1972, and was interred at Boca Raton Municipal Cemetery and Mausoleum.[2]

References
  1. "Aime J. Forand Is Dead at 76; Served 22 Years in the House". The New York Times. January 20, 1972. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  2. "Forand, Aime Joseph". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  3. Official Congressional Directory. Washington: Government Printing Office. 1941. p. 106.
  4. "Congressman Aime Joseph Forand". Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  5. "Aime J. Forand papers". Rhode Island Archival and Manuscript Collections Online. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  6. Zelizer, Julian E. (February 15, 2015). "How Medicare Was Made". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on March 4, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
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