Dianne Feinstein, the oldest member of the Senate, died Friday at the age of 90.
Feinstein, who is Jewish, was a trailblazing senator for women in American politics. After twice failing to be elected mayor of San Francisco, she was elected president of the city's legislature in 1978, becoming the first woman to hold the position.
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The Democratic Feinstein was elected to the Senate in 1992 and advocated, among other things, for tighter gun control. In recent years, Feinstein has dealt with cognitive health problems and impaired memory that made it difficult for her to function independently and even used a wheelchair. She rejected criticism of her retirement from public life, saying, "The real question is whether I'm still an effective advocate for California's 40 million people, and my record shows that I am."
Among Feinstein's public achievements were the passage of a federal ban on the sale of military assault weapons (a ban that expired after several years), as well as the promotion of a report on torture practices by the CIA.
Feinstein shows assault rifle, fights for tighter gun control, Photo: AP
Hollywood fame is also intertwined with her life story when actress Annette Bening portrayed Feinstein in the film "The Report," which dealt with the CIA's use of torture against terrorist operatives after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
Feinstein planned to retire at the end of her current term in 2024. After announcing her retirement, President Joe Biden, her former Senate colleague, said, "Feinstein is a dedicated defender of civil rights and a clear voice for maintaining national security while upholding our values." I've served alongside more senators than anyone else, and Dianne Feinstein is one of the best."
Her death leaves her Senate seat vacant, requiring California Governor Gavin Newsom to appoint an interim successor.
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