Herb Klein (politician)

Herbert C. Klein (born June 24, 1930) is an American businessman, attorney, and politician who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives. He is widely regarded as one of New Jersey's foremost trial lawyers and has been lead counsel in some of the most important trials in the state.

During his tenure in the United States House of Representatives, Klein was a leader on the House Banking Committee, where he was responsible for several major legislative initiatives. He co-authored the bills that authorized interstate branch banking and was the architect of the provision which sparked passage of the legislation that ended the problems in the savings and loan industry. Klein also served on the House Science Committee, where he co-authored the National Competitiveness Act which helped American industry regain global control in manufacturing. Klein was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1972 to 1976, where he was chair of the majority caucus. He wrote the law that created the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and was co-counsel on bond issue for New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.

Klein has served continuously as a Trustee of the First Real Estate Investment Trust of New Jersey since 1961, leading the Trust as President from 1991 to 1993. He is past member of the Board of Trustees of Rutgers University, past President of the Board of Trustees of Beth Israel Hospital, a member of the Governor's Committee for the New Jersey Development Council, a member of the Board of Overseers of the Rutgers University Foundation, a member of the Executive Committee of the board of directors of the Rutgers University Foundation, Chairman of the President's Council of the Rutgers University Foundation, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Montclair Art Museum, and a member of the board of directors of multiple philanthropic organizations. Klein is also a partner and principal in numerous private investment real estate companies.

Early life and education
Klein was born in Newark, New Jersey to Fea Sackin and Alfred Klein, an accountant. His father had immigrated from Hungary; his mother from present-day Belarus. Klein and his sister Ann were raised in Paterson, New Jersey. Klein attended public school and received a Jewish education at an Orthodox Hebrew School in Hillside, New Jersey. In high school, he was involved in student politics and was on the debate team. He received his BA from Rutgers University in 1950 and a JD from Harvard Law School in 1953, as well as an LLM from New York University in 1958. He served in the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1956, where he was assigned to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. Admitted to the bar in 1953, he commenced the practice of law in Clifton, New Jersey. Shortly thereafter he married Jacqueline Krieger, an accountant educated at Wellesley College and Fairleigh Dickinson University, with whom he had two children Cindy and Roger. Klein and his family enjoy traveling, frequently visiting Israel and England.

Political career


After serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1972 to 1976, where he authored the law that created the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, was co-counsel on bond issue for New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, and pushed hard for the introduction of state income tax, and as Executive Director of the Passaic County Democratic Committee from 1977 to 1981, he was elected as a Democrat to the 103rd United States Congress in 1992 to succeed retiring eleven-term incumbent Robert Roe in the historically Democratic eighth district.

During his tenure in the United States House of Representatives, Klein was a leader on the House Banking Committee and the House Science Committee. He co-authored the National Competitiveness Act, co-authored the Interstate Branch Banking Law, and was the architect of the provision which sparked passage of the legislation that ended the problems in the savings and loan industry.

Klein was defeated for re-election by Clifton city councilman and Passaic County freeholder Bill Martini, making him one of 54 Democrats to lose their seats in the 1994 Congressional Elections.

Business and legal career
Klein obtained one of the largest civil verdicts on behalf of an plaintiff in New Jersey in Laganella v. Braen. Klein has litigated hundreds of cases concentrating on securities, anti-trust, construction, product liability, professional liability, insurance, corporate, zoning and trust law.

Klein is also a partner and principal in numerous private investment real estate companies. Since 1961 Klein has been a trustee of the First Real Estate Investment Trust of New Jersey. He served as the president of the trust from 1991 to 1993.

Klein has served on the board of trustees of Rutgers University and past president of Beth Israel Hospital and has been a member of the Governor's Committee for the New Jersey Development Council. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Overseers of the Rutgers University Foundation, where he sits on the Executive Committee and is the chairman of the President's Council. Additionally, he is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Montclair Art Museum.