Metzenbaum dies at 90; was Ohio senator


March 13, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Metzenbaum dies at 90; was Ohio senator

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, an Ohio Democrat who was a feisty self-made millionaire, art collector and one-man roadblock against corporate tax breaks, has died. He was 90.

His former chief of staff, Joel Johnson, says Metzenbaum died Wednesday night at his home near Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Metzenbaum came to be known as “Senator No” and “Headline Howard” for his ability to block legislation and get publicity for himself.

He was a member of the Ohio House and Ohio Senate and was appointed to the U.S. Senate in January 1974 to fill a vacancy. He served until the end of that year and then was elected to the Senate in 1976. Re-elected twice, he served until January 1995.