FEIGHAN, MICHAEL ALOYSIUS (16 Feb. 1905-19 March 1992) was a 14-term Democratic congressman for the 20th District of Ohio and the chief architect of the Federal Immigration Act of 1965 which abolished the system of quotas by national origin.
Born in Lakewood, Ohio to John T. and Mary (English) Feighan, he attended St. Ignatius High School, JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY (for one year), and was graduated from Princeton University in 1928. He received his law degree from Harvard University in 193l and practiced law in Cleveland with his 4 brothers in the firm of Feighan, Feighan, Feighan, Feighan & Feighan.
He began his political career in 1937 with the Ohio State Legislature and rose to Democratic minority leader in 1939. In 1942 he was elected congressman for the 20th District of Ohio. In 1953 he became chairman of the immigration and nationality subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee. Regarded as a staunch anti-communist, Feighan introduced and guided legislation over a 12-week period which eliminated the monopoly northern and western European immigrants held in entering the United States in favor of opening the door to more eastern Europeans burdened by Soviet control. Feighan left office in 1971 when Cleveland Council President James V. Stanton won the 1970 Democratic primary. He then became a political consultant.
Feighan married Florence J. Mathews on 21 June 1930 (d. 1980) and they had three children: Michael A.(dec.), William Mathews and Fleur. His nephew, Edward F. Feighan, is a Democratic congressman for the 19th District of Ohio in 1993. He was buried in CALVARY CEMETERY.