Born in 1928 in Budapest, Hungary, Lantos is captured by Nazis in 1944 and brought to a labor camp, which he subsequently escapes from twice before joining the resistance movement and moving to the US. Holding a PhD from Berkeley, Lantos represents California in the House of Representatives from 1981-2008. The only Holocaust survivor to serve in congress, Lantos is remembered as a fervent supporter of Israel and international human rights.