Raised by Italian immigrant parents, Panetta received a bachelor's degree and law degree from [[Santa Clara University]]. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966, he became a legislative aide in the Senate. In 1971 Panetta rose to become head of the U.S. Office for Civil Rights under President [[Richard Nixon]] and later an executive assistant to [[New York City]] Mayor [[John Lindsay]]. In 1976 Panetta was elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] as a [[Democrat]] from the [[California]] Monterey area, and reelected nine times. As chairman of the House Budget Committee, Panetta was credited as a budget hawk that reached across the aisle, while repeatedly voted against the [[Reagan Administration]] on military initiatives. | Raised by Italian immigrant parents, Panetta received a bachelor's degree and law degree from [[Santa Clara University]]. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966, he became a legislative aide in the Senate. In 1971 Panetta rose to become head of the U.S. Office for Civil Rights under President [[Richard Nixon]] and later an executive assistant to [[New York City]] Mayor [[John Lindsay]]. In 1976 Panetta was elected to the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] as a [[Democrat]] from the [[California]] Monterey area, and reelected nine times. As chairman of the House Budget Committee, Panetta was credited as a budget hawk that reached across the aisle, while repeatedly voted against the [[Reagan Administration]] on military initiatives. |