[4] In 1962, seven-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Hugh Joseph Addonizio gave up his Essex County, New Jersey–based House seat to run for Mayor of Newark.

Essex County Democratic leaders picked the 46-year-old Minish to defend the seat, which was considered to be politically competitive, especially in the mid-term election of President John F. Kennedy.

His campaign platform included advocacy of "Federal aid for education for construction and teacher salaries; extension of the Social Security Act to provide medical care for the aged; 'long-term loans and technical assistance to emerging nations; and the establishment of a cabinet-level Department of Urban Affairs.

[10] As a Congressman, Minish served on the House Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee, and was the Chairman of the Subcommittee on General Oversight.

[11] The Newark Star-Ledger, which covered Minish's entire political career, said that he was a staunch party loyalist and supporter of organized labor who ran a strong constituent service operation but had no real impact on legislation.

He drew mediocre ratings from civil liberties groups, supported the Vietnam War, and opposed campaign finance reform and legalized abortion.

[14] During his two decades in the House, Minish was a supporter of big financial institutions and received considerable campaign contributions from the banking industry.

He was not backed by the Essex County Democratic Party leadership and was defeated in the primary by Richard Codey and Eldridge Hawkins.

[20] Another son, James Minish, serves as Executive Vice President of Facilities at New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.