Donald Riegle

For his father, the former mayor of Flint, Michigan, see Donald W. Riegle Sr.

Donald Riegle
Chair of the Senate Banking Committee
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	William Proxmire
Succeeded by	Al D'Amato
United States Senator from Michigan
In office December 30, 1976 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Philip Hart
Succeeded by	Spencer Abraham
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 7th district
In office January 3, 1967 – December 30, 1976
Preceded by	John C. Mackie
Succeeded by	Dale Kildee
Personal details
Born	Donald Wayne Riegle Jr. (1938-02-04) February 4, 1938 (age 86) Flint, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (1973–present) Republican (before 1973)
Spouse	Lori Hansen ​ (m. 1978)​
Children	5
Parent	Donald W. Riegle Sr. (father)
Education	Mott Community College Western Michigan University University of Michigan–Flint (BA) Michigan State University (MBA) Harvard University

Donald Wayne Riegle Jr. (born February 4, 1938) is an American politician, author, and businessman from Michigan. He served for five terms as a Representative and for three terms as a Senator in the U.S. Congress.

Early life and family

He attended Flint Junior College (now Mott Community College) and Western Michigan University, graduated with a B.A in business administration and economics from the University of Michigan-Flint in 1960, and received an M.B.A. in finance from Michigan State University in 1961.^[1]

Political life

In 1966, Richard Nixon persuaded Riegle to return to Michigan to run for Congress.^[2] Riegle was then 28 years old and considered to be a moderate Republican. Nixon attended an early campaign fundraiser, and talked up Riegle's prospects to reporters.^[2]

Riegle defeated incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative John C. Mackie, to be elected from Michigan's 7th congressional district to the 90th Congress. Mackie was one of the Michigan Five Fluke Freshmen who lost their seats after a single term.^[2]

In his first action as Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, Riegle led the efforts to reform the savings and loan industry, which resulted in the Financial Institutions Recovery, Reform, and Enforcement Act of 1989 ("FIRREA").^[3]

Later life

Riegle endorsed Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States^[4] in both 2016 and 2020.^[5]

See also

• List of American politicians who switched parties in office
• List of United States representatives who switched parties

References

1. "DONALD W. RIEGLE, JR. ARCHIVES". Archived from the original on 2019-01-02. Retrieved 2018-09-08.
2. Li, Victor (2018). Nixon in New York: How Wall Street Helped Richard Nixon Win the White House. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. ISBN 9781683930013.
3. Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, "Accomplishments of Senator Donald W. Riegle, Jr., Chairman, 1989–1994"
4. "Colleen M Nelson on Twitter".
5. "Sen. Riegle endorses Bernie Sanders for President". USA Today.

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• The Political Graveyard
• Appearances on C-SPAN

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by John C. Mackie	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 7th congressional district 1967–1976	Succeeded by Dale Kildee
Party political offices
Preceded by Philip Hart	Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Michigan (Class 1) 1976, 1982, 1988	Succeeded by Milton Robert Carr
Vacant Title last held by Ted Stevens John Rhodes	Response to the State of the Union address 1982 Served alongside: Robert Byrd, Alan Cranston, Al Gore, Gary Hart, Bennett Johnston, Ted Kennedy, Tip O'Neill, Paul Sarbanes, Jim Sasser	Succeeded by Les AuCoin, Joe Biden, Bill Bradley, Robert Byrd, Tom Daschle, Bill Hefner, Barbara B. Kennelly, George Miller, Tip O'Neill, Paul Tsongas, Tim Wirth
U.S. Senate
Preceded by Philip Hart	U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Michigan 1976–1995 Served alongside: Robert P. Griffin, Carl Levin	Succeeded by Spencer Abraham
Preceded by Harrison A. Williams	Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee Acting 1982–1983	Succeeded by William Proxmire
Preceded by William Proxmire	Chair of the Senate Banking Committee 1989–1995	Succeeded by Al D'Amato
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by John Danforth as Former US Senator	Order of precedence of the United States as Former US Senator	Succeeded by Bill Nelson as Former US Senator