Dennis DeConcini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dennis DeConcini
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| Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | David Boren |
| Succeeded by | Arlen Specter |
| United States Senator from Arizona |
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| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Paul Fannin |
| Succeeded by | Jon Kyl |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Dennis Webster DeConcini
May 8, 1937 Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Patty |
| Education | University of Arizona (BA, LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1959–1960 (active) 1960–1967 (reserve) |
| Rank | Army Judge Advocate General's Corps |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Dennis Webster DeConcini (born May 8, 1937) is an American lawyer, politician, and philanthropist. He served as a U.S. Senator for the state of Arizona. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Arizona in the Senate from 1977 to 1995.
After DeConcini was re-elected in 1988, another Democrat from Arizona was not elected to the U.S. Senate for 30 years. That changed in 2018 when Kyrsten Sinema won the same seat.
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Early Life and Education
Dennis DeConcini was born in Tucson, Arizona. His father, Evo Anton DeConcini, was a judge on the Arizona Supreme Court. Following in his father's footsteps, Dennis became interested in law.
He earned two degrees from the University of Arizona, a bachelor's degree in 1959 and a law degree in 1963. After college, he served in the U.S. Army's legal division, known as the JAG Corps. He later worked as a lawyer for the Arizona governor's staff.
In 1968, he and his father started their own law firm. DeConcini returned to this firm after he left the Senate in 1995.
Political Career
Before becoming a U.S. Senator, DeConcini was the Pima County Attorney from 1973 to 1976. In this role, he was the main lawyer for the county government and its school districts.
Serving in the U.S. Senate
In 1976, DeConcini was elected to the U.S. Senate. He defeated Republican Sam Steiger to win the seat that was open after Senator Paul Fannin retired. DeConcini would go on to serve three full terms, which is 18 years in total.
During his time in the Senate, he was involved in many important decisions. In 1991, he was one of only eleven Democrats who voted to confirm Clarence Thomas as a justice on the Supreme Court.
The Panama Canal Treaties
One of DeConcini's most famous actions in the Senate involved the Panama Canal. In 1977, the U.S. was signing treaties to give Panama more control over the canal. DeConcini added a special condition known as the "DeConcini Reservation."
This condition stated that the United States had the right to use military force if needed to make sure the canal stayed open for ships to pass through. This was an important part of the agreement between the two countries.
The Keating Five Investigation
In the late 1980s, DeConcini was part of a group of five senators known as the "Keating Five." They were investigated for their relationship with a businessman named Charles Keating, whose savings and loan company had failed.
The Senate Ethics Committee investigated the senators' actions. The committee found that DeConcini and three other senators had not broken any laws or Senate rules. However, the committee said that DeConcini had "acted improperly." After the investigation, DeConcini decided not to run for a fourth term in the Senate.
Work on Senate Committees
In the Senate, much of the work is done in small groups called committees. Each committee focuses on a specific area of government. DeConcini served on several important committees, including:
- Appropriations Committee: This committee decides how the government spends its money.
- Judiciary Committee: This committee deals with federal laws, the court system, and reviewing people chosen to be judges.
- Select Committee on Intelligence: This committee oversees the nation's intelligence agencies, like the CIA. DeConcini was the chairman of this committee from 1993 to 1994.
Life After the Senate
After leaving the Senate in 1995, DeConcini remained active in public service and business.
Government Appointments
President Bill Clinton appointed DeConcini to the board of directors of Freddie Mac, a major company involved in home loans. He served there from 1995 to 1999.
In 2006, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano chose him to serve on the Arizona Board of Regents. This board is in charge of Arizona's public universities.
Charity Work
DeConcini is a member of the board of directors for the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC). This is a worldwide nonprofit group that works to protect children from exploitation and abduction.
His official papers and records from his time in Congress are kept at the University of Arizona Libraries for students and historians to study.
Book
- Senator Dennis DeConcini: From the Center of the Aisle by Dennis DeConcini & Jack L. August Jr., (University of Arizona Press February 1, 2006); ISBN: 978-0-8165-2569-0
