Donald Riegle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Don 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 Flint, Michigan, U.S.
Died	April 24, 2026(2026-04-24) (aged 88) San Diego, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican (before 1973) Democratic (1973–2026)
Spouse	Lori Hansen ​ (m. 1978)​
Children	5
Relatives	Donald W. Riegle Sr. (father)
Education	Mott Community College (attended) Western Michigan University (attended) University of Michigan, Flint (BA) Michigan State University (MBA) Harvard University (attended)

Donald Wayne Riegle Jr. (born February 4, 1938, died April 24, 2026) was an important American politician, author, and businessman from Michigan. He worked in the U.S. Congress for many years. He served as a representative for five terms and as a senator for three terms.

Early Life and Learning Journey

Donald Wayne Riegle Jr. was born in Flint, Michigan, on February 4, 1938. His father, Donald Wayne Riegle Sr., later became the mayor of Flint. Donald Jr. went to Flint Central High School.

He continued his education at Mott Community College and Western Michigan University. In 1960, he earned a bachelor's degree in business and economics from the University of Michigan–Flint. He then received a master's degree in finance from Michigan State University in 1961.

Before entering politics, Riegle worked as a financial analyst for IBM. He also studied at Harvard Business School. Later, he taught at several universities, including Michigan State, Boston University, and Harvard.

A Career in Public Service

Donald Riegle dedicated many years to serving the public in government.

Serving as a U.S. Representative

In 1966, at age 28, Riegle decided to run for Congress. He was elected to represent Michigan's 7th congressional district. He started as a Republican.

In 1973, Riegle changed his political party and became a Democrat. This change happened because he had different views from the Nixon administration on important issues.

While in the House of Representatives, Riegle helped create the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. This important law, passed in 1974, made sure that people could not be treated unfairly when applying for credit because of their gender or marital status.

Serving as a U.S. Senator

Riegle was elected to the United States Senate in 1976. He was reelected twice, in 1982 and 1988. He served as a Senator until 1995.

As a Senator, he led the Senate Banking Committee from 1989 to 1995. He also worked on committees dealing with finance, health, labor, and science.

He played a key role in creating important laws about banking.

• The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 helped protect people's money in banks. It also made rules for how banks should be run.
• The Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 helped create banks that support local communities. It also added protections for consumers and helped small businesses get loans.
• The Riegle–Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 made it easier for banks to operate across different states.

Riegle also led an investigation into illnesses affecting veterans of the Gulf War. The report he helped create suggested that some U.S. forces might have come into contact with certain agents during the war. This report called for more government investigation and support for veterans.

He also worked to reform the savings and loan industry. This led to the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989. This law helped stop bad practices and made the industry stronger.

Life After Congress

In 1972, Donald Riegle wrote a popular book called "O Congress." This book shared his experiences and thoughts about working in Congress.

After leaving the Senate in 1995, Riegle worked in public affairs. He helped build government relations practices for companies like Weber Shandwick Public Affairs and APCO Worldwide.

He was part of a group of senators known as the "Keating Five." This group faced questions about whether they had acted improperly in connection with a bank. While he was criticized for his actions, he was never charged with any crime.

Riegle remained interested in politics throughout his life. He supported Bernie Sanders in the presidential primary elections in 2016 and 2020.

Donald Riegle Jr. passed away on April 24, 2026, at his home in San Diego. He was 88 years old.

See also

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