Larry Pressler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Larry Pressler
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Pressler in 1977
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| Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Fritz Hollings |
| Succeeded by | John McCain |
| United States Senator from South Dakota |
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| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | James Abourezk |
| Succeeded by | Tim Johnson |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's 1st district |
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| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Frank E. Denholm |
| Succeeded by | Tom Daschle |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Larry Lee Pressler
March 29, 1942 Humboldt, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (1968–c. 1974) Republican (c. 1974–2013) Independent (2013–present) |
| Spouse | Harriet Pressler |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Service years | 1966–1968 |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
| Conflicts | Vietnam War |
| Awards |
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Larry Lee Pressler, born on March 29, 1942, is an American lawyer and politician from South Dakota. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1979. Later, he was a U.S. Senator from 1979 to 1997. He was a member of the Republican Party for most of his time in Congress.
After leaving the Senate, Pressler stayed involved in politics. He tried to win back his Senate seat in 2014 as an independent candidate but was not successful. He has since supported candidates from the Democratic Party. Larry Pressler also founded the Pressler Group, a small business that works on projects to help veterans.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Larry Lee Pressler grew up on his family's farm in Humboldt, South Dakota. When he was a teenager, he was chosen as one of four 4-H members to attend a big agricultural fair in Cairo, Egypt, in 1961. The next year, he won a national citizenship award and met President John F. Kennedy.
In 1963, he became the president of the Student Association at the University of South Dakota. He graduated from the university in 1964. After that, he received a special scholarship called a Rhodes Scholarship. This allowed him to study at Oxford University in England, where he earned another degree. He then returned to the United States and completed a Master's degree at Harvard University in 1966.
Pressler joined the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1968. He was a first lieutenant. After his military service, he worked for the United States Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer. He later went back to Harvard to study law and graduated in 1971.
Political Career
Serving in the House of Representatives
In 1974, Larry Pressler decided to run for Congress in South Dakota's 1st District. He won the Republican nomination, even though his party didn't give him any money for his campaign. He won the election, becoming one of the few Republicans to gain a seat that year.
As a new member of Congress, he joined the Congressional Rural Caucus. He also supported making committee meetings open to the public. He worked as an assistant to the Minority Leader, John Jacob Rhodes. In 1975, he helped propose a law to create a special committee. This committee would look into the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1976, Pressler won reelection to the House of Representatives with a large number of votes. After this victory, he expressed interest in running for the Senate.
House Committee Roles
While in the House, Larry Pressler served on important committees:
- Committee on Education and Labor
- Committee on Science and Technology
Serving in the Senate
In 1978, Larry Pressler was elected to the United States Senate. He was the first veteran of the Vietnam War to serve in the Senate. He served as a Senator from 1979 to 1997. During his time, he was the chairman of the Commerce Committee from 1995 to 1997. He also served on the Foreign Relations Committee.
Pressler ran for a fourth term in 1996 but lost to Democratic Congressman Tim Johnson.
He briefly considered running for president in 1980. His campaign focused on issues important to Vietnam veterans.
Pressler was a key figure in passing the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This law made big changes to how telecommunications companies operate.
Integrity in Public Service
In 1980, during a special investigation called Abscam, Larry Pressler was approached by undercover FBI agents. They offered him money in exchange for political favors. Pressler refused the offer and reported the attempt.
The Washington Post newspaper praised his actions. A judge involved in the Abscam cases also commended Pressler. The judge said Pressler showed a clear understanding of right and wrong. He acted exactly as citizens expect their elected officials to act.
The Pressler Amendment
Pressler also sponsored an important law known as the Pressler Amendment. This law stopped most financial and military help to Pakistan. The aid could only continue if the U.S. President confirmed each year that Pakistan did not have a nuclear weapon. It also required that the aid would reduce the risk of Pakistan getting such a device.
Life After the Senate
After his time in the Senate ended in 1996, Larry Pressler became a lawyer again. He worked for a law firm and then started his own, The Pressler Group. He is allowed to practice law in New York, Washington D.C., and before the Supreme Court.
He has also given lectures at many universities in China, India, and the U.S. He has received awards for his teaching. In 2001, he worked on President George W. Bush's team that helped with the change of presidential power.
In 2004, Pressler was an official observer for Ukraine's national election. In 2009, President Obama appointed him to a commission that helps preserve America's heritage abroad. He also served on a commission that looked at military pay and retirement.
In 2012, Pressler supported President Obama for his second term. He campaigned for Obama, speaking to veteran groups. He also taught international relations to students in Paris, France.
2014 U.S. Senate Election
In 2013, at 71 years old, Pressler considered running for the U.S. Senate again. This time, he decided to run as an independent. He felt that both major political parties had become too focused on their own ideas. He believed this made it hard to find common-sense solutions.
Pressler stated that he would only serve one term if elected. He also promised not to raise any campaign money while in office. He supported increasing taxes for wealthy people and gradually raising the retirement age for Social Security. His main goal was to reduce the national debt. He also supported stronger background checks for gun sales.
During his 2014 campaign, Pressler received support from South Dakota's largest newspapers. The race gained national attention because an independent candidate was doing surprisingly well. However, Pressler ultimately lost the election to former Governor Mike Rounds.
Political Views
Domestic Issues
Trade Policies
In 1975, Pressler supported a bill to stop importing beef and dairy products. This was meant to help farmers in the United States sell more of their own products. He also asked President Gerald Ford to put a tax on all imported cheese. He believed that supporting farmers with tariffs and subsidies was important for gaining their votes.
Foreign Issues
Foreign Aid
Pressler voted against giving large amounts of money as foreign aid in 1975. He believed the United States could not afford it. He also criticized giving money to Middle Eastern countries for weapons. He voted against a military aid increase in 1976, which would have gone to both sides in the Cyprus dispute.
Military Spending
In 1975, Pressler suggested moving American military bases from Europe back to the United States. He thought this would help the economy and address concerns about the U.S. military presence abroad. He also believed that national defense spending should be cut.
Vietnam War Issues
Pressler supported a bill in 1975 to create a special committee. This committee would investigate the cases of soldiers still missing in action from the Vietnam War.
Personal Life
Larry Pressler is married to Harriet Pressler. They have one daughter and four grandchildren. In 2015, when he was 73 years old, Pressler became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Images for kids
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Larry Pressler's signature
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U.S. Representative Michael Myers, second from left, holds an envelope containing $50,000 that he just received from undercover FBI Agent Anthony Amoroso.
