Larry Pressler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Larry Pressler
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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 | Independent (2013–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican (c. 1974–2013) Democratic (1968–c. 1974) |
| Spouse | Harriet Pressler |
| Children | 1 |
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| Education | |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1966–1968 |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | 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. After that, he was a United States Senator from 1979 to 1997. He was a member of the Republican Party for most of his career.
Even after leaving the Senate, Pressler stayed involved in politics. He tried to win back his Senate seat in 2014 as an independent, but he was not successful. He has since supported candidates from the Democratic Party. Pressler also started 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. His parents were Loretta Claussen and Antone Lewis Pressler. When he was young, he was very active in 4-H, a youth development organization. In 1961, he was chosen to attend the World Agricultural Fair in Egypt. He also met President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Pressler studied at the University of South Dakota, graduating in 1964. He was then awarded a special scholarship called the Rhodes Scholarship. This allowed him to study at Oxford University in England. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree there. Later, he returned to the United States and earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University in 1966.
He joined the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1968. After his military service, he worked for the United States Department of State as a Foreign Service Officer. He then 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 a seat in the United States House of Representatives. He ran as a Republican for South Dakota's 1st Congressional District. Even though it was a tough time for Republicans nationally, he won his election.
As a Representative, he worked on issues important to rural areas. He also pushed for more open meetings in Congress. In 1975, he helped propose a special committee to look into the assassinations of important figures like John F. Kennedy. He also famously refused a pay raise given to members of Congress, saying he would not keep it.
Becoming a Senator
In 1978, 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.
While in the Senate, he led the Commerce Committee from 1995 to 1997. He also worked on committees dealing with science, transportation, and foreign relations. In 1996, he ran for a fourth term but lost to Democrat Tim Johnson.
Pressler briefly considered running for president in 1980. He focused on issues important to Vietnam veterans during his short campaign.
Key Laws and Actions
Pressler played a big role in creating the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This law made major changes to how phone, radio, and television companies operate.
He is also known for his honesty during a special investigation called Abscam in 1980. Undercover FBI agents offered him a bribe, but Pressler refused it and reported the attempt. This showed his strong commitment to doing what was right. A judge later praised him for his actions.
The Pressler Amendment
Senator Pressler also created the Pressler Amendment. This law stopped most financial and military help to Pakistan. This aid would only be given if the U.S. President confirmed that Pakistan did not have nuclear weapons. The goal was to reduce the risk of Pakistan developing such weapons.
Life After the Senate
After leaving the Senate in 1996, Larry Pressler continued his career as a lawyer. He also became a senior partner at a law firm. He has given many lectures at universities in China, India, and the U.S. He has also received two lifetime teaching awards.
Pressler has stayed active in politics, even after leaving Congress. He served on George W. Bush's presidential campaign team in 2000. In 2004, he was an official observer for Ukraine's national election. President Obama also appointed him to a commission that helps preserve American heritage abroad.
In 2012, Pressler supported President Obama for a second term. He campaigned for Obama, especially with veterans' groups. He also taught international relations at a university in Paris, France. In 2013, he supported same-sex marriage in a Supreme Court case. He also endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020 for president.
2014 Senate Election
In 2013, at age 71, Pressler decided to run for the U.S. Senate again. This time, he ran as an independent candidate. He said he felt the main political parties had moved too far to the extremes. He promised to serve only one term if elected. He also said he would not raise money for his campaign while in office.
Pressler's main goals were to cut the national debt and support stronger background checks for gun sales. He also supported raising taxes on wealthy people. He was against military adventures and wanted to restrict corporate donations to political campaigns. He also called for a museum to honor Native Americans.
His campaign gained a lot of attention. South Dakota's largest newspapers supported him. Even national newspapers like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times wrote about his surprising campaign. However, he ultimately lost the election to Republican Mike Rounds.
Political Beliefs
Domestic Issues
Trade Policies
In 1975, Pressler supported a bill to stop importing beef and dairy products. This was to help farmers in the U.S. sell more of their own products. He also asked President Gerald Ford to put a special tax, called a tariff, on imported cheese. He believed that supporting farmers with trade policies would help politicians win elections.
Foreign Issues
Foreign Aid
Pressler often voted against giving large amounts of money to other countries as foreign aid. He believed the United States could not afford it. For example, he voted against giving billions of dollars to Middle Eastern countries for weapons. He also criticized a deal that would send U.S. technicians to observe the Israeli-Egyptian border.
Military Spending
In 1975, Pressler suggested that American military bases in Europe should move back to the United States. He thought this would help the U.S. economy. He also believed it would reduce anger from European countries about the U.S. military presence. He criticized President Ford for not suggesting cuts to national defense spending.
Vietnam War Issues
Pressler strongly supported efforts to find soldiers still missing from the Vietnam War. In 1975, he backed a bill to create a special committee to investigate these cases.
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 joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Images for kids
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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.
