Trailblazing Jewish Democrat #4: Robert S. Strauss

Jason Attermann — May 5, 2011 – 4:16 pm | Jewish American Heritage Month 2011 Comments (0) Add a comment

Robert S. Strauss was the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1972-1977, and the Ambassador to Russia immediately following the Soviet Union’s collapse, from 1991-1993.

Robert Strauss was born in 1918 and grew up in Stamford, Texas. Despite the harsh circumstances of growing up during the Great Depression, Strauss was encouraged by his family to study law and pursue a career in politics. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas. While at UT, he began working on political campaigns, including Lyndon Johnson’s first congressional campaign in 1937.

As World War II loomed, Strauss was recruited by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to serve as a special agent during the war. He returned to Dallas after the war and founded the law firm Gump and Strauss, which eventually transformed into the international law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld.

In the 1960’s, Strauss encouraged his friend from law school, John B. Connally, to leave his post as Secretary of the Navy and run for governor of Texas. After securing a gubernatorial win for Connally, Strauss was appointed to the Texas Banking Commission.

In 1970, Strauss served as Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee. As the Democratic Party worked to rebuild from major setbacks, Strauss worked to rebuild the party’s finances, including reducing the party debt of $9.3 million. For his dedication to the party and work to lower the party’s debt, Strauss was selected as the Chair of the DNC in 1972. Entering the 1976 DNC Convention, Strauss played an integral role in uniting the party behind the candidate Jimmy Carter. Credited for reinvigorating the party, he was asked by Carter to chair his presidential election campaign.

President Jimmy Carter named Strauss as U.S. Trade Representative in 1977, and in this post Strauss negotiated key trade agreements, including passing the Trade Agreements Act of 1979. He also played a significant role assisting Carter during the original Camp David peace talks between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Strauss again chaired President Carter’s re-election campaign in 1980, and before leaving office, Carter awarded Strauss the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award.

Successive Presidents following Carter, including President Ronald Reagan and President George H. W. Bush, sought counsel and advice from Strauss. President Bush appointed Strauss to serve as Ambassador to the Soviet Union at a time when they began their transition into a democracy. Continuing as Ambassador to the Russian Federation under President Yeltsin, Strauss helped strengthen peaceful and cooperative relations between Russia and the United States.

Strauss was well known for his skillfulness as a diplomat and as a politician , even though never ran for office himself. Outside of politics, Strauss has served as the Lloyd Bentsen Chair at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, lecturing in courses related to law, business and public affairs. Strauss is the Chairman Emeritus of the U.S.-Russia Business Council and a member of the Council of Foreign Affairs. In 2007, the University of Texas established The Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law.

More about Strauss can be read in the book Jews in American Politics, which was edited by L. Sandy Maisel and Ira N. Forman.

Comments

There are no comments for this entry