Donald W. Riegle, Jr.
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| Donald Riegle | |
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Former Senator, Michigan
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| In office December 30, 1976–January 3, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Philip A. Hart |
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| Succeeded by | Spencer Abraham |
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| Born | February 4, 1938 Flint, Michigan |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Religion | Methodist |
Donald Wayne Riegle Jr. (born February 4, 1938) was an American politician from Michigan, serving as both as U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator. He was one of the Keating Five, senators who were investigated as part of a Savings and Loan scandal in the 1980s. His father, Donald W. Riegle, was mayor of Flint, Michigan.
He was born in Flint, Michigan and attended public schools there. He then attended Flint Junior College and Western University before graduating from the University of Michigan in 1960. He received a graduate degree from Michigan State University in 1961 and attended the Harvard Business School. He was a businessman and faculty member at Michigan State University, Boston University, and Harvard University.
In 1966, Riegle defeated incumbent Democrat (United States) U.S. Representative John C. Mackie to be elected from Michigan's 7th congressional district to the 90th Congress. He was subsequently re-elected as a Republican in the next three elections. In 1973, he changed party affiliation to become a Democrat and was re-elected to the 94th Congress. He did not run for reelection to the House in 1976, but was elected to the U.S. Senate for the term commencing January 3, 1977. On December 30, 1976, before the new term began, he resigned from the House and was appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Philip A. Hart for the term ending January 3, 1977. He was reelected to the Senate in 1982 and 1988, but did not seek re-election in 1994, after his involvement in the Keating Five scandal was revealed to the public.
He was chairman of the [[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs |Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs]], 1989-1995. He was a member of the Senate Committee on Budget from 1979 to 1994. In 1994, he delivered what is commonly referred to as the Riegle Report to the U.S. Senate, asking for further investigation and recourse for war veterans suffering from Gulf War syndrome.
In 1995, he joined Weber Shandwick Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., serving as executive committee chair. He has been an adjunct professor at Michigan State University School of Business since 1995. He also serves as a senior strategist for business and finance with APCO Worldwide. In 1972, he published a light-hearted but idealistic reminiscence of his early years in public office, "O Congress."
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| Preceded by John C. Mackie |
United States Representative for the 7th Congressional District of Michigan 1967 – 1976 |
Succeeded by Dale Kildee |
| Preceded by Philip A. Hart |
United States Senator (Class 1) from Michigan 1976—1995 |
Succeeded by Spencer Abraham |
