Richard Ottinger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dean of thePace University School of Law | |
| In office 1994–1999 | |
| Preceded by | Barbara Black (acting) |
| Succeeded by | David Cohen |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Ogden Reid |
| Succeeded by | Joseph DioGuardi |
| Constituency | 24th district (1975–1983) 20th district (1983–1985) |
| In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1971 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Barry |
| Succeeded by | Peter Peyser |
| Constituency | 25th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Lawrence Ottinger (1929-01-27)January 27, 1929 (age 96) New York City,New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | June Ottinger |
| Relations | Albert Ottinger (uncle) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Cornell University (BA) Harvard University (LLB) Georgetown University |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Service years | 1955–1957 |
| Rank | Captain |
Richard Lawrence Ottinger (born January 27, 1929) is an American retired lawyer, politician, and legal educator fromNew York. ADemocrat, he served in theUnited States House of Representatives for eight terms, from 1965 to 1971 and from 1975 to 1985.
Ottinger was born in New York City, the son of businessman Lawrence Ottinger, founder of U.S. Plywood, and nephew ofAlbert Ottinger, theRepublicanAttorney General of New York from 1925 to 1928. He attended the public schools ofScarsdale, New York and graduated from theLoomis School, inWindsor, Connecticut, in 1946. He received a bachelor of arts degree fromCornell University in 1950 and graduated fromHarvard Law School in 1953. He also studiedinternational law atGeorgetown University. He served in theUnited States Air Force from 1955 to 1957, and was discharged as acaptain.
Ottinger was admitted to theNew Yorkbar and practiced international and corporate law. He was the second staff member of thePeace Corps, serving as director of programs for the west coast ofSouth America from 1961 to 1964.
In the1964 elections, Ottinger was elected as aDemocrat to the89th United States Congress and was re-elected twice in1966 and1968. After the 1964 run, Ottinger was criticized for using a loophole in election laws to spend $193,000 of his own money to get around a limit of $8,000 in the race. He set up multiple committees and gave money of all of them. Most prominently, Ottinger's mother, Louise, and sister, Patricia Heath, had set up 22 different committees that in turn donated $6,000 apiece to his campaign.[1]
In the1970 elections, he gave up his House seat to run on the Democratic ticket forUnited States Senator fromNew York. In the1970 election, Ottinger split the liberal vote with theRepublican (andLiberal-endorsed) nominee,incumbentSenatorCharles Goodell (who was appointed byGovernorNelson Rockefeller after theassassination of SenatorRobert F. Kennedy). Both were defeated by the nominee of theConservative party,James L. Buckley in a three-way race.[2]
In1972, he sought to return to his old congressional seat, but lost in a hotly contested election to theRepublican incumbentRepresentativePeter A. Peyser. His comeback effort was successful in1974, when he was elected to the House from a different district. He was re-elected to the four succeeding Congresses (in1976,1978,1980, and1982), retiring in 1985. He bolstered his reputation as a leading legislator by founding the bipartisanEnvironmental Study Conference (ESC) in the House of Representatives in 1975, which grew to a membership of over 150 Members in less than a year.[3]
After retiring from Congress, Ottinger became a professor at theElisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University,[4] founding anenvironmental law program there, and served as the law schooldean from 1994 to 1999.[5][6] Upon retirement, he served asDean Emeritus.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 25th congressional district 1965–1971 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 24th congressional district 1975–1983 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 20th congressional district 1983–1985 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator fromNew York (Class 1) 1970 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
