Richard M. Fairbanks
Encyclopedia
Richard Monroe Fairbanks III (born 1941) is a United States
lawyer
, diplomat
, and businessman.
native, Richard M. Fairbanks was educated at Yale University
, receiving an A.B.
After college, he served in the United States Navy
as a Regular Officer. He then attended Columbia Law School
and received a J.D.
Fairbanks worked briefly in the nascent United States Environmental Protection Agency
before joining the United States Domestic Policy Council
in the White House Office
in 1971. In late 1972, he became Associate Director for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment. Fairbanks left the White House in 1974 to found a Washington, D.C.
-based law firm
, Ruckelshaus, Beveridge, & Fairbanks.
In 1981, President of the United States
Ronald Reagan
nominated Fairbanks as Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Affairs
. After Senate confirmation, he was sworn in on March 6, 1981 and held this office until January 26, 1982. In 1982, he was named a Special Advisor of the United States Secretary of State
with the rank of Ambassador
and the title of Special Negotiator for the Middle East Peace Process. In 1984, the Senate confirmed Fairbanks as an Ambassador-at-Large
, with the task of developing Pacific Basin cooperative efforts for the U.S.
Fairbanks left government service and resumed the practice of law in September 1985, becoming a partner
at the Washington, D.C. office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
. He later served as Managing Partner of Paul Hastings from December 1988 to February 1992. During this same time, from 1986 to 1992, he was President of the U.S. National Advisory Committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council
. Also, from 1988 to 1991, he served on the Investment Policy Advisory Committee of the Office of the United States Trade Representative
. In May 1991, President George H. W. Bush
appointed Fairbanks as a member of the President's Task Force on US Government International Broadcasting.
In 1992, Fairbanks joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies
as a Senior Counsel. From 1994 to 1999, he was CSIS's Managing Director for Domestic and International Issues and from May 1999 through March 2000, he was President and CEO. Since that time, he has been a Counselor at the Center.
In addition, Fairbanks is the founder and chairman of the board of Layalina Productions, Inc., a non-profit corporation that develops and produces Arabic language programming for licensing to television networks in the Middle East and North Africa. He has also served on the Board of Directors
of Seacor Holdings, the General American Transportation Corporation
, and Americans for Generational Equity. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, and businessman.
Biography
An IndianapolisIndianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
native, Richard M. Fairbanks was educated at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, receiving an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
After college, he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as a Regular Officer. He then attended Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
and received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
Fairbanks worked briefly in the nascent United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
before joining the United States Domestic Policy Council
United States Domestic Policy Council
The Domestic Policy Council of the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering domestic policy matters, excluding economic matters, which are the domain of the National Economic Council...
in the White House Office
White House Office
The White House Office is an entity within the Executive Office of the President of the United States. The White House Office is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, which was temporarily Pete Rouse, replaced on January 6, 2010 with the permanent appointment of William M. Daley, who is also...
in 1971. In late 1972, he became Associate Director for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment. Fairbanks left the White House in 1974 to found a Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
-based law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
, Ruckelshaus, Beveridge, & Fairbanks.
In 1981, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
nominated Fairbanks as Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs is the head of the Bureau of Legislative Affairs within the United States Department of State.- List of Assistant Secretaries of State for Legislative Affairs :-External links:**...
. After Senate confirmation, he was sworn in on March 6, 1981 and held this office until January 26, 1982. In 1982, he was named a Special Advisor of the United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
with the rank of Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
and the title of Special Negotiator for the Middle East Peace Process. In 1984, the Senate confirmed Fairbanks as an Ambassador-at-Large
Ambassador-at-large
An ambassador-at-large is a Diplomat of the highest rank or a Minister who is accredited to represent his country internationally.Unlike an ambassador-in-residence who is usually limited to a country and/or embassy, the ambassador-at-large is entrusted to operate in several usually neighboring...
, with the task of developing Pacific Basin cooperative efforts for the U.S.
Fairbanks left government service and resumed the practice of law in September 1985, becoming a partner
Partner (business rank)
A partner in a law firm, accounting firm, consulting firm, or financial firm is a highly ranked position. Originally, these businesses were set up as legal partnerships in which the partners were entitled to a share of the profits of the enterprise. The name has remained even though many of these...
at the Washington, D.C. office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
Paul Hastings LLP, formerly known as Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, is a leading international law firm with 18 offices worldwide. Paul Hastings serves a diverse client base that includes many of the top financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies....
. He later served as Managing Partner of Paul Hastings from December 1988 to February 1992. During this same time, from 1986 to 1992, he was President of the U.S. National Advisory Committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council
Pacific Economic Cooperation Council
The Pacific Economic Cooperation Council is a network of member committees composed of individuals and institutions dedicated to promoting cooperation across the Asia Pacific region...
. Also, from 1988 to 1991, he served on the Investment Policy Advisory Committee of the Office of the United States Trade Representative
Office of the United States Trade Representative
The Office of the United States Trade Representative is the United States government agency responsible for developing and recommending United States trade policy to the president of the United States, conducting trade negotiations at bilateral and multilateral levels, and coordinating trade...
. In May 1991, President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
appointed Fairbanks as a member of the President's Task Force on US Government International Broadcasting.
In 1992, Fairbanks joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Center for Strategic and International Studies
The Center for Strategic and International Studies is a bipartisan Washington, D.C., foreign policy think tank. The center was founded in 1962 by Admiral Arleigh Burke and Ambassador David Manker Abshire, originally as part of Georgetown University...
as a Senior Counsel. From 1994 to 1999, he was CSIS's Managing Director for Domestic and International Issues and from May 1999 through March 2000, he was President and CEO. Since that time, he has been a Counselor at the Center.
In addition, Fairbanks is the founder and chairman of the board of Layalina Productions, Inc., a non-profit corporation that develops and produces Arabic language programming for licensing to television networks in the Middle East and North Africa. He has also served on the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Seacor Holdings, the General American Transportation Corporation
General American Transportation Corporation
GATX Corporation is an equipment finance company based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1898, GATX's primary activities consist of railcar operating leasing in North America and Europe...
, and Americans for Generational Equity. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
.