Richard Ottinger
Encyclopedia
Richard Ottinger is an American politician
of the Democratic Party, a former member of the United States House of Representatives
, and a legal educator.
, the son of businessman Lawrence Ottinger, founder of U.S. Plywood, and nephew of Albert Ottinger
, the Republican
Attorney General of New York from 1925 to 1928.
He attended the public schools of Scarsdale, New York
and graduated from the Loomis School, Windsor, Connecticut
in 1946. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Cornell University
in 1950 and graduated from Harvard Law School
in 1953. He also studied international law
at Georgetown University
.
He served in the United States Air Force
from 1955 to 1957, and was discharged as a captain. He was admitted to the New York
bar
and practiced international and corporate law. He was one of the founders and the second staff member of the Peace Corps
, serving as director of programs for the west coast of South America
from 1961 to 1964.
In the 1964 election, he was elected as a Democrat
to the 89th United States Congress
and was re-elected twice. After the 1964 run, Ottinger was criticized for using a loophole in election laws to spend $193,000 (the limit was $8,000) of his own money in the race. 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.
In 1970, he gave up his House seat to run on the Democratic ticket for U.S. Senator from New York. In that race, Ottinger split the liberal vote with the Republican/Liberal
candidate (and appointed incumbent) Charles Goodell
, and both were defeated by the Conservative nominee, James L. Buckley
.
He returned to the House of Representatives from a different district in the 1974 election, and was re-elected to the four succeeding Congresses, retiring in 1985.
program there, and served as the law school dean
from 1994 to 1999. He currently serves as Dean Emeritus
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of the Democratic Party, a former member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, and a legal educator.
Early years
Richard Lawrence Ottinger was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the son of businessman Lawrence Ottinger, founder of U.S. Plywood, and nephew of Albert Ottinger
Albert Ottinger
Albert E. Ottinger was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was the son of Moses Ottinger and Amelia Gottlieb Ottinger....
, the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Attorney General of New York from 1925 to 1928.
He attended the public schools of Scarsdale, New York
Scarsdale, New York
Scarsdale is a coterminous town and village in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the northern suburbs of New York City. The Town of Scarsdale is coextensive with the Village of Scarsdale, but the community has opted to operate solely with a village government, one of several villages...
and graduated from the Loomis School, Windsor, Connecticut
Windsor, Connecticut
Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005....
in 1946. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1950 and graduated from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1953. He also studied international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
.
He served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
from 1955 to 1957, and was discharged as a captain. He was admitted to the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
and practiced international and corporate law. He was one of the founders and the second staff member of the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
, serving as director of programs for the west coast of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
from 1961 to 1964.
Political career
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the 89th United States Congress
89th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President of the Senate: Hubert Humphrey , starting January 20, 1965* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden - Majority leadership :* Majority Leader and Democratic Conference Chairman: Mike Mansfield...
and was re-elected twice. After the 1964 run, Ottinger was criticized for using a loophole in election laws to spend $193,000 (the limit was $8,000) of his own money in the race. 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.
In 1970, he gave up his House seat to run on the Democratic ticket for U.S. Senator from New York. In that race, Ottinger split the liberal vote with the Republican/Liberal
Liberal Party of New York
The Liberal Party of New York is a minor American political party that has been active only in the state of New York. Its platform supports a standard set of social liberal policies: it supports right to abortion, increased spending on education, and universal health care.As of 2007, the Liberal...
candidate (and appointed incumbent) Charles Goodell
Charles Goodell
Charles Ellsworth Goodell was a U.S. Representative and a Senator from New York, notable for coming into both offices under special circumstances following the deaths of his predecessors.-Early life and education:...
, and both were defeated by the Conservative nominee, James L. Buckley
James L. Buckley
James Lane Buckley is a retired judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and previously served as a United States Senator from the state of New York as a member of the Conservative Party of New York from January 3, 1971 to January 3, 1977...
.
He returned to the House of Representatives from a different district in the 1974 election, and was re-elected to the four succeeding Congresses, retiring in 1985.
Family
Richard divorced his first wife, Betty Anne Ottinger, and later remarried to June Ottinger. He has 3 sons: Ronald, Randy and Larry; and one daughter Jenny.Subsequent career
After retiring from Congress, Ottinger became a professor at Pace University School of Law, founding an environmental lawEnvironmental law
Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
program there, and served as the law school dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
from 1994 to 1999. He currently serves as Dean Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
.