Richard W. Graber
Encyclopedia
Richard W. Graber is an American
lawyer
from Wisconsin and Republican
politician, who served as United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic
from 2006-2009. He was appointed by George W. Bush
on September 14, 2006. His office ended as Barack Obama
became the new President of the United States on January 20, 2009. After two years, Norman L. Eisen
was appointed as his successor.
from Duke University
in 1978 and Juris Doctor
from Boston University School of Law
in 1981.
, from 1981 to 2006; and returned to that firm after leaving his ambassadorial post. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Wisconsin
and is former vice chairman and director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago.
in a special election for the 10th district, but lost to Alberta Darling
in the Republican primary election
. Graber was elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin
in June 1999. He was re-elected in 2001, 2003 and 2005 and was one of the longest serving State Chairmen in the country. He served as Chairman of the Wisconsin Delegation at the 2004 national convention in New York, was a delegate at the 2000 convention and was an alternate at the 1992 and 1996 conventions. From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Graber served as Wisconsin's representative on the Republican National Committee
's Rules Committee. He also served as Finance Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin from 1993 to 1999 and as Secretary from 1991 to 1999.
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...
from Wisconsin and 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...
politician, who served as United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic
United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic
Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian empire in 1918 at the end of The Great War, the Bohemians, Moravians, and Slovaks united to form the new nation of Czechoslovakia...
from 2006-2009. He was appointed by George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on September 14, 2006. His office ended as Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
became the new President of the United States on January 20, 2009. After two years, Norman L. Eisen
Norman L. Eisen
Norman L. Eisen is the current United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic, the position which he assumed on January 28, 2011. However, his appointment is temporary and shall not last more than one year .Eisen received his B.A. from Brown University in 1985 and his J.D...
was appointed as his successor.
Background
Graber received a B.A.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...
from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1978 and Juris Doctor
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...
from Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law
Boston University School of Law is the law school affiliated with Boston University, and is ranked #22 among American law schools by US News and World Report magazine. It is the second-oldest law school in Massachusetts and one of the first law schools in the country to admit students regardless...
in 1981.
Legal career
Graber practiced law at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, a large Wisconsin law firmLaw 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...
, from 1981 to 2006; and returned to that firm after leaving his ambassadorial post. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin
Medical College of Wisconsin is a private, freestanding medical school and graduate school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was formerly affiliated with Marquette University....
and is former vice chairman and director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago.
Politics
In 1990, Graber ran for the Wisconsin State AssemblyWisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in a special election for the 10th district, but lost to Alberta Darling
Alberta Darling
Alberta Darling is a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 8th District since 1993. She previously served in the Wisconsin Assembly, representing the 10th district from 1990 through 1993...
in the Republican primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. Graber was elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin
Republican Party of Wisconsin
The Republican Party of Wisconsin is the Wisconsin affiliate of the United States Republican Party . The state party chair is Brad Courtney...
in June 1999. He was re-elected in 2001, 2003 and 2005 and was one of the longest serving State Chairmen in the country. He served as Chairman of the Wisconsin Delegation at the 2004 national convention in New York, was a delegate at the 2000 convention and was an alternate at the 1992 and 1996 conventions. From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Graber served as Wisconsin's representative on the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
's Rules Committee. He also served as Finance Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin from 1993 to 1999 and as Secretary from 1991 to 1999.