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  Gephardt, Richard A. "Dick"
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationDemocratic  
<-  2004-01-01  
 
NameRichard A. "Dick" Gephardt
Address
St. Louis, Missouri , United States
EmailNone
Website [Link]
Born January 31, 1941 (83 years)
ContributorBob
Last ModifedDavid
Nov 23, 2021 02:42pm
Tags Caucasian - German - Army - Baptist - Straight -
InfoRichard Andrew "Dick" Gephardt

Dick Gephardt grew up in the same working class neighborhood on the south side of St. Louis, Missouri, that he represents today in the U.S. Congress.
Gephardt's father, a milk truck driver and Teamster, taught him the value of hard work. His mother, a secretary, taught him an appreciation for the value of community and caring about the needs and aspirations of others. While his parents didn't finish high school, they instilled in him a lifelong desire to strive and succeed.

Gephardt was able to continue his education past high school with the help of a church scholarship and student loans. Shortly after Gephardt graduated from Northwestern University and the University of Michigan Law School, he began a career in public service as a grassroots organizer in St. Louis politics.

Elected Alderman in 1971, Gephardt learned firsthand how government policies could help or hinder the working families he represented. He saw how families, senior citizens, small business owners, and others yearned to have lawmakers who would listen to them, care about their circumstances, and commit to working on their behalf.

From the very beginning, Gephardt understood that Democrats could be counted on to give people a fair opportunity, to defend Social Security and Medicare, and to make sure that government worked for the many, instead of the few.

Now, after 26 years in the Congress, Gephardt is an accomplished lawmaker and leader in the Democratic Party. Passionately committed to raising the level of debate in American politics, Gephardt has forcefully spoken of the need to put aside the "politics of personal destruction" and instead focus on the issues central to America's future.


In 1989, Gephardt was elected to be the House Democratic Leader. Among his most notable accomplishments was House passage of President Clinton's economic plan to slash the deficit, invest in education, cut taxes for working families and ask the wealthy to pay their fair share.

As the Democratic leader, Gephardt steered this initiative to passage without a single Republican vote. The GOP asserted it was a job killer, but in fact this economic plan led to the single longest economic expansion in history, the highest home ownership ever, the lowest inflation in a generation and over 24 million new jobs.


Gephardt has also used his leadership role in the U.S. Congress to:

Raise the minimum wage

Defeat Republican efforts to roll back affirmative action

Pass the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform legislation

Include labor and environmental standards in U.S. trade agreements

Block White House efforts to roll back arsenic standards in drinking water

Win passage of environmental legislation to clean up Brownfield sites

Secure protections for family farms

A fiercely loyal Cardinals fan and Rams booster, Gephardt is an avid sports enthusiast. He has been married to Jane Gephardt for 36 years, and they are the parents of three children: Matt, a software developer; Chrissy, a social worker; and Kate, a teacher.

Health care for all
Our goal must be to provide every American with quality health care coverage.
Economic fairness
The Bush economic plan offers tax cuts for the wealthy; if we help working families, we will help ALL Americans.

Defending our schools
Efforts to "leave no child behind" won't work when our school budgets are being slashed; we must re-think priorities.

Dr. King's dream
Democrats must protect diversity by supporting affirmative action.

Don't privatize Social Security!
Republicans want to privatize the greatest retirement security program ever conceived; we must stop them.
Fighting for America's working families
Dad was a milk truck driver, and mom was a legal secretary. Dick Gephardt has never forgotten the values of working families.

Universal pensions
Hard work over a lifetime should be rewarded with safety and security in your retirement years.

Smart energy
Dependence on foreign oil is hurting our economy and our national security; we need renewable energy solutions.

International minimum wage
We can protect American jobs by promoting a liveable wage and human dignity in every country.
Medical malpractice insurance
Control medical insurance rates by reforming the medical insurance industry, not limiting access to justice.






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EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor
Mar 26, 2009 07:50am News Ford Motor Co. puts ex-congressman Richard Gephardt on its board  Article Monsieur 
Jul 02, 2008 03:00pm General GOP Envisions Gephardt as Possible Obama Running Mate  Article DFWDem 
Jul 05, 2007 10:00am News Dick Gephardt endorses Sen. Clinton  Article Buddy 
Jun 17, 2005 11:00am News Gephardt to join law firm  Article Brandonius Maximus 
Jan 23, 2004 12:00am Commentary Retiring Gephardt still people's champ  Article COSDem 
Jan 20, 2004 12:00am General Gephardt formally bows out of Campaign 2004  Article COSDem 

DISCUSSION
Importance? 9.50000 Average

FAMILY
Wife Jane Gephardt 00, 0000-

INFORMATION LINKS
RACES
  07/06/2004 US Vice President - D Selection Lost 0.00% (-100.00%)
  06/09/2004 US President - D Primaries Lost 0.39% (-60.58%)
  01/27/2004 NH US Vice President - D Primary Lost 2.30% (-36.45%)
  11/05/2002 MO District 3 Won 59.06% (+20.12%)
  08/06/2002 MO - District 03 - D Primary Won 73.55% (+47.10%)
  01/03/2001 US House Speaker Lost 47.80% (-3.71%)
  12/01/2000 US House Minority Leader Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/07/2000 MO District 3 Won 57.84% (+18.17%)
  08/17/2000 US Vice President - D Convention Lost 0.00% (-100.00%)
  08/08/2000 MO - District 03 - D Primary Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  01/06/1999 US House Speaker Lost 48.01% (-3.51%)
  12/01/1998 US House Minority Leader Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/03/1998 MO District 3 Won 55.81% (+13.79%)
  08/04/1998 MO District 3 - D Primary Won 73.85% (+47.70%)
  01/07/1997 US House Speaker Lost 47.56% (-2.55%)
  12/01/1996 US House Minority Leader Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/05/1996 MO District 3 Won 58.99% (+20.24%)
  08/06/1996 MO District 3 - D Primary Won 75.16% (+54.74%)
  01/04/1995 US House Speaker Lost 46.54% (-5.99%)
  12/01/1994 US House Minority Leader Won 75.00% (+50.00%)
  11/08/1994 MO District 3 Won 57.66% (+17.96%)
  08/02/1994 MO District 3 - D Primary Won 76.96% (+60.58%)
  12/01/1992 US House Majority Leader Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/03/1992 MO District 3 Won 64.01% (+30.90%)
  08/04/1992 MO District 3 - D Primary Won 76.22% (+61.96%)
  12/01/1990 US House Majority Leader Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/06/1990 MO District 3 Won 56.80% (+13.60%)
  08/07/1990 MO District 3 - D Primary Won 80.38% (+60.76%)
  06/14/1989 US House Majority Leader Won 70.16% (+40.70%)
  11/08/1988 MO District 3 Won 62.79% (+26.52%)
  08/02/1988 MO District 3 - D Primary Won 81.69% (+74.42%)
  07/21/1988 US President - D Convention Lost 0.05% (-70.04%)
  07/21/1988 US Vice President - D Convention Lost 0.00% (-100.00%)
  07/01/1988 US President - D Primaries Lost 6.00% (-36.46%)
  07/01/1988 US President - R Primaries Lost 0.00% (-67.90%)
  01/01/1987 Democratic Caucus Chair Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/04/1986 MO District 3 Won 68.97% (+37.93%)
  01/01/1985 Democratic Caucus Chair Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/06/1984 MO District 3 Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  08/07/1984 MO District 3 - D Primary Won 90.39% (+80.79%)
  11/02/1982 MO District 3 Won 77.87% (+55.74%)
  11/04/1980 MO District 3 Won 77.62% (+55.23%)
  11/07/1978 MO District 03 Won 81.89% (+63.78%)
  08/08/1978 MO District 3 - D Primary Won 91.21% (+82.42%)
  11/02/1976 MO District 03 Won 63.69% (+27.38%)
  08/03/1976 MO District 3 - D Primary Won 55.98% (+18.42%)
  04/06/1971 St. Louis City Alderman - Ward 14 Won 51.77% (+3.53%)
ENDORSEMENTS
MO US Senate - D Primary - Aug 02, 2022 D Trudy Busch Valentine
MO US President - D Primary - Mar 15, 2016 D Hillary Clinton
CA District 36 - Special Open Primary - May 17, 2011 D Janice K. Hahn
MO US President - D Primary - Feb 05, 2008 D Hillary Clinton
US President - D Primaries - Jun 03, 2008 D Hillary Clinton
CA Governor - D Primary - Jun 06, 2006 D Steve Westly
US President - D Primaries - Jun 09, 2004 D John F. Kerry
CA Governor Recall - Question 1 - Oct 07, 2003 NO No
MO US President - D Primary - Mar 07, 2000 D Al Gore
US President - D Primaries - Jul 01, 2000 D Al Gore
MO Secretary of State - D Primary - Aug 04, 1992 D Howard Wagner