Dick Gephardt

Richard Gephardt
Richard Gephardt
Born	Richard Andrew Gephardt; January 31, 1941 (age 85); St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Lawyer, lobbyist, politician
Years active	1971–present
Known for	U.S. House Minority Leader (1995–2003), House Majority Leader (1989–1995), Democratic presidential candidate (1988, 2004)

Richard Andrew Gephardt (; born January 31, 1941) is an American lawyer, lobbyist, and former politician who served as a representative for in the United States House of Representatives from 1977 until 2005. Affiliated with the Democratic Party, he held the position of House majority leader between 1989 and 1995, followed by minority leader from 1995 to 2003. Gephardt sought the Democratic presidential nomination in both 1988 and 2004 without success and was frequently mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate during several election cycles spanning from 1988 through 2008.

Following his departure from elected office, Gephardt transitioned into a notable role as a lobbyist and business advisor. He established Gephardt Government Affairs, a public affairs firm based in Washington, along with the Atlanta-based labor consulting company known as the Gephardt Group. Additionally, he founded SolidaritUS Health, a direct primary care provider. His consultancy work extends to organizations such as DLA Piper, FTI Consulting, and Goldman Sachs.

Gephardt remains engaged in efforts toward policy reform, participating in the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One and co-leading Issue One's Council for Responsible Social Media alongside former Massachusetts lieutenant governor Kerry Healey.

Early life

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Gephardt is the son of Loreen Estelle (née Cassell) and Louis Andrew Gephardt, a milkman affiliated with the Teamsters union, and has partial German heritage. He completed his secondary education at Southwest High School in 1958 before earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University in 1962. During his time there, he served as president of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, led the student senate, and was president of his freshman class. He later received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1965.

After being admitted to the Missouri Bar that same year, Gephardt served with the Missouri Air National Guard until 1971. He is married to Jane, with whom he has three children: Matt, Katie, and Chrissy. His brother, Donald L. Gephardt, held the position of Dean at The College of Fine and Performing Arts at Rowan University. Between 1968 and 1971, Richard Gephardt acted as a Democratic committeeman (precinct captain) for St. Louis's 14th ward.

St. Louis Board of Aldermen (1971–1976)

From 1971 to 1976, Gephardt represented the 14th ward as an alderman on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. During this period, he was associated with a cohort of young council members referred to as "The Young Turks."

Initial Years

Gephardt was first elected in 1976 to serve Missouri’s 3rd District in St. Louis, succeeding Leonor Sullivan. Over the course of his career, he secured victory in 13 additional elections before retiring in 2004. Throughout much of his tenure, his National Political Director was the St. Louis consultant Joyce Aboussie. In 1983, he supported the creation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday, though he did not cast votes on the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 or the subsequent veto override in 1988.

1988 Presidential Bid

Gephardt launched an unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 1988 presidential race. Declaring his candidacy in early February 1987—more than three months before the Iowa caucuses—he initially registered modest polling numbers in the low double digits. His standing improved notably in Iowa by late December after airing an advertisement criticizing trade restrictions imposed by Korea and Japan. He captured victories in both the Iowa caucuses and the South Dakota primary during February and secured a strong second-place finish in New Hampshire, establishing himself as a credible contender.

Despite these early successes, Gephardt found it difficult to expand support beyond these states and encountered fundraising obstacles in Southern primaries. His campaign funds were exhausted following disappointing outcomes on "Super Tuesday" in March, where Missouri was his sole win. An advertisement from Governor Michael Dukakis’s team spotlighted Gephardt’s inconsistent voting history, undermining his prospects. After finishing with just 13% of the vote in Michigan despite backing from the United Auto Workers, Gephardt ended his campaign. Dukakis later chose Senator Lloyd Bentsen as his vice-presidential running mate.

Leadership in the House

Building on the recognition gained from his presidential run, Gephardt was elected as majority leader in June 1989, positioning him as the second-highest-ranking Democrat behind Speaker Tom Foley. He maintained this leadership role until January 1995.

When Republicans seized control of the House in 1994, Gephardt transitioned to House Democratic minority leader, initially opposing Speaker Newt Gingrich and subsequently Dennis Hastert. In 1997, amid internal Republican dissent, he nearly ascended to Speaker but Gingrich retained his position. Under Gephardt’s direction, Democrats recaptured seats during the 1996, 1998, and 2000 elections; however, they did not reclaim the majority until after his departure in 2006. Notably, he became the first House Democratic leader since Finis J. Garrett not to become Speaker.

During the early 1990s, Gephardt developed an extensive fundraising apparatus supporting hundreds of Democratic candidates across different levels of government. Although he endorsed many President Bill Clinton’s policies, he and allied labor unions opposed NAFTA and other free trade agreements. Consequently, Clinton had to depend on Republican votes to secure their passage. During Clinton's impeachment proceedings, Gephardt led a House walkout following dismissal of a censure motion.

In 2000, Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore considered Gephardt among several potential vice-presidential candidates alongside Senators Evan Bayh, John Edwards, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, and Governor Jeanne Shaheen. Ultimately, Lieberman was selected.

In the 2002 midterm elections, Gephardt focused his campaign on economic concerns and Social Security reforms but faced challenges due to post-9/11 political dynamics and President George W. Bush’s strong approval ratings; Democrats lost four seats in the House. Although some called for new leadership within the party, Gephardt’s past achievements indicated he could have remained minority leader if he wished. Opting instead to prepare for a 2004 presidential bid, he resigned from his leadership post in January 2003. The contest for his successor featured centrist Martin Frost and liberal Nancy Pelosi, with Pelosi ultimately assuming the role. Free from leadership responsibilities, Gephardt concentrated on his upcoming presidential campaign.

2004 presidential campaign

On January 5, 2003, Gephardt declared his intention to seek the presidency for a second time, receiving support from Nancy Pelosi, who had succeeded him as Minority Leader. His campaign gained notable public interest when his daughter, Chrissy, openly revealed her sexual orientation in an interview with People magazine while actively campaigning on his behalf. This topic was also addressed in interviews featured in the 2007 documentary For the Bible Tells Me So. Since then, Gephardt has consistently voiced strong support for gay rights.

Although Republicans regarded him as a significant competitor, many critics perceived Gephardt as too conventional and unlikely to win. His fundraising efforts trailed behind those of former Vermont Governor Howard Dean and Senators John Kerry and John Edwards, tying only with Joe Lieberman. His endorsement of the Iraq War resolution distanced him from progressive activists. Despite advocating for a version of universal health care and securing backing from 21 labor unions, he was unable to obtain the endorsement of the AFL–CIO.

In early 2003, Gephardt held a lead in polls for the Iowa caucus, but by August, Dean surged ahead due to strong antiwar support. An article published in August by the St Louis Post-Dispatch embarrassed Gephardt’s campaign by revealing that 11 out of his 33 Iowa "team leaders" were either neutral or favored other candidates.

The competition between Gephardt and Dean became increasingly hostile, culminating in an October episode where a staff member from Gephardt’s team allegedly used a homophobic insult against a Dean aide. Media reports indicated that the Dean staffer may have provoked the incident. Campaign managers Joe Trippi (Dean) and Steve Murphy (Gephardt) exchanged allegations, including Murphy’s accusation that Dean’s team recruited caucus participants from outside Iowa. Both candidates lost momentum in the final days before the caucus; Dean finished third while Gephardt placed fourth. After this disappointing outcome, Gephardt withdrew from the race.

Following his exit, Gephardt was considered a potential vice-presidential candidate alongside John Kerry. On March 7, 2004, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson endorsed him for the vice presidency, emphasizing regional balance with Kerry. Nevertheless, Kerry chose John Edwards on July 6, 2004. On that same day, the New York Post mistakenly announced Gephardt as Kerry’s running mate—a blunder later likened to the famous incorrect "Dewey defeats Truman" headline. In 2007, adviser Bob Shrum disclosed that Kerry had initially favored Gephardt but was ultimately convinced to select Edwards instead.

Political views

Following his election to the U.S. House in 1976, Gephardt's political orientation shifted progressively left. Originally a committed social conservative and opponent of abortion, he openly criticized the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion nationwide. By 1984, he emphasized the importance of protecting unborn children and urged Congress to overturn the ruling.

However, by 1987, during his bid for the presidency, Gephardt had changed course, no longer endorsing constitutional amendments aimed at limiting abortion rights. On economic matters, he supported Reagan's 1981 tax reduction but later opposed comparable tax cuts under President George W. Bush, favoring instead the reinvestment of Clinton-era budget surpluses into healthcare initiatives. Recognized as an economic populist, Gephardt advocated for universal health insurance, equitable trade policies, and progressive tax structures. Although he once chaired the centrist Democratic Leadership Council, he eventually distanced himself due to its pro-business tendencies conflicting with his strong labor advocacy.

On October 10, 2002, Gephardt was one of 81 House Democrats who voted in favor of authorizing the 2003 invasion of Iraq. As an early supporter and co-sponsor of the war authorization, he later acknowledged in 2005 that his support had been misguided.

Post-congressional career

Gephardt concluded his thirty-year tenure in politics on January 3, 2005, with the end of his fourteenth term in the House of Representatives. That same month, he established the consulting and lobbying firm Gephardt Group, assuming the roles of president and CEO. Between June 2005 and December 2009, he acted as a strategic government affairs advisor at the international law firm DLA Piper.

In his capacity as a lobbyist, Gephardt represented Turkey in opposing a House resolution condemning the Armenian genocide of 1915; this marked a shift from prior support to advocating for additional investigation. He held board memberships at Embarq Corporation (2007–2009) and its successor CenturyLink, as well as at Centene Corporation, Ford Motor Company (joining in 2009), Spirit Aerosystems Holdings, Inc., and United States Steel Corporation.

In July 2007, Gephardt publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign; concurrently, DLA Piper became a significant contributor to her efforts. He was also considered a possible vice-presidential pick for Senator Barack Obama in 2008. His congressional archives spanning 1994–2004 are preserved by the Missouri Historical Society. In 2005, Washington University in St. Louis founded the Richard A. Gephardt Institute of Public Service to foster civic leadership development. Since then, he has provided consultancy services to Goldman Sachs, DLA Piper, and beginning in 2007, FTI Consulting.

Gephardt joined Extend Health’s advisory board in 2007 and later became a member of its board of directors. In 2009, he advised UnitedHealth Group against implementing a public option for national healthcare reform. He was elected chair of the Board of Trustees at The Scripps Research Institute, a nonprofit biomedical research organization, in 2010.

His involvement extends deeply into pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. Alongside securing a major lobbying contract with the Medicines Company, Gephardt leads the Council for American Medical Innovation (CAMI), affiliated with PhRMA, which advocates for patent extensions and delays generic drug market entry. In 2016, he co-founded SolidaritUS Health, a direct primary care organization focused on expanding healthcare access for working families.

Additionally, Gephardt has lobbied on behalf of Boeing and serves as both labor consultant and board member for Spirit Aerosystems. Under his direction, Spirit engaged in an assertive anti-union campaign resulting in strained labor relations; after extended negotiations, workers approved a new contract in mid-2023 that included wage increases and preservation of health benefits.

In October 2022, Gephardt collaborated with Republican former Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey to establish the bipartisan Council for Responsible Social Media under nonprofit Issue One. The initiative aims to address social media’s detrimental effects on youth, communities, and national security; both serve as co-chairs. In May 2024, Gephardt delivered the commencement speech and received an honorary degree at Iona University located in New Rochelle, New York.

Additional reading

Electoral history of Dick Gephardt

External resources

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