Bob Livingston
Bob Livingston | |
---|---|
Chair of the House Appropriations Committee | |
In office January 4, 1995 – January 3, 1999 | |
Preceded by | Dave Obey |
Succeeded by | Bill Young |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 1st district | |
In office August 27, 1977 – March 1, 1999 | |
Preceded by | Richard A. Tonry |
Succeeded by | David Vitter |
Personal details | |
Born | Robert Linlithgow Livingston Jr. April 30, 1943 Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
Bonnie Robichaux (m. 1965) |
Children | 4 |
Relatives | Livingston family |
Education | Tulane University (BA, JD) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1961–1963 (Active) 1963–1967 (Reserve) |
Robert Linlithgow Livingston Jr. (born April 30, 1943) is an American lobbyist and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Louisiana from 1977 to 1999. A
Family
Livingston was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is a descendant of the
Livingston was married in 1965 to the former Bonnie Robichaux (also born 1943), a native of
Early career
As an undergraduate at Tulane University, he was a member of
US Representative
Livingston resigned his position as head of the state attorney general's
Allegations, however, surfaced of "tombstone" votes for Tonry in both the primary and
Livingston was aided by a cadre of dedicated Republican volunteers, including the newly installed National Committeewoman
Although well known in Louisiana, Livingston was a relatively low-key congressman for his first eighteen years in Washington. However, early in his career, he landed a spot on the powerful
Chairman, House Appropriations Committee
Livingston first came to national attention in 1995, when he was named chairman of the Appropriations Committee after the Republican takeover of the House. This instantly made him one of the most powerful members of Congress. During one committee session, he brandished an alligator skinning knife, a Bowie knife, and a machete to demonstrate his seriousness as a budget-cutter.
During the
Resignation
In 1998,
Following Livingston's announcement of his resignation, House Republicans settled on Chief Deputy Whip Dennis Hastert (who, unbeknownst to the public or his colleagues, was a child molester[19]) to succeed Gingrich as Speaker of the House—a decision Livingston would later describe, in memoirs published in 2018, as "a disaster."[20] Years later, Livingston recalled giving Hastert "a foot-thick binder" filled with notes intended to help him become a successful Speaker, "and if he read any part of the thing, I'd be surprised."[20]
Livingston resigned from the House on March 1, 1999, two months into his 13th term.[21]
Gubernatorial race
In 1985, Livingston had called for the resignation of Governor Edwin Edwards, who faced indictment and trial on charges of racketeering and fraud. "He shouldn't continue to drag the image of our state down with his legal problems," Livingston said of Edwards.[22]
In 1987, Livingston ran for governor himself and declared, "You can lay our problems at the hands of politicians." He questioned the state's poor performance regarding school drop-outs, unemployment, and credit rating. He even noted that Louisiana had a high number of cancer patients, a factor that was often attributed to environmental hazards. Livingston continued:
I'm prepared to clean house.... The rest of the nation has the impression that Louisiana doesn't want to work... that Louisiana will tolerate corruption... that Louisiana is not serious about improving its quality of life....[23]
Despite polls that had generally showed that Livingston would face the incumbent governor,
Despite his showing in the gubernatorial race, Livingston remained popular in his district and went on to win easy re-elections as he moved up the leadership ladder in the House.
Lobbyist
Since resigning from Congress, Livingston has worked as a lobbyist.[24]
Livingston Group
Soon after retiring from public life he founded
Clients
The Livingston Group's clients have included
The Livingston Group has also represented the government of Egypt until March 2012. Acting as lobbyist for Egypt Livingston "helped stall a Senate bill that called on Egypt to curtail human rights abuses" in 2010.[28] His stated role is to enhance relations between the United States and the Republic of Egypt, which he perceives as critical to a resolution of tension in the Middle East.
Trump–Ukraine scandal
Livingston emerged as a "behind-the-scenes player" in the impeachment inquiry against President Trump, apparently having urged a Trump administration official to oust the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.
During my time at the NSC, I received multiple calls from lobbyist Robert Livingston, who told me that Ambassador Yovanovitch should be fired. He characterized Ambassador Yovanovitch as an "Obama holdover" and associated with George Soros. It was not clear to me at that time-or now-at whose direction or at what expense Mr. Livingston was seeking the removal of Ambassador Yovanovitch.[30]
Other activities
Livingston declared his support for Donald Trump in March 2016, comparing him to Ronald Reagan.[31]
In 2003, Livingston was inducted into the
Livingston testified in the 2009 trial of
From 2011 to 2014, Livingston became Treasurer of the Louisiana Republican Party.[36] Livingston said taking the fundraising assignment for the Louisiana GOP would not in any way undermine the work of The Livingston Group.[36]
Livingston is also a member of the board of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, a non-profit involved in international elections,[37] and he is a Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
See also
References
- ISBN 978-1946160270.
- ^ Washington, William Neikirk and Mike Dorning, Washington Bureau. Tribune special correspondent Vanessa Blum contributed to this report from. "Speaker-Elect Admits Illicit Sexual Affairs". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "TheHill.com - Guess who's coming to the firm". Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ^ Alpert, Bruce (19 December 2008). "Bob Livingston has no regrets 10 years after resigning from Congress". nola.com. Times-Picayune.
- ^ Louisiana Almanac, 2006
- ^ "Louisiana District 1 Special Election, August 27, 1977". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ^ "M Obituaries Orleans Parish Louisiana". USGenWeb Archives. The USGenWeb Project. April 2005. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ "Gingrich calls it quits". CNN. November 6, 1998. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.
- ^ Dickinson, Tim (January 26, 2012). "Dickinson: The Newt and Callista Affair". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
- ^ a b Neikirk, William; Dorning, Mike. "Speaker-Elect Admits Illicit Sexual Affairs". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-09-22.
- OCLC 1041205687.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - OCLC 1041205687.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ Mitchell, Alison (December 20, 1999). "Impeachment: The Overview – Clinton Impeached; He Faces a Senate Trial, 2d in History; Vows to Do Job Till Term's 'Last Hour'". The New York Times.
- ^ Kurtz, Howard (December 19, 1998). "Larry Flynt, Investigative Pornographer". The Washington Post.
- OCLC 1041205687.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ "Rep. Livingston Resignation". C-SPAN.org. Retrieved 2018-09-22.
- OCLC 1041205687.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ "The History Place - Great Speeches Collection: Richard Gephardt speech Life Imitates Farce". www.historyplace.com.
- ^ Bacon, Aamer Madhani, and John. "Judge sentences 'serial child molester' Hastert to 15 months". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-01-07.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ OCLC 1041205687.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ "Livingston, Robert Linlithgow, Jr. - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2018-09-22.
- ^ "Edwards facing 265 years in prison?". Minden Press-Herald. March 1, 1985. p. 1.
- ^ Miller, Marilyn (August 21, 1987). "Bob Livingston: 'You Can Lay Our Problems at the Hands of Politicians'". Minden Press-Herald. p. 1.
- ^ Broach, Drew (2018-07-19). "Bob Livingston, former Louisiana congressman, to publish political memoir". nola.com. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
- ^ Carney, Timothy (March 28, 2016). "Earmark lobbyist Bob Livingston endorses Donald Trump". Washington Examiner.
- ^ Crowley, Michael (January 23, 2007). "Final Resolution". The New Republic.
- ^ "ANCA Video Sets Record Straight On Bob Livingston's Genocide Denial" (Press release). Armenian National Committee of America. July 18, 2007.
- ^ Lichtblau, Eric (March 1, 2011). "Arab Uprisings Put U.S. Lobbyists in Uneasy Spot". The New York Times.
- ^ DeBonis, Mike; Narayanswamy, Anu (October 30, 2019). "Ex-Rep. Livingston, player in Clinton impeachment, emerges as character in inquiry of Trump". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Ukraine Specialist Catherine Croft's Written Testimony In Impeachment Inquiry". NPR. October 30, 2019.
- Bloomberg Politics. Archived from the originalon March 29, 2016.
- The Times-Picayune. p. B5. Archived from the originalon December 24, 2013.
- The Times-Picayune. p. B4. Archived from the originalon July 20, 2018.
- The Times-Picayune. p. B4. Archived from the originalon March 3, 2016.
- The Times-Picayune. p. B4.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Carney, Timothy (March 10, 2011). "Government Corruption Update: McCaskill's self-dealing; N.Y. lawmaker buster; Jindal's lobbyist fundraiser". Washington Examiner.
- ^ "Board". IFES. 2009. Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
Further reading
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on June 17, 2010
- A Livingston Legacy Revised