David Durenberger

David Durenberger
United States Senator from Minnesota
In office November 8, 1978 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Muriel Humphrey
Succeeded by	Rod Grams
Personal details
Born	David Ferdinand Durenberger August 19, 1934 (1934-08-19) (age 77) St. Cloud, Minnesota
Political party	Independent (Republican while in office)
Spouse(s)	Judy Durenberger, deceased Susan B. Foote
Alma mater	Saint John's University University of Minnesota Law School
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1956-1963

David Ferdinand Durenberger (born August 19, 1934) is an American politician and a former Republican member of the U.S. Senate from Minnesota.

Early life

Durenberger was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota. He attended Saint John's University and graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1959.^[1] He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1956 to 1963.

U.S. Senate

On November 7, 1978, Durenberger was elected in a special election to complete the unexpired term of Senator Hubert Humphrey, whose position had temporarily been filled by Humphrey's wife Muriel. He was reelected in 1982 and again in 1988, serving from November 8, 1978, to January 3, 1995, in the 96th, 97th, 98th, 99th, 100th, 101st, 102nd and 103rd Congresses. He served as the chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence during the 99th Congress. Durenberger was unanimously denounced by the Senate on July 25, 1990, for unethical conduct relating to outside income. He was also disbarred for his actions.

Post senate life

He did not run for reelection in 1994 and was succeeded by Rod Grams. In 1995 he pleaded guilty to charges of misuse of public funds while in office, and was sentenced to one year of probation.^[2]

Durenberger gave an interview in 2005 on the Inside Minnesota Politics Podcast, stating that he is no longer a supporter of the Republican Party but is not a supporter of the Democratic Party either. He said in an interview with Peter Idusogie that Democrats are better equipped to handle health care and that President George W. Bush was wrong about the Iraq War.^[3] In 2010, Durenberger endorsed his former chief of staff, Independence Party member Tom Horner, for governor.^[4]

Durenberger currently sits on the Advisory Board for the Energy Literacy Advocates.

Personal papers

A collection of Durenberger's senatorial files documents Durenberger's three terms in the United States Senate, and is strongest in its documentation of the final term (1989–1995). The papers are perhaps most significant for the information they contain about his interest in, and legislative activities regarding, health policy and health care reform issues. ^[5]

Electoral history

• 1978 race for U.S. Senate (special election)
  • David Durenberger (R), 62%
  • Bob Short (DFL), 35%

• 1982 race for U.S. Senate
  • David Durenberger (R) (inc.), 53%
  • Mark Dayton (DFL), 47%

• 1988 race for U.S. Senate
  • David Durenberger (R) (inc.), 56%
  • Skip Humphrey (DFL), 41%

References

1. ^ Corrine Charais, Political Action Among Alumni, Perspectives, Spring 2007 (page 18).
2. ^ David Durenberger at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
3. ^ Inside Minnesota Politics Podcast: Sen. Dave Durenberger Pt 2
4. ^ Tom Horner
5. ^ David Durenberger senatorial files

External links

United States Senate
Preceded by Muriel Humphrey	United States Senator (Class 1) from Minnesota 1978–1995 Served alongside: Wendell Anderson, Rudy Boschwitz, Paul Wellstone	Succeeded by Rod Grams
Political offices
Preceded by Barry Goldwater Arizona	Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee 1985–1987	Succeeded by David L. Boren Oklahoma

Persondata
Name	Durenberger, David
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 19, 1934
Place of birth	St. Cloud, Minnesota
Date of death
Place of death