Bob Eckhardt

Infobox_Congressman
name = Bob Eckhardt|

birth = July 16, 1913
place of birth = Austin, Texas
date of death = November 13, 2001
place of death = Austin, Texas
state = Texas
district = 8th
term = 1967–1981
preceded = Lera Millard Thomas
succeeded = Jack Fields
party = Democratic
spouse = Nadine Eckhardt
religion = Presbyterian

Robert Christian "Bob" Eckhardt (July 16, 1913–November 13, 2001) was a Democratic United States Representative representing the 8th District of Texas from 1967 to 1981.

Early life and family

Eckhardt was born in Austin, Texas on July 16, 1913. He was the grand-nephew of Rep. Rudolph Kleberg, nephew of Rep. Harry Wurzbach, and a cousin of Richard Mifflin Kleberg, Sr.. Eckhardt graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1935 and received his law degree from the University of Texas Law School in 1939. He served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1944. Eckhardt was appointed Southwestern Director of the Office of Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, 1944–1945.

Political career

He moved to Houston, Texas and was elected a member of the Texas House of Representatives, serving from 1958 to 1966, where he compiled a fairly liberal voting record.

In 1966, he was elected as a Democrat in Congress representing Texas's 8th congressional district, which comprised all of Harris County, Texas. Eckhardt was the sponsor of the War Powers Act and the Toxic Substances Act. [ [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/eberhart-eddleman.html#R9M0IVST5| Political Graveyard] ] He was defeated by Jack Fields in 1980. He was also a cofounder of the "Texas Observer" magazine. [ [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/00263/cah-00263.html| Robert C. Eckhardt Papers, 1931–1992, Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin] ] Eckhardt died on November 13, 2001, in Austin, Texas and was interred in Austin Memorial Cemetery.

Books authored

* Eckhardt, Bob. "The Tides of Power: Conversations on the American Constitution between Bob Eckhardt, Member of Congress from Texas, and Charles L. Black, Jr., Sterling Professor of Law, Yale University" (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1976)

References

ources

*Keith, Gary A. "Eckhardt:There Once was a Congressman from Texas" (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2007)
* [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/00263/cah-00263.html| Robert C. Eckhardt Papers, 1931–1992, Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin]

External links

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