Dennis DeConcini

Dennis DeConcini is an American attorney and politician who served as a United States Senator from Arizona from 1977 to 1995. A member of the Democratic Party, he was known as a pragmatic centrist who often broke with his party on key issues, including fiscal policy and gun control. During his three terms, he served on influential committees such as the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, where he played a significant role in shaping national security and budgetary policy.

Early life and education

Born in Tucson, Arizona, he is the son of former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Evo DeConcini. He attended the University of Arizona, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959 and a Juris Doctor from the James E. Rogers College of Law in 1963. After graduation, he served in the United States Army as a judge advocate from 1963 to 1965. He began his legal career in Tucson and entered public service as the Pima County Attorney, serving from 1973 until his election to the United States Senate.

U.S. Senate career

Elected in 1976, he succeeded retiring Republican Senator Paul Fannin. He quickly gained a reputation as a conservative Democrat, co-authoring the landmark Gramm–Rudman–Hollings Balanced Budget Act with Senators Phil Gramm, Warren Rudman, and Fritz Hollings. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, he secured significant federal funding for projects in Arizona, including infrastructure at Luke Air Force Base and research facilities. He served on the Senate Intelligence Committee during the Iran–Contra affair hearings and was a key figure in the confirmation hearings for United States Supreme Court nominees Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas.

Political positions and legacy

His political stance was notably independent, often aligning with Republicans on issues like the balanced budget amendment and deregulation, while supporting traditional Democratic positions on Social Security and environmental protection. He was one of only a few Democrats to vote to confirm Robert Bork and supported the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). His legacy is complex, marked by his fiscal conservatism and his later association with the Keating Five scandal, an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee into his interactions with savings and loan executive Charles Keating.

Post-Senate career

After choosing not to seek re-election in 1994, he returned to legal practice, co-founding the Washington, D.C. lobbying and law firm DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy. He has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, including the Central Arizona Project board and the University of Arizona Foundation. He remains active in public policy discussions, particularly concerning border issues and water policy in the Southwest, and has authored a memoir detailing his political career.

Personal life

He married Susan in 1960, and they have three children. He has remained a resident of Tucson and is an active member of the community, involved with organizations such as the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. His father, Evo DeConcini, was a prominent figure in Arizona's judicial history, serving on both the Arizona Supreme Court and as Arizona Attorney General.

Category:1937 births Category:Living people Category:American lawyers Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Arizona Category:Members of the United States Senate from Arizona Category:University of Arizona alumni Category:People from Tucson, Arizona