Bob Livingston

Bob Livingston
not provided · Public domain · source
Name	Robert Linlithgow Livingston III
Birth date	1943-10-23
Birth place	Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Occupation	Attorney, politician, lobbyist
Party	Republican
Offices	U.S. Representative from Louisiana (1977–1999); Chair of the House Appropriations Committee (1995–1999)

Bob Livingston

Robert Linlithgow Livingston III is an American attorney, former United States Representative from Louisiana, and lobbyist. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1977 until his resignation in 1999, rising to Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. Livingston’s career spans roles in private law practice, state politics, federal appropriations leadership, and post-congressional lobbying and advocacy.

Early life and education

Livingston was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado and raised in Monroe, Louisiana. He attended Louisiana State University for undergraduate studies and earned a Juris Doctor from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University Law Center. During his formative years he was influenced by regional political figures in Louisiana politics and national conservative leaders, participating in student organizations and local civic groups in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana.

Legal and business career

After law school Livingston joined private practice in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and later in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he worked on corporate, tax, and regulatory matters. He became involved with regional business associations such as the Greater New Orleans, Inc. and interacted with energy sector firms active in the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana oil industry. Livingston served on corporate boards and advised companies on federal regulatory issues, engaging with institutions like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Internal Revenue Service on compliance and tax planning.

U.S. House of Representatives

Livingston was first elected to represent Louisiana’s congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in 1976 and took office in 1977. As a member of the Republican Party, he served on influential panels including the House Appropriations Committee and rose to leadership positions as House Republican Conference secretary and later as Chair of the Appropriations Committee following the Republican Revolution of 1994. During his tenure he worked on federal spending bills, defense and veterans’ appropriations involving the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and infrastructure projects affecting ports like the Port of New Orleans. He collaborated with members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and with congressional leaders such as Newt Gingrich and Bob Dole on budget and fiscal legislation.

Ethics controversy and resignation

In late 1998 Livingston faced an ethics controversy following public revelations tied to personal conduct and impending media reporting by outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. Amid scrutiny from congressional ethics procedures and pressure from colleagues in the United States Congress including James A. Leach and others, Livingston announced his intention to resign as Speaker-designate of the House of Representatives and subsequently resigned his House seat in 1999. The episode occurred contemporaneously with the impeachment proceedings against Bill Clinton, generating significant coverage in national media and commentary from political actors across Capitol Hill.

Post-congressional activities and lobbying

After departing Congress, Livingston formed a lobbying and consulting firm in Washington, D.C. and returned to legal practice. He registered as a lobbyist and represented clients in sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and finance, engaging with agencies like the Federal Communications Commission and lawmakers on matters related to federal appropriations and regulatory policy. Livingston also became involved with think tanks and policy organizations, appearing at conferences hosted by groups such as the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation, and serving on advisory boards for regional economic development entities in Louisiana.

Political positions and legacy

Throughout his career Livingston advanced fiscally conservative positions aligned with the Republican Party Republican leadership of the 1990s, advocating for reduced federal spending priorities in appropriations negotiations and supporting defense funding for programs tied to the United States military and Gulf Coast interests. He was active on matters affecting the energy industry and regional infrastructure, shaping appropriations for flood protection projects including initiatives relevant to the Army Corps of Engineers. Livingston’s legacy is mixed: he is recognized for his procedural influence on federal spending and for mentoring lawmakers from Louisiana and other states, while his resignation marked a notable moment in late-20th-century congressional ethics controversies covered by national media and debated by scholars of American politics and congressional history.

Category:1943 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana Category:Louisiana State University alumni