| David Durenberger | |
|---|---|
| United States Senator from Minnesota |
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| In office November 8, 1978 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Muriel Humphrey |
| Succeeded by | Rod Grams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Ferdinand Durenberger August 19, 1934 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.
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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.
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.
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.
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]
| 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 |
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