Ambassador Robert Strauss Oral History

Upon Robert Strauss's passing at the age of 95 on March 19, 2014, The Washington Post described him as "a smooth-talking Texas lawyer and businessman who became a consummate political insider." Strauss, who was a chief fundraiser for Texas Governor John Connally in 1962, was first appointed by Connally to the Democratic National Committee in 1966. He became chair of the DNC after President Richard Nixon defeated Sen. George McGovern and won re-election in 1972. During the next presidential election, Strauss received credit for helping Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter carry the state of Texas and thus win the presidency in 1976. Strauss was a close advisor to President Carter, who first appointed Strauss as special representative for trade negotiations and later, after the 1979 Camp David Accords, as special Middle East negotiator. Years later, President George H.W. Bush appointed Strauss as the first U.S. ambassador to Russia after the breakup of the Soviet Union. -- Stephen Fagin, Curator