Larry Lee Pressler
Senator Larry Lee Pressler was born March 29, 1942 in Humboldt, South Dakota. He is a U.S. politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1975-1979) for two terms and as U.S. Senator (1979-1997) for three terms.
Political Career
Senator Pressler served in the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant and served two tours in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968. He then served as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer (FSR) from 1971 to 1974. He served as a member of the United States Congress, as both a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1975-1979) and U.S. Senate (1979-1997). Senator Pressler was the Senior Partner of O’Conner, Hannon Law Firm in Washinton D.C. from 1997 to 2002. He is the founder of the Pressler Group LLC in Washington D.C. and New York in 2002. Since 2006, he has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Blackhorse Enhanced Vietnam Inc. Fund. He is also a board member of the Jericho Project’s Veterans Advisory Council in New York City since 2008. President Barack Obama appointed Senator Pressler for Commissioner of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad on November 10th 2009. He is currently a finalist for the Additional Fulbright Professor Grant in 2014. Senator Pressler is part of the South Dakota Farmer’s Union Foundation Board and is still working at the Pressler Group Law Firm. In December 2013, he declared that he would run as an independent candidate for South Dakota’s open Senate seat.
Education
Senator Pressler attended University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD and received a B.A. in Government, in the year 1964. After graduating from USD, he was chosen as a Rhode’s Scholar in 1964 and went on to study at Oxford University, Oxford, England in Public and Social Administration. In 1966, he attended Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government and received a Masters in Public Administration. In 1971, Pressler attended Harvard Law School and received a Juris Doctor.
Notable work
Pressler was awarded a Fulbright Senior Lectureship at the University of Bologna, Italy for Spring semester 2009 and lectured on international relations from January to June 2009. Moreover, he received the following medals and citations for his two tours of duty with the U.S. Army in Vietnam: Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation with one Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device, Overseas Service Bars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation Badge.
