Dick Gephardt

Richard Andrew Gephardt (born January 31, 1941) served as a U.S. Representative from Missouri from January 3, 1977, until January 3, 2005.

Political views

Since his election to the U.S. House in 1976, Gephardt's political views gradually moved to the left. Originally, Gephardt was strongly anti-abortion and was viewed as a social conservative. His views on abortion shifted from pro-life to pro-choice in late 1986.

Related Topics:
Left - Abortion - Pro-life - Pro-choice - 1986

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::"Life is the division of human cells, a process that begins with conception. The (Supreme Court's abortion) ruling was unjust, and it is incumbent on the Congress to correct the injustice." Gephardt wrote in 1984, "I have always been supportive of pro-life legislation. I intend to remain steadfast on this issue.... I believe that the life of the unborn should be protected at all costs."

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However in 1987, when Gephardt decided to run for president, he announced that he had discontinued his support for pro-life legislation. He informed the National Right to Life Committee; "I now do not support any Constitutional Amendment pertaining to the legality of abortion."

Related Topics:
1987 - Amendment

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Gephardt's views on economic policy have also changed. He voted for President Reagan's tax cuts in 1981, though in the 2000s, he became a staunch opponent of similar tax cuts by President George W. Bush, saying that the enormous surplus created during the administration of Bill Clinton should have been spent on health care instead. Gephardt is widely viewed as an economic populist. He supports universal health coverage, fair trade, and progressive taxation.

Related Topics:
President Reagan - Tax cuts - George W. Bush - Surplus - Bill Clinton - Health care - Populist - Fair trade - Progressive taxation

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Although a former chairman of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council, Gephardt in his later years in Congress distanced himself from the organization, finding his pro-labor views at odds with the DLC's pro-business positions.

Related Topics:
Centrist - Democratic Leadership Council

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