Robert Christian Eckhardt (July 16, 1913 – November 13, 2001) was a Democratic United States Representative representing the 8th District of Texas from 1967 to 1981, and lawyer that practiced labor law.
He moved to Houston and was elected a member of the Texas House of Representatives, serving from 1958 to 1966, where he compiled a fairly liberal voting record. One of Eckhardt's most enduring accomplishments in the Texas House was writing the Texas Open Beaches Act, passed in 1959.[2]
In 1966, he was elected as a Democrat in Congress representing Texas's 8th congressional district, which included most of northern Houston. Eckhardt was the sponsor of the War Powers Act and the Toxic Substances Act.[3] He was reelected six times without serious difficulty. In 1980, however, he was narrowly defeated by Jack Fields, losing by only 4,900 votes. He was also a co-founder of the Texas Observer magazine.[4]
Eckhardt died on November 13, 2001, in Austin. He was interred in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery.
Books authorededit
Eckhardt, Bob. The Tides of Power: Conversations on the American Constitution between Bob Eckhardt, Member of Congress from Texas, and Charles L. Black Jr., Sterling Professor of Law, Yale University (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1976)
Referencesedit
^Guttery, Ben R (2008). Representing Texas. BookSurge Publishing. pp. 58, 59. ISBN978-1-4196-7884-4.
^. Archived from the original on May 15, 2009. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
eckhardt, robert, christian, eckhardt, july, 1913, november, 2001, democratic, united, states, representative, representing, district, texas, from, 1967, 1981, lawyer, that, practiced, labor, member, house, representatives, from, texas, districtin, office, jan. Robert Christian Eckhardt July 16 1913 November 13 2001 was a Democratic United States Representative representing the 8th District of Texas from 1967 to 1981 and lawyer that practiced labor law Bob EckhardtMember of the U S House of Representatives from Texas s 8th districtIn office January 3 1967 January 3 1981Preceded byLera Millard ThomasSucceeded byJack FieldsMember of the Texas House of Representatives from the 22 2 districtIn office 1958 1966Personal detailsBornRobert Christian Eckhardt 1913 07 16 July 16 1913Austin Texas U S DiedNovember 13 2001 2001 11 13 aged 88 Austin Texas U S Political partyDemocraticSpouse s Orissa Stevenson Nadine Ellen Cannon Celia MorrisChildrenOrissa Eckhardt Rosalind Eckhardt Sarah EckhardtRelativesRichard M Kleberg second cousin Rudolph Kleberg great uncle Alma materUniversity of Texas at Austin BA JD Military serviceAllegianceUnited StatesBranch serviceUnited States ArmyYears of service1943 1944 Contents 1 Early life and family 2 Political career 3 Books authored 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and family editEckhardt was born in Austin on July 16 1913 He was the grand nephew of Democratic Congressman Rudolph Kleberg nephew of Republican Congressman Harry Wurzbach and a cousin of Richard Mifflin Kleberg Sr heir to the famous King Ranch in South Texas Eckhardt graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1935 and received his law degree from the University of Texas Law School in 1939 He served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1944 Eckhardt was appointed Southwestern Director of the Office of the Coordinator of Inter American Affairs 1944 1945 1 Political career editHe moved to Houston and was elected a member of the Texas House of Representatives serving from 1958 to 1966 where he compiled a fairly liberal voting record One of Eckhardt s most enduring accomplishments in the Texas House was writing the Texas Open Beaches Act passed in 1959 2 In 1966 he was elected as a Democrat in Congress representing Texas s 8th congressional district which included most of northern Houston Eckhardt was the sponsor of the War Powers Act and the Toxic Substances Act 3 He was reelected six times without serious difficulty In 1980 however he was narrowly defeated by Jack Fields losing by only 4 900 votes He was also a co founder of the Texas Observer magazine 4 Eckhardt died on November 13 2001 in Austin He was interred in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery Books authored editEckhardt Bob The Tides of Power Conversations on the American Constitution between Bob Eckhardt Member of Congress from Texas and Charles L Black Jr Sterling Professor of Law Yale University New Haven Yale University Press 1976 References edit Guttery Ben R 2008 Representing Texas BookSurge Publishing pp 58 59 ISBN 978 1 4196 7884 4 What are Open Beaches Archived from the original on May 15 2009 Retrieved June 6 2009 Political Graveyard Robert C Eckhardt Papers 1931 1992 Center for American History The University of Texas at AustinExternal links edit nbsp Biography portalUnited States Congress Bob Eckhardt id E000035 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Keith Gary A Eckhardt There Once was a Congressman from Texas Austin University of Texas Press 2007 ISBN 978 0 292 71691 9 Robert C Eckhardt Papers 1931 1992 Center for American History The University of Texas at Austin Bob Eckhardt at Find a GraveU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byLera Millard Thomas Member of the U S House of Representatives from Texas s 8th congressional district1967 1981 Succeeded byJack Fields Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bob Eckhardt amp oldid 1207876013, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
