Doug Bereuter
Encyclopedia
Douglas Kent "Doug" Bereuter (born October 6, 1939) is a retired Republican
politician from Nebraska
. He served in the United States House of Representatives
from 1979 until 2004.
and reared in Utica, Nebraska
. After graduation from Utica High School in 1957, he attended he attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, receiving his B.A. degree in 1961. He then attended Harvard University
from 1961 to 1963, receiving his M.C.P degree in 1966. He served as an infantry and intelligence officer in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965. After discharge, he returned to Harvard University
, earning an M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
in 1973. Bereuter worked as an urban planner with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
from 1965 to 1966. He was a division director for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development from 1967 to 1968, and from 1968 to 1970 he was director of Nebraska's Office of Planning and Programming.
Bereuter served in the Nebraska Legislature
from 1974 to 1978, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was reelected 12 times without substantive opposition, and never won less than 58 percent of the vote. He served longer in the House than anyone in Nebraska's history, and only George Norris and Carl Curtis
served in both chambers longer. He announced in late 2003 that he would not run for a 14th term in 2004, resigning on August 1, 2004 to become president of The Asia Foundation.
He was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
and served on the Financial Services Committee
, Committee on International Relations, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and was the Vice-Chairman on the Select Committee on Intelligence
. He was also Chairman of the U.S. House Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
.
Among the bills that Bereuter sponsored is the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004
.
Bereuter generally had a moderate voting record; his lifetime American Conservative Union
rating was 63. He was sometimes critical of the religious right
's influence on the Republican Party. He endorsed Curt Bromm, speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, as his successor in 2004. However, Bromm lost to a considerably more conservative candidate, Jeff Fortenberry
.
Shortly before he left Congress, Bereuter unexpectedly released a statement, calling the Iraq war (which he had previously supported) "a mistake," and strongly criticized a "massive failure" of pre-war intelligence.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician from Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. He served in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1979 until 2004.
Early life
Bereuter was born in York, NebraskaYork, Nebraska
York is a city in York County, Nebraska, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,766. It is the county seat of York County. It is the home of York College and the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women.-Geography:...
and reared in Utica, Nebraska
Utica, Nebraska
Utica is a village in Seward County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Lincoln, Nebraska Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 844 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Utica is located at ....
. After graduation from Utica High School in 1957, he attended he attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...
, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, receiving his B.A. degree in 1961. He then attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
from 1961 to 1963, receiving his M.C.P degree in 1966. He served as an infantry and intelligence officer in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965. After discharge, he returned to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, earning an M.P.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
in 1973. Bereuter worked as an urban planner with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the Executive branch of the United States federal government...
from 1965 to 1966. He was a division director for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development from 1967 to 1968, and from 1968 to 1970 he was director of Nebraska's Office of Planning and Programming.
Political career
Nebraska Legislature
The Nebraska Legislature is the supreme legislative body of the State of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County....
from 1974 to 1978, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was reelected 12 times without substantive opposition, and never won less than 58 percent of the vote. He served longer in the House than anyone in Nebraska's history, and only George Norris and Carl Curtis
Carl Curtis
Carl Thomas Curtis was an American politician from the U.S. state of Nebraska. He served as a Republican in the House of Representatives and later the Senate ....
served in both chambers longer. He announced in late 2003 that he would not run for a 14th term in 2004, resigning on August 1, 2004 to become president of The Asia Foundation.
He was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
and served on the Financial Services Committee
United States House Committee on Financial Services
The United States House Committee on Financial Services is the committee of the United States House of Representatives that oversees the entire financial services industry, including the securities, insurance, banking, and housing industries...
, Committee on International Relations, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and was the Vice-Chairman on the Select Committee on Intelligence
United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
The United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence is a committee of the United States House of Representatives, currently chaired by Mike Rogers. It is the primary committee in the U.S...
. He was also Chairman of the U.S. House Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Founded in 1955, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly serves as the consultative interparliamentary organisation for the North Atlantic Alliance. Its current President is Karl A...
.
Among the bills that Bereuter sponsored is the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004
Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004
The Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 reformed the National Flood Insurance Program and the terms of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. It was designed to "reduce losses to properties for which repetitive flood insurance claim payments have been made." The...
.
Bereuter generally had a moderate voting record; his lifetime American Conservative Union
American Conservative Union
The American Conservative Union is an American political organization advocating conservative policies, and is the oldest such conservative lobbying organization in the country.-Organization:...
rating was 63. He was sometimes critical of the religious right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
's influence on the Republican Party. He endorsed Curt Bromm, speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, as his successor in 2004. However, Bromm lost to a considerably more conservative candidate, Jeff Fortenberry
Jeff Fortenberry
Jeffrey Lane "Jeff" Fortenberry, born December 27, 1960) is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Lincoln and includes most of the eastern third of the state outside the immediate Omaha area.-Early life, education and...
.
Shortly before he left Congress, Bereuter unexpectedly released a statement, calling the Iraq war (which he had previously supported) "a mistake," and strongly criticized a "massive failure" of pre-war intelligence.