Robert Livingston

Robert L. (Bob) Livingston was elected to the United States House of Representatives in a special election in 1977 -- the first Republican to represent Louisiana's First Congressional District in 102 years. He was re-elected to ten successive two-year terms with an average vote of 86%.

In 1994, Mr. Livingston was chosen to Chair the House Appropriations Committee, with jurisdiction over all discretionary expenditures (approximately $560 billion/year) in the federal government. Under his leadership, the committee cut wasteful government spending, froze the growth of federal spending and saved many tens of billions of taxpayers' dollars.

Having achieved historic results and established himself as a budget cutter, Mr. Livingston continued to cut waste and duplication to meet the long term goal of continued balanced budgets, and rendered a federal government that is smaller, more efficient, less intrusive and fiscally solvent into the next century and beyond.

At the start of the 105th Congress in 1997, Livingston chaired the bi-partisan Ethics Reform Task Force, and in addition to shepherding the 13 Appropriations bills through the legislative process; was responsible for revamping House Ethics rules. Prior to his departure from Congress, he was chosen by his peers to serve as Speaker-designate for the 106th Congress.

Mr. Livingston has lived most of his life in southeastern Louisiana. He earned Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctorate degrees from Tulane University, and is a graduate of the Loyola University Institute of Politics. In 1981, he received a Doctorate of Law from Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans, and in 1990, an honorary order of the Coif from the Tulane Law School. In 1997, Tulane named him their "Alumnus of the Year."

A Navy veteran, Mr. Livingston served on active duty with the United States Navy as an enlisted man from 1961-63, and received an honorable discharge from the U. S. Navy Reserve in 1967.

Following his departure from Congress in February, 1999, Mr. Livingston established a consulting firm known as The Livingston Group in both Washington, DC and in New Orleans, Louisiana. Prior to his 211/2 years in Congress, Mr. Livingston practiced law in both public and private fields for nine years. As assistant United States Attorney from 1970-73, he served as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division of the U. S. Attorney's Office, and was honored as an outstanding Assistant U. S. Attorney shortly before his departure from the position. His experience also includes serving as Chief Special Prosecutor and Chief of the Armed Robbery Division of the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office (1974-75), and Chief Prosecutor for the Organized Crime Unit of the Louisiana Attorney General's Office (1975-76).

Mr. Livingston is married to the former Bonnie Robichaux of Raceland, Louisiana, and they maintain residences in Metairie and in Alexandria, Virginia. They have four children. Rob is in business in Louisiana, and is married to the former Sissie Menard. Richard and David are working in New Orleans, and Susie is working in Washington.