Wyche Fowler

William Wyche Fowler Jr. (born October 6, 1940) is an American attorney, politician, and diplomat. He is a member of the Democratic Party and served as a U.S. Senator from Georgia from January 1987 to January 1993. He had previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987.

Wyche Fowler
22nd United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
In office September 14, 1996 – March 1, 2001
President	Bill Clinton George W. Bush
Preceded by	Ray Mabus
Succeeded by	Robert W. Jordan
United States senator from Georgia
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Mack Mattingly
Succeeded by	Paul Coverdell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 5th district
In office April 6, 1977 – January 3, 1987
Preceded by	Andrew Young
Succeeded by	John Lewis
Member of the Atlanta City Council
In office 1970 – 1977 Board of Aldermen (1969-1973) City Council President (1974-1976)
Personal details
Born	William Wyche Fowler Jr. (1940-10-06) October 6, 1940 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Davidson College (BA) Emory University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1962-1964

Early life and education

Fowler was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Davidson College, and then served in the United States Army as an intelligence officer. After discharge, he returned to school to earn a law degree from Emory University School of Law.

Career

From 1965 to 1966, he became the chief of staff for Congressman Charles Weltner, and after holding this post for two years, he resigned to become a private attorney. From 1974 to 1977, he served as an Atlanta City Councilman, and he used this position as a stepping stone to the House.

U.S Congress

On April 5, 1977, Fowler was elected in a special election to the U.S. House of Representatives, to fill the vacancy caused by Andrew Young's resignation upon appointment as US Ambassador to the United Nations. He defeated John Lewis in the election.[1]

In 1986, as a U.S. Representative, Fowler narrowly defeated the incumbent Republican Senator Mack Mattingly. Fowler served as the junior senator from Georgia. Fowler's voting record was liberal on social concerns and moderate on economic and national security issues.

On October 15, 1991, Fowler was one of eleven Democrats who voted to confirm the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court in a 52 to 48 vote, the narrowest margin of approval in more than a century.

He unexpectedly lost his re-election bid in 1992 to Georgia state Senator Paul Coverdell (who would later become leader of the state's Republican party). Fowler won a small plurality of the vote against Coverdell on general election night 1992, but Georgia law requires a runoff election between the two candidates with the highest vote totals if no one candidate receives over 50 percent (a majority) of the total vote, and a Libertarian Party candidate received enough votes to keep Fowler's total below 50 percent-plus-one. In the runoff on November 24, 1992, Coverdell upset Fowler by a narrow margin.

The New York Times noted that "he was the key figure in orchestrating a compromise on financing for the National Endowment for the Arts."[2]

Post-Congress

After his re-election defeat, Fowler was selected to serve as the 22nd United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia in the Clinton Administration. Fowler left after George W. Bush took office, and was succeeded by attorney Robert W. Jordan.[3]

After leaving the position, Fowler joined the law firm of Powell, Goldstein, Frazer, and Murphy, and he joined several corporate and academic boards, including those of the Carter Center at Emory University and the Morehouse School of Medicine. He also became board chairman of the Middle East Institute and is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.[4]

References

1. https://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/flashback-john-lewis-wanted-to-go-to-congress-he-didnt-make-it-the-first-time/
2. Rasky, Susan (29 June 1990). "Washington Talk; For Freshman Senator, A Unifying Budget Role". New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
3. Graham, Keith (June 28, 2001). "A bridge between two worlds Wyche Fowler balanced the fight against terrorism with tactful diplomacy in the Middle East, and his ties to the region continue". The Atlanta Constitution. p. B1.
4. "Issue One – ReFormers Caucus". Retrieved 2019-11-07.

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• New Georgia Encyclopedia
• Appearances on C-SPAN

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Andrew Young	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 5th congressional district April 6, 1977 – January 3, 1987	Succeeded by John Lewis
U.S. Senate
Preceded by Mack Mattingly	U.S. senator (Class 3) from Georgia January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1993 Served alongside: Sam Nunn	Succeeded by Paul Coverdell
Party political offices
Preceded by Herman Talmadge	Democratic Party nominee for United States Senator from Georgia (Class 3) 1986, 1992	Succeeded by Michael Coles
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Ray Mabus	United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia 1996–2001	Succeeded by Robert W. Jordan