Ambassador Robert S. Strauss
Ambassador Robert S. Strauss has made extraordinary contributions as a public servant and a private businessman during his remarkable career. His unique ability to transcend partisan politics and bring together different cultures, nations and organizations has made him one of America’s most trusted and influential power brokers and presidential advisers.
Raised in the West Texas town of Stamford, Ambassador Strauss served as a Special Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation after earning his law degree from The University of Texas. In 1945, he founded what became Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, now one of the largest law firms in the world.
Ambassador Strauss served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee and as chairman of President Jimmy Carter’s campaigns. He served as President Carter’s Special Trade Representative and was the President’s personal representative to the Middle East peace negotiations.
During George H. W. Bush’s presidency, Ambassador Strauss guided America’s policy toward Russia during the historic fall of the Soviet Union. As our last ambassador to the Soviet Union and our first to Russia, his wisdom and foresight helped transform a bitter rivalry into a lasting strategic partnership.
In 1981, Ambassador Strauss received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of The University of Texas, and he has held the Lloyd Bentsen Chair at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, where he lectured to students of law, business and public policy.
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