Former Michigan Congressman Donald Riegle, who served under seven presidents, passes away at 88

SAN DIEGO — The family of ⁣Donald W. Riegle, a prominent figure in Congress who served Michigan for almost 30 ‍years under seven⁢ different presidents, announced his passing on Sunday. He was 88 years old.

Riegle, who initially started his political journey as a Republican before switching to the Democratic party, succumbed ⁣to cardiac arrest at his residence⁢ in San Diego on Friday, as per the family’s statement.

“Don, the bedrock of our family, was a compassionate, loving, and brave leader who instilled in us the importance of advocating for⁣ justice,⁢ economic prosperity, and​ equality for‌ all,”​ the family’s ‌statement read.

The ​family highlighted Riegle’s ⁢dedication to fighting for the rights of the‍ working class and‍ his leadership⁣ in opposing NAFTA, the North American ‌Free Trade ⁣Agreement, which led to significant job losses in his⁢ home⁣ state.⁣ He was‌ a strong advocate for⁣ economic⁢ growth and the expansion of health insurance coverage in ​Michigan.

Born ​and ⁤raised in Flint, ⁢Michigan, Riegle first entered the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican​ in 1966 when he was just 28. As ⁣a congressman, he openly opposed President Richard Nixon’s policies on the Vietnam War and switched to the Democratic Party in 1973. He​ was elected to the U.S. Senate three years later, where⁢ he served until 1994.

During his tenure as the chair of the Senate Banking Committee,‌ Riegle championed financial reforms in the savings and loan industry. He also ⁢played a crucial role in ⁢securing treatment for ‌military veterans suffering from Gulf War‍ syndrome, who had served⁣ in the Persian Gulf‌ in 1991.

Riegle’s career was not without controversy. He was one of ‍the senators involved in the Keating⁣ Five scandal, where he⁢ and four other senators were investigated by the Ethics Committee in 1990 for allegedly pressuring federal regulators to be lenient on savings and loan mogul ⁣Charles Keating after receiving campaign donations from ⁢him. Although ⁣the committee concluded ‌that Riegle did not violate any federal laws or Senate rules, it did note that his actions⁣ appeared⁣ improper.

In 2001, Riegle took on the role of ‌chairman⁣ of government relations for the public relations firm APCO Worldwide.

After retiring, Riegle enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and other family ⁢members at his homes​ in Michigan and California. His wife of 48 years, Lori Hansen Riegle, was with him when he passed away,​ according to the⁢ family’s statement.

Details regarding memorial services will be announced at a later date.