Robin Beard

Mr. Beard surprised political pundits throughout Tennessee and the country when he won his seat in 1972. The Democratic legislature had tried to create a safe Democratic seat, but were upset on election night when Mr. Beard coasted to victory. He won four succeeding elections, not even facing an opponent in his last race in 1980. While in Congress, he was a colorful member and one of the foremost experts on national security. He was a member of the Tennessee delegation that valued and triumphed bipartisanship (very much in the spirit of its leader Howard Baker). Mr. Beard rose to a leading position on the House Armed Services Committee before stepping down in 1982 to run for the U.S. Senate.

After retiring from Congress in 1983, Mr. Beard remained active in national security issues, serving as the Assistant Secretary General of NATO (the highest U.S. post at NATO Headquarters) under both Presidents Reagan and Bush (41). He has also been active in several successful business ventures.