Frank Fahrenkopf
Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr. (born August 28, 1939) is an American attorney, political executive, and lobbyist who was chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1983 to 1989. Fahrenkopf is co-founder, and currently co-chairman, of the Commission on Presidential Debates, which conducts the United States general election presidential and vice presidential debates. In the private sector, Fahrenkopf most recently served as the American Gaming Association's first president, and retired from the position in 2013.
Frank Fahrenkopf
Early life and education[edit]
Fahrenkopf was born in Brooklyn, New York, on August 28, 1939.[1] He is a 1958 graduate of Reno High School. In 1962, Fahrenkopf graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. In 1965 he graduated from the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.
Career[edit]
Early legal work[edit]
After graduating from law school, Fahrenkopf was hired as an associate by the Reno law firm of Breen and Young. In 1967, he left that firm to become a partner in Sanford, Sanford, Fahrenkopf, and Mousel, another Reno law firm, and also taught criminal law at the University of Nevada. He remained a partner in the firm until 1975, when he founded Fahrenkopf, Mortimer, Sourwine, Mousel and Sloane. The new firm's clients included hotels, casinos, liquor vendors, and construction companies. Also in the 1970s, Fahrenkopf was retained by the Washington law firm of Hogan & Hartson.[1]
Politics prior to the RNC[edit]
In 1965, just out of law school, Fahrenkopf met all the members of the Nevada Young Republicans Club; a week later, Fahrenkopf was elected chairman of the club. Within two years the club had more than 500 members. In 1972, Fahrenkopf was the Northern Nevada co-chairman of President Richard Nixon's reelection campaign. He was general counsel to the Nevada Republican Committee from 1972 to 1975 and its chairman from 1975 to 1983.[1]
At the national level, Fahrenkopf became a member of the Republican National Committee in 1975. He was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1972, 1976, and 1980. From 1977 to 1979 he was a member of the Republican National Committee's executive committee. From 1981 to 1983, he was the national chairman of the Republican State Chairman's Association.[1]
Personal life[edit]
Fahrenkopf and his wife, the former Mary Bandoni, have three daughters: Allison, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, PMI North America; Leslie, former associate White House Counsel to President George W. Bush; and Amy, a physician and President of HSS Health at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. He is an avid golfer, tennis player and sports enthusiast.[3]