Former Michigan U.S. Senator Don Riegle Passes Away at 88
Former Michigan U.S. Senator Don Riegle, who had a distinguished political career spanning different parties and eras, has passed away at the age of 88.
Riegle started his political journey as a Republican, winning a congressional seat in 1966 with the encouragement of Richard Nixon. However, his views diverged from Nixon’s over the Vietnam War and the party’s Southern strategy, leading him to switch to the Democratic party in 1973.
During his time in the U.S. Senate, Riegle served as the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, where he made significant legislative contributions in areas such as financial modernization, community development, and interstate banking.
One of Riegle’s notable achievements was co-sponsoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, a bill aimed at preventing discrimination in credit granting based on sex or marital status. This legislation was later signed into law by President Gerald Ford.
Although Riegle decided not to seek re-election in 1994 after being involved in a controversy related to a Savings and Loan executive investigation, he was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing.
In his later years, Riegle showed his support for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders by endorsing his presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020, marking a shift towards progressive politics.
