Former United States Congressman Jack Buechner has recently returned to the consulting arena after retiring from his post over the past half a decade as the President and CEO of "A Presidential Classroom for Young Americans". At Presidential Classroom, Buechner was responsible for maintaining PC’s high profile in the political and civic education community, while securing strategic partnerships to bolster various PC programs. Buechner developed and implemented strategies that continued PC’s mission of preparing the best and brightest high school students to become knowledgeable, committed civic leaders.
Previously, Buechner was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, L.L.P. and represented a wide variety of domestic and international clients before Congress, executive departments, independent agencies and quasi-governmental entities. Working in the government, international trade and policy unit, he developed and implemented strategies in all aspects of the legislative process including the budget, authorizations and appropriations. Buechner’s international work included the analysis of the political, governmental and economic climates in emerging democracies. In addition, he has been an advisor to several ambassadors and corporate executives.
A former U.S. Representative from Kirkwood, Mo., Buechner served Missouri’s 2nd District (St. Louis/St. Charles Counties) from 1987 – 1991. During his terms, he was Vice-Chairman of the Republican Study Committee and Deputy Whip to former Speaker Newt Gingrich. Buechner served on the Budget Committee and the Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
From 1972 to 1983 Buechner was a state representative and Minority Leader in the Missouri House of Representatives and served as a Missouri Tourism Commissioner. Prior to that, he founded his own law firm in St. Louis and practiced law for 18 years before being elected to Congress.
Civic education and academia hold a special place in Buechner's interests and background. Following his congressional tenure, Buechner served as President of the International Republican Institute, a democracy-building, non-governmental organization that is part of the National Endowment for Democracy. The IRI provides training in civic education worldwide. Under his leadership, the IRI opened offices in six countries and developed programs on democracy and free market economies in 28 others including Haiti, El Salvador, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania and Nicaragua. Buechner has also led international election monitoring teams to central America and eastern Europe. Buechner was also the representative of the U.S. Republican Party to the International Democratic Union following the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Buechner has been the visiting professor of political thought at Webster University in Vienna, Austria. Earlier, he was an adjunct professor of political science at St. Louis (Mo) University and Stephen’s College in Columbia, Mo.
Buechner is the current President of the United States Association Former Members of Congress and sits on the boards of the Center for National Policy, Washington Strategic Advisors, the Council for a Community of Democracies, The Zorig Foundation, The Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools, and Presidential Classroom. He has served as president of the Missouri Society of Washington, D.C. and the Pericles Institute, an organization dedicated to rebuilding the high ground in American political culture. He was also a principal in the Virginia public affairs firm, The Hawthorn Group, a vice president of the National Association of State Societies and member of the Advisory Board of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. In June of 2006 he will become one of the first Directors of the International Centre for Elections. Buechner continues to serve in an advisory capacity with select Embassies and international organizations. Currently Buechner works with Soapbox Consulting, a DC-based grassroots advocacy and training enterprise. He also is of counsel to the law firm of Schmeltzer, Aptaker & Shepard.
A much sought after speaker, Buechner has lectured extensively overseas on democracy and free-market economies for the United States Information Agency and has represented the United States throughout the world at conferences on post Cold War developments, including, most recently, The World Conference of Parliamentarians in Support of The United Nations. He is the recipient of many awards for community service and his achievements as a public servant for almost 25 years. In 2004 he received the prestigious “Missourian Award” from the American Heart Association. One of Buechner’s more notable speaking engagements was his appearance on The David Letterman Show as its first Congressional guest.
Buechner is admitted to practice before the United States, Missouri and District of Columbia Courts of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court. He is also admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, the State of Missouri, and in the Federal Tax Court. He can be found in the listings of Who's Who in America, American Politics, American Law, Who's Who in The East and The South, and in The Balkans.
Born in St. Louis, Buechner received an A.B. from St. Benedict’s College in Atchison, Kan. and a J.D. from St. Louis University in Missouri. Following a bout with lung cancer Nancy Chanitz Buechner passed away in January of 2006 and now Jack resides in McLean, Va. with their son Charlie.
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