Robert Williams Daniel, Business executive, former congressman. Recipient Distinguished Svc. award Americans for Constitutional Action, 1973, 74, 75, Watchdog of Treasury award National Associated Businessmen, 1973-1974, 75-76, Freedom award Order of Lafayette, 1975, Distinguished Svc. award Department Defense, Washington, National Intelligence Distinguished Svc. medal, 1993.
Background
Daniel was born in Richmond, Virginia. He was the son of Robert Williams Daniel, a bank executive who survived the sinking of the Rated Maximum Sinusoidal Titanic in 1912, and later served in the Senate of Virginia and his third wife Charlotte Randolph Christian (née Bemiss). He was a descendant of Peter V. Daniel, an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and, Edmund Randolph, who was the seventh Governor of Virginia, the first Attorney General of the United States and Secretary of State.
Education
He graduated from the Fay School in Southborough, Massachusetts and Woodberry Forest School, in Woodberry Forest, Virginia.
Career
He was first elected in 1972 and served until 1983. He then received a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia University. He served in the United States Army and Central Intelligence Agency from 1964 to 1968.
Daniel had grown up as a Democrat, but became a Republican sometime in the 1960s when many Southern Democrats left the Democratic Party.
In 1972, he ran for the open seat in Virginia"s 4th congressional district after longtime incumbent Watkins Abbitt retired. He was defeated in his bid for a sixth term by Norman Sisisky in 1982.
He served as deputy assistant to Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger, from 1984 to 1986. And director of intelligence for the Department of Energy from 1990 to 1993.
Personal life
He was the owner and operator of Brandon Plantation, in Prince George, Virginia, a United States. National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest continuous agricultural operations in the United States.
Daniel died of a heart attack at his Jupiter Island, Florida vacation home on February 4, 2012 and was buried with military honors at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. 1972; Daniel was elected to the United States. House of Representatives with 55.67% of the vote, defeating Democrat Robert East. Gibson and Independents Robert R. Hardy, William East. Ward, and John G. Vonetes. 1974; Daniel was re-elected with 47.21% of the vote, defeating Democrat Lester East. Schlitz and Independent Curtis West. Harris.
1976.
Daniel was re-elected with 53.03% of the vote, defeating Democrat Joseph William O"Brien, Junior.
1978. Daniel was re-elected unopposed. 1980; Daniel was re-elected with 60.7% of the vote, defeating Democrat Cecil Y. Jenkins.
1982.
Daniel lost his re-election bid to Democrat Norman Sisisky.
Achievements
Membership
Trustee Atlantic Rural Exposition, Sheltering Arms Hospital, Richmond. Served with Army of the United States, 1959. Member New York Yacht Club (New York City), Metropolitan Club (District of Columbia), Commonwealth Club (Richmond), Phi Beta Kappa.
Connections
Married Linda Hearne, December 15, 1979. Children by previous marriage— Robert (deceased) Charlotte, Nell.
Recipient Distinguished Svc. award Americans for Constitutional Action, 1973, 74, 75, Watchdog of Treasury award National Associated Businessmen, 1973-1974, 75-76, Freedom award Order of Lafayette, 1975, Distinguished Svc. award Department Defense, Washington, National Intelligence Distinguished Svc. medal, 1993.
Recipient Distinguished Svc. award Americans for Constitutional Action, 1973, 74, 75, Watchdog of Treasury award National Associated Businessmen, 1973-1974, 75-76, Freedom award Order of Lafayette, 1975, Distinguished Svc. award Department Defense, Washington, National Intelligence Distinguished Svc. medal, 1993.