Background
Alexander was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and graduated from Osceola High School in Osceola, Arkansas, in 1951.
Alexander was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and graduated from Osceola High School in Osceola, Arkansas, in 1951.
He attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rhodes College in Memphis in 1957.
He earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in Nashville in 1960. He was elected as a Democrat from the 1st District of Arkansas in 1968 and was repeatedly re-elected until 1992, when he was denied party renomination by his former receptionist and future United States. Senator Blanche Lincoln. In his first election, he defeated the Republican Guy Newcomb, also of Osceola, for the right to succeed the retiring Representative Ezekiel C. Gathings.
In 1976, Alexander defeated the farmer, seed merchant, and later Republican state chairman Harlan "Bo" Holleman of Wynne in Cross County.
In 1982, he defeated the Republican Charles A. "Chuck" Banks, who later became United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor in 2006. Alexander was selected for numerous special assignments including: Member, United States Team for the United States-Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics Dialogue (during the height of the Cold War).
Special United States Envoy to Cuba (negotiated the United States-Cuba Agenda with President Fidel Castro). United States Negotiator at United States-Japan Rice Summit (Reached a solution to the rice dumping issue).
United States Emissary to Nicaragua (He negotiated United States position with Sandinista revolutionary government).
United States Emissary to the Peoples Republic of China (in association with normalization of diplomatic relations). United States Emissary to Grenada (Assisted in organizing a new government following liberation). And served as Chairman, The Speaker"s Task Force on Central America (during the counter-revolution).
Bill Alexander is married to Debi Alexander and has three children, Alyse Alexander, William Phillips "Alex" Alexander, and Ashley Semmes Alexander.
While at the University of Arkansas, Alexander was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity (Xi Chapter). Alexander was one of numerous members of Congress linked to the House banking scandal, although he broke no laws nor violated any House rules.