Richard W. Graber

Richard William Graber (born 1956) is an American lawyer from Wisconsin and Republican politician, who served as United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2006 to 2009. He was appointed by George W. Bush on September 14, 2006. His office ended as Barack Obama became the new President of the United States on January 20, 2009. After two years, Norman L. Eisen was appointed as his successor.

Graber spent 20 years as a partner at the law firm of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, eventually becoming the firm's CEO. In 2010, he joined Honeywell as vice president of global relations. In 2016, Graber became president and CEO of the Bradley Foundation.

Early life and career

Graber received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University in 1978 and a Juris Doctor degree from the Boston University School of Law in 1981. He practiced law at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, a large Wisconsin law firm, from 1981 to 2006; and returned to that firm after leaving his ambassadorial post. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the Medical College of Wisconsin and is former vice chairman and director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago.

Political career

In 1990, Graber ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly in a special election for the 10th district, but lost to Alberta Darling in the Republican primary election. Graber was elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin in June 1999. He was re-elected in 2001, 2003 and 2005 and was one of the longest serving State Chairmen in the country. He served as Chairman of the Wisconsin Delegation at the 2004 national convention in New York, was a delegate at the 2000 convention and was an alternate at the 1992 and 1996 conventions. From 2002 to 2006, Graber served as Wisconsin's representative on the Republican National Committee's Rules Committee. He also served as Finance Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin from 1993 to 1999 and as Secretary from 1991 to 1999.