Richard "Dick" Gephardt is a prominent American politician who represented Missouri in the U.S. House of Representatives for 28 years. Serving from 1977 to 2005, he rose through the Democratic Party's leadership ranks to become House Majority Leader and later House Minority Leader. Gephardt was also a significant contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in both 1988 and 2004, focusing on themes of economic populism and fair trade. After retiring from Congress, he founded a public affairs firm and remains an influential voice in American politics.