Ottinger, Richard L. (Richard Lawrence), 1929-

Richard Lawrence Ottinger (born January 27, 1929) is an American lawyer, legal educator, and politician. A Democrat, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 25th (1965-1971), 24th (1975-1983), and 20th (1983-1985) congressional districts.

Born in New York City, he attended the public schools of Scarsdale, New York before graduating from the Loomis School in Windsor, Connecticut and earning a B.A. from Cornell University and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the New York bar and practiced international and corporate law from 1955 to 1960. He served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1957, and was discharged as a captain. From 1960 to 1961, Ottinger studied international law at Georgetown University. He was one of the founders and the second staff member of the Peace Corps, serving as director of programs for the west coast of South America from 1961 to 1964.

In the 1964 elections, he was elected as a Democrat to the 89th United States Congress and was re-elected twice in 1966 and 1968. In 1970, he gave up his House seat to run on the Democratic ticket for United States Senator from New York. In the 1970 election, Ottinger split the liberal vote with the Republican (and Liberal-endorsed) nominee, incumbent Senator Charles Goodell. Both were defeated by the nominee of the Conservative party, James L. Buckley, in a three-way race. He worked as an organizer for Grassroots Action, Inc. in Washington, D.C. from 1971 to 1972.

In 1972, Ottinger sought to return to his old congressional seat, but lost in a hotly contested election to the Republican incumbent Representative Peter A. Peyser. His comeback effort was successful in 1974, when he was elected to the House from a different district. He was re-elected to the four succeeding Congresses (in 1976, 1978, 1980, and 1982), retiring in 1985. After leaving Congress, Ottinger became a professor at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, founding an environmental law program there. Ottinger served as the law school dean from 1994 to 1999 and currently serves as Dean Emeritus.

Ottinger lives in Mamaroneck, New York.