Buchen, Philip W. (Philip William), 1916-

Philip William Buchen was born on February 27, 1916 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He received an A.B. from the University of Michigan in 1939, and a J.D. from Michigan in 1941. In 1941 he set up a law partnership in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his Michigan fraternity brother, Gerald R. Ford, and worked for the firm until 1942. He was a partner in the law firm of Butterfield, Keeney & Amberg in Grand Rapids, from 1943 to 1947, and he was a partner with the law firm of Amberg, Law & Buchen in Grand Rapids, from 1948 to 1961. He served as Vice President of Grand Valley State College in Allendale, Michigan from 1961 to 1967, and he was Director of Old Kent Financial Corporation in Grand Rapids, 1962 to 1974, and 1977. He was also Director of the Rospatch Corporation in Grand Rapids from 1963 to 1974; partner in the law firm of Buchen, Weathers, Richardson & Dutcher in Grand Rapids, 1967 to 1974; and Director of the Communications Satellite Corporation in Washington, D.C., 1969 to 1974. From 1969 to 1972, Buchen was a member of the U.S. delegation to the INTELSAT Conference which negotiated a definitive arrangement for the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization. From March to August 1974, he served as Executive Director of the Domestic Council Committee on the Right of Privacy. When Gerald Ford succeeded to the Presidency on August 9, 1974, one of his first acts was to appoint his long-time friend and former law partner as chief White House legal advisor and gave the position Cabinet status. As Counsel to the President from 1974 to 1977, Buchen advised President Ford on a wide range of issues, legislation, and actions. After leaving the White House, Buchen was a partner in the law firm of Dewey, Ballantine, Bushby, Palmer & Wood, in Washington, D.C. He died on May 21, 2001.