David Funderburk
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David Britton Funderburk (born April 28, 1944) is an American politician and diplomat who served as the Ambassador of the United States to Romania from 1981 to 1985. He later served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from
North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...
for one term.


Early life and education

Funderburk was born at Langley Field in
Hampton, Virginia Hampton is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 137,148 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, seve ...
as the son of a pastor and school teacher. He grew up in Aberdeen, North Carolina and attended
Wake Forest University Wake Forest University (WFU) is a private research university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1834, the university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina. The R ...
from 1962 to 1967, earning a B.A. and M.A. He received his Ph.D. in 1974 from the
University of South Carolina The University of South Carolina (USC, SC, or Carolina) is a Public university, public research university in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1801 as South Carolina College, It is the flagship of the University of South Car ...
, with a thesis titled "British policy towards Romania, 1938–1940: A Study in Economic and Political Strategy".


Career

Prior to entering politics, Funderburk worked as a professor of history. He initially taught at Wingate University and then later at the University of South Carolina, Hardin–Simmons University, and Campbell University. He was a Fulbright Scholar who later received Romania's highest award to a foreigner. The University of Bucharest and Campbell University gave him honorary doctorates.


Ambassador

In 1981, Funderburk was chosen as the U.S. Ambassador to the
Socialist Republic of Romania The Socialist Republic of Romania (, RSR) was a Marxism–Leninism, Marxist–Leninist One-party state, one-party socialist state that existed officially in Romania from 1947 to 1989 (see Revolutions of 1989). From 1947 to 1965, the state was ...
, and served until 1985. In ''Pinstripes and Reds'', a book published in 1987, he described the process by which he was nominated and confirmed to be ambassador, as well as aspects of life in Romania during the administration of
Nicolae Ceaușescu Nicolae Ceaușescu ( ; ;  – 25 December 1989) was a Romanian politician who was the second and last Communism, communist leader of Socialist Romania, Romania, serving as the general secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 u ...
.


Senate campaign

In 1986, Funderburk ran for the U.S. Senate, but was defeated in the Republican primary by incumbent Jim Broyhill.


Congress

After the Senate race, Funderburk became a professional lecturer and writer. In 1994, he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives and was elected as a Republican to the 104th Congress, coming in as a part of what became known as the Republican Revolution. Funderburk was the first Republican to represent his district since 1901. Funderburk was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the 105th Congress. His defeat was largely blamed on a car accident in which he was involved. Witnesses claimed that he was driving but then switched seats with his wife.


Lobbyist

After leaving Congress, Funderburk joined the law firm Kirkpatrick and Lockhart, where he worked as a lobbyist.


Books

* ''If the Blind Lead the Blind: The Scandal Regarding the Mis-teachings of Communism in American Universities'' Erwin, N.C.: Carolina Arts and Publishing House, 1978. * ''British Policy Toward Romania, 1938–1940'' N.p., 1983. * ''Pinstripes and Reds: An American Ambassador Caught Between the State Department & the Romanian Communists, 1981–1985'' Washington, D.C.: Selous Foundation Press, 1987.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Funderburk, David Britton 1944 births Living people Ambassadors of the United States to Romania Wake Forest University alumni University of South Carolina alumni Politicians from Hampton, Virginia Wingate University faculty University of South Carolina faculty Campbell University faculty Hardin–Simmons University faculty Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina Baptists from Virginia People from Southern Pines, North Carolina Baptists from North Carolina 20th-century American diplomats Members of Congress who became lobbyists Commanders of the Order of the Star of Romania 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives