Richard M Bates

Richard M. Bates, longtime senior vice president of U.S. government relations for The Walt Disney Company, died on Thursday December 31 2020. Since 2010, Bates oversaw Disney’s D.C. office, including its interactions with federal and state government entities and trade associations. He joined Disney in 1991, having been tapped to open a lobbying office for the company, then a bit of a novelty for studios to have their own government relations representatives. He previously had a career in politics serving as executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Through the years, Bates advocated on a host of issues include copyright, trade, travel and telecommunications. Bates had recently been advocating on a host of issues, including the recently passed Covid-19 relief package. In March, Bates was among the media company executives who attended a White House meeting with President Donald Trump, portions of which were televised, as theme parks faced closures. He is survived by his wife Rose and their sons Ricky and Chris