Representative David Edward Satterfield - Contact Information

David Edward Satterfield III (December 2, 1920 – September 30, 1988) was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served as a Representative from Virginia in the United States Congress from 1965 to 1981. Over the course of eight consecutive terms, he represented Virginia’s 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives and contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history. He was the son of Dave E. Satterfield, Jr., who had earlier served as a member of the House of Representatives from Virginia from 1937 to 1945, establishing a family tradition of congressional service.

Satterfield was born on December 2, 1920, into a politically engaged family in Virginia, where his father’s career in public office exposed him early to the workings of government and public service. Growing up during the Great Depression and coming of age as the United States entered World War II, he was shaped by both the economic challenges and the global conflicts of his time. The example set by his father’s tenure in Congress helped orient him toward a career that combined law and politics, and he developed an early familiarity with the issues and institutions that would later define his own public life.

After completing his early education in Virginia, Satterfield pursued higher education and legal training, preparing for a professional career as an attorney. His legal education equipped him with a grounding in constitutional principles, statutory interpretation, and the practical skills of advocacy that would later inform his work as a legislator. Upon admission to the bar, he entered the practice of law in Virginia, building a reputation as a capable lawyer and gaining experience with the legal and regulatory concerns of individuals, businesses, and public entities in his home state.

Satterfield’s professional standing and family background in public service naturally led him into active participation in the Democratic Party in Virginia. As a Democratic politician, he became involved in party affairs and public issues at a time when Virginia and the broader South were undergoing political and social change. His legal expertise and familiarity with public policy questions positioned him as a credible candidate for higher office, and he emerged as a leading Democratic figure in his district.

In 1964, Satterfield was elected as a Democrat to the Eighty-ninth Congress, taking office on January 3, 1965, as the U.S. Representative from Virginia’s 3rd congressional district. He would be reelected to seven succeeding Congresses, serving continuously until January 3, 1981. His sixteen-year tenure in the House of Representatives coincided with major national developments, including the height of the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, the Great Society programs, and the economic and political shifts of the 1970s. As a member of the House, Satterfield participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents, contributing to debates and legislation affecting both Virginia and the nation. Throughout his eight terms in office, he worked within the Democratic caucus during a period of evolving party priorities and regional realignments.

During his congressional service, Satterfield’s work reflected the concerns of a mid-Atlantic urban and suburban district, balancing local needs with national policy considerations. He was part of the legislative deliberations on domestic policy, federal spending, and regulatory matters that shaped the modern federal government. His background as a lawyer informed his approach to legislation, and his long tenure provided continuity of representation for the 3rd district. By the end of his service in 1981, he had become a veteran member of the House with extensive experience in committee work and constituent advocacy.

After leaving Congress in 1981, Satterfield returned to private life, drawing on his legal and legislative experience in subsequent professional and civic activities. He remained associated with public affairs in Virginia, reflecting the long-standing engagement of the Satterfield family in state and national politics. David Edward Satterfield III died on September 30, 1988, closing a career that spanned law, politics, and sixteen years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives, and extending the legacy begun by his father’s earlier tenure in Congress.