Until 1973, he was Counsel for the Surface Transportation Subcommittee at the US Senate. During this time, he was involved, among other things, in the legislation for the establishment of the passenger transport company Amtrak. In 1973 he joined the Interstate Commerce Commission, appointed by Richard M. Nixon. Subsequently, President Jimmy Carter re-appointed him and made him Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission, a position he held from April 5, 1977 to December 31, 1979. During this time, he was also a member of the Supervisory Board of the United States Railway Association, the organizational mother of the freight company Conrail. During his term of office, he reformed Interstate Commerce Commission's internal organization and pushed ahead deregulation, especially in freight transport. He worked to reform railroad practices
