After serving in Congress, Buechner (BEEK-ner)[1] became president of the International Republican Institute and was an associate at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.

He served as senior counsel to The Hawthorn Group in Alexandria, Virginia, and was on the advisory board of Bloomberg Government.

[3] In 1984 he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Missouri's 2nd congressional district, challenging incumbent Democrat Robert A.

[9] Buechner was re-elected in 1988, but in 1990 he was defeated by Democrat Joan Kelly Horn by only 54 votes.

Apple Jr. of The New York Times blamed "taxes and the budget battle" for Buechner's loss.

[5] After Senator John McCain became chairman of the Institute, the board fired Buechner, who later described his dismissal as "less than gracious.

"[13] He also became a partner at the Washington, D.C., office of law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips[14][12] and later Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C.