Dan Tichon, born in Haifa in 1937, is married and the father of two. He served as an officer in the IDF and graduated in economics and international relations from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
In 1970-74 he served as Advisor to the Minister of Trade and Industry on Development Areas.
In 1971-81 he was Chairman of the Directors' Council of the Housing and Development Company, and in 1977 was appointed Director General of the Housing and Development Company.
Dan Tichon was elected to the 10th Knesset in 1981, in which he served as member of the Knesset Committees on Finance, Internal Affairs and the Environment, State Control, Energy, and Sport. Re-elected in 1984, he served as Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, and member of the Knesset Committees on Finance and State Audit. He continued in these positions in the 12th Knesset (1988-92), serving also as Chairman of the Israel-Germany Parliamentary Friendship League (continuing through 1996). In the 13th Knesset 1992-96, he was Chairman of the Knesset Committee on State Audit, and member of the Knesset Committee on Finance.
He served as Speaker of the 14th Knesset from July 1996-June 1999.