Chuck_Hagel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Chuck Hagel Chuck Hagel Chuck Hagel Rank Unit Battles/wars Awards sergeant Infantry Vietnam War Purple Heart Army Commendation Medal Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Combat Infantry Badge United States Senator from Nebraska In office January 7, 1997 – January 3, 2009 Preceded by Succeeded by J. James Exon Mike Johanns Charles Timothy "Chuck" Hagel (born October 4, 1946) is a former United States Senator from Nebraska. A member of the Republican Party, he was first elected in 1996 and was reelected in 2002. On 10 February 2009, he was elected as Chairman of the Atlantic Council of the United States, succeeding General James L. Jones, who left to become National Security Advisor to President Barack Obama. [1] Deputy Administrator of Veteran Affairs In office 1981 – 1982 President Born Nationality Political party Spouse Children Residence Alma mater Occupation Religion Military service Service/ branch Years of service United States Army 1967-1968 Ronald Reagan October 4, 1946 (1946-10-04) North Platte, Nebraska American Republican Lilibet Hagel Allyn Hagel Ziller Hagel Omaha, Nebraska University of Nebraska at Omaha Electronics executive Episcopalian Early life and family Born in North Platte, Nebraska, to Betty Dunn Hagel and Charles Dean Hagel, who had German and Polish ancestry,[2] he graduated from St. Bonaventure High School (now Scotus Central Catholic High School) in Columbus, Nebraska, and the Brown Institute for Radio and Television in 1966 and from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1972. Hagel is a Vietnam War veteran, having served in the United States Army infantry, attaining the rank of Sergeant (E-5) from 1967–1968. While serving during the Vietnam War, he received the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, two Purple Hearts, Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. After returning from Vietnam, Hagel worked as a bartender and radio newscaster while finishing college. Hagel married Lilibet Ziller in April, 1985. The couple live with their daughter, Allyn, and son, Ziller, in McLean, Virginia.[3] Hagel’s brother, Thomas, also a veteran of the Vietnam War, is a professor at the University of Dayton School of Law. 1 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Chuck Hagel ownership interest, “Hagel’s ethics filings pose disclosure issue”.[5] Career in Washington In 1971, Hagel was hired as a staffer for Congressman John Y. McCollister (R-NE), serving until 1977. For the next four years, he worked as a lobbyist for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, and, in 1980, he served as an organizer for the successful presidential campaign of former California Governor Ronald Reagan. After Reagan’s inauguration as President, Hagel was named deputy administrator of the Veterans Administration. In 1982, however, he resigned his post over a disagreement with V.A. Administrator Robert P. Nimmo, who was intent on cutting funding for V.A. programs, and who had referred to veterans groups as "greedy", and to Agent Orange as not much worse than a "little teenage acne".[4] Senate career In 1996, Chuck Hagel ran for the US Senate against Ben Nelson, who was the sitting governor of Nebraska. Although many people believed he had no chance of winning, he won a "stunning upset" in the election, receiving 56% of the vote (Nelson was later elected to Nebraska’s other Senate seat, in 2000). During his first campaign, Hagel indicated that, were he to be elected, he would retire in 2008 after two terms in the Senate.[6] Six years later in 2002, Hagel overwhelmingly won re-election with over 83% of the vote, the largest margin of victory in any statewide race in Nebraska history. Since his election to the Senate in 1996, Hagel served as deputy whip for the Republican Caucus. He was chair of both the Senate Global Climate Change Observer Group and the Senate Oversight Task Force. He served as co-chairman of the CongressionalExecutive Commission on China. He also served on the NATO Observer Group. Hagel was a member of four Senate committees: Foreign Relations; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Rules and Administration. Hagel’s name was widely rumoured to be one of those considered by George W. Bush as a potential running mate in the 2000 election. In October 2002, Hagel voted in favor of authorizing the use of military force against Iraq. In August 2004, Hagel acknowledged that he was considering a presidential campaign in 2008. Hagel appeared as himself on the HBO series K Street in 2003, on the episode entitled "Week Four". On immigration, Senator Hagel supports a "pathway to citizenship" and a "guest worker program" for undocumented immigrants. On May 25, 2006 he voted for S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, which passed the Senate before reaching a stalemate in the House in late 2006. On June 26, 2007, Hagel joined with Senator Ted Kennedy to support the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1639). Business career After leaving government employment, Hagel co-founded Vanguard Cellular, a mobile phone manufacturer that made him a multi-millionaire. While working with Vanguard, he served as president and chief executive officer of the United Service Organizations and the Private Sector Council, as deputy director and chief operating officer of the 1990 G7 Summit, and on the board of directors or advisory committee of the American Red Cross, the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute, Bread for the World, and the Ripon Society. He also served as Chairman of the Agent Orange Settlement Fund and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Although he was pressured by some to run for Governor of Virginia, where he had lived for 20 years, in 1992 Hagel moved back to Nebraska to become president of the McCarthy Group, an investment banking firm. He also served as a Chairman and was CEO of American Information Systems Inc. (AIS), a voting machine manufacturer, this same company electronically counted 80% of the votes in the state in the very same election that he had his stunning upset. He did not disclose his position as CEO of the company in his mandated disclosures, until its name-change to Election Systems & Software (ES&S) in 1997. He had ownership interest in ES&S through its parent company The McCarthy Group as of January 29, 2003, when The Hill reported that, due to his 2 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Due to displeasure over Hagel’s stance on the war, Nebraska State Attorney General Jon Bruning announced plans to challenge him in the primaries in 2008 if he did not retire. In July 2007, Hagel was one of three Republican Senators who supported the legislation proposed by Democrats to require a troop withdrawal to begin within 120 days. "This thing is really coming undone quickly, and [Prime Minister] Maliki’s government is weaker by the day. The police are corrupt, top to bottom. The oil problem is a huge problem. They still can’t get anything through the parliament—no hydrocarbon law, no de-Baathification law, no provincial elections," (stated in Robert Novak Interview with Hagel published in the Washington Post: "Hagel’s Stand".) After considering running in the 2008 presidential election, Hagel announced in 2007 that he would retire from the Senate at the end of his present term and would not seek the presidency. [7] He has joined the faculty of Georgetown University as a Distinguished Professor in the Practice of National Governance and will begin teaching in the fall of 2009. [8] Senator Hagel’s differences with his party’s platform on Iraq are reflected in a change to his voting record. As reported in the New Yorker [9]: ..according to Congressional Quarterly, in 2006 he voted with the President ninety-six per cent of the time... Hagel’s support for Bush’s policies declined—in 2007, he voted with the President just seventy-two per cent of the time. The New York Times reported on Saturday, September 8, 2007 that Hagel would retire from the Senate at the conclusion of his present term, and would not seek the Republican Party nomination for the Presidency in 2008.[10] Hagel had a tradition of wearing costumes to work on Halloween, usually masquerading as colleagues or other notable political figures. He has arrived at work dressed as Joe Biden, John McCain, Colin Powell, and Pat Roberts in past years.[11] Chuck Hagel • Subcommittee on African Affairs • Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs • Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection (Ranking Member) • Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs • Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions (Ranking Member) • Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development • Select Committee on Intelligence • Committee on Rules and Administration Criticism of the Bush Administration On August 18, 2005, Hagel compared the Iraq War to Vietnam and openly mocked Vice President Dick Cheney’s assertion that the Iraqi insurgency was in its "last throes."[12] In November 2005, Hagel made a muchpublicized statement: "To question your government is not unpatriotic — to not question your government is unpatriotic." This was in reference to the lack of open debate in Congress regarding the Iraq War, and in defense of his assertion that the United States should withdraw its troops. In December 2005, in reference to Bush, the Republican Party, and the PATRIOT Act, Hagel made a much-publicized statement: "I took an oath of office to the Constitution, I didn’t take an oath of office to my party or my president."[13] In January 2006, Hagel took issue with Karl Rove over controversial statements the White House advisor made concerning the mindset of Republicans and Democrats. Hagel said, "Well, I didn’t like what Mr. Rove said, because it frames terrorism and the issue of terrorism and everything that goes with it, whether it’s the renewal of the Patriot Act or the NSA wiretapping, in a political context." He also said that "dark clouds" are hanging over the Republican party, and "If you look at the environment and the atmospherics politically in this town, read any poll. The sixth year of a governing party usually... is not good... the country is tired, a lot Committee assignments • Committee on Foreign Relations • Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs 3 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia of complications in these international issues, we’re at war."[14] Hagel further criticized the Bush administration, saying, "National security is more important than the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. And to use it to try to get someone elected will ultimately end up in defeat and disaster for that political party."[14] In July 2006, Hagel again took issue with the Bush administration, this time on its handling of the Israel-Lebanon issue saying "The sickening slaughter on both sides must end and it must end now. President Bush must call for an immediate cease-fire. This madness must stop."[15] After Republican losses in the 2006 midterm election, Hagel penned an editorial in the Washington Post highly critical of military strategies both employed and proposed for Iraq. He unequivocally declared that "There will be no victory or defeat for the United States in Iraq," and called for a "phased troop withdrawal"—making Hagel one of the most prominent voices in his party to do so.[16] According to a SurveyUSA poll, Hagel has a 10% higher approval rating among Nebraska Democrats than Republicans.[17][18] OnTheIssues.org rates Hagel as a "libertarian-leaning conservative". In January 2007, Hagel openly criticized President Bush’s plan to send an additional 20,000 troops to Iraq. He called it, "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam, if it’s carried out."[19] Together with Democrats Joseph Biden and Carl Levin he proposed a non-binding resolution to the Democratic-controlled Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which rejected Bush’s policy as "not in the national interest" in a 12-9 vote.[20] However, in a Senate vote of 94-2 to revoke executive power to replace federal prosecutors without a preliminary hearing, Senator Hagel and Senator Kit Bond were the only opposition.[21] After an April 2007 visit to Iraq with Pennsylvania Democratic Representative Joe Sestak, Hagel expressed his belief that the occupation of Iraq should not continue indefinitely and defended Congressional actions to set a timeline for an end in occupation. In July 2007, Hagel expressed his intention to cooperate with Senate Democrats in voting for a bill that would set a timeline to get out of Iraq.[22] Chuck Hagel In November 2007, he rated the Bush administration "the lowest in capacity, in capability, in policy, in consensus—almost every area" of any presidency in the last forty years. He also revealed he was open to running as vice-president with the 2008 Democratic nominee.[23] In the same month, he said, "I have to say this is one of the most arrogant, incompetent administrations I’ve ever seen or ever read about."[23] Despite his criticisms of the Bush administration, his voting record was 78.1% with his party.[24] Retirement On September 10, 2007, Hagel announced that he would be retiring from the Senate at the end of his term in 2009.[25] The announcement ended speculation regarding a possible bid for the presidency in 2008. On its website The Times reported that the Senator is a possible candidate for the cabinet position of United States Secretary of Defense in the Barack Obama administration: Obama is hoping to appoint crossparty figures to his cabinet such as Chuck Hagel, the Republican senator for Nebraska and an opponent of the Iraq war […] Senior advisers confirmed that Hagel, a highly decorated Vietnam war veteran and one of McCain’s closest friends in the Senate, was considered an ideal candidate for defense secretary.[26] Senator Obama was quoted in the same article, when asked about Hagel as a potential cabinet member: "Chuck Hagel is a great friend of mine and I respect him very much."[26] Following Hagel’s retirement from the Senate, in February 2009 he accepted a position as Distinguished Professor in the Practice of National Governance at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Vice Presidential possibilities Hagel was rumored to be a possible Obama pick for the Vice Presidential candidacy in his 2008 presidential election ticket. On June 20, 4 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 2008, Hagel said he would consider running with Obama if offered the VP spot.[27] He had also been mentioned as a potential United States Secretary of Defense to succeed incumbent Robert Gates in the Obama administration.[28][29] and said that he would consider serving if asked.[30] In August, Hagel indicated that he wouldn’t endorse either candidate or get involved in their campaigns.[31] However, his wife endorsed Obama. Obama later picked Joe Biden as his running mate. Robert Gates was selected to remain Secretary of Defense for the Obama administration. Chuck Hagel • Jack Graziano (Libertarian) - 7,423 (1.55%) • Phil Chase (Independent) - 5,066 (1.06%) Awards and honors Hagel is a Nebraska Admiral, an honorary title considering Nebraska is a landlocked state. On June 9, 2007, he gave the commencement address for North Central College and was given an honorary L.L.D.[36] References [1] http://www.acus.org/new_atlanticist/ council-welcomes-senator-chuck-hagelnew-chairman [2] Dufour, Jeff. "Glenn Close and Chuck Norris push pet projects". The Hill, online edition, Under The Dome, 11 May 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2007. [3] Robert G. Kaiser. "The Political Veteran: He Survived Vietnam and Won the Senate. Could Chuck Hagel Take the White House?". "The Washington Post", Monday, November 15, 2004; Page C01. Retrieved 10 July 2007. [4] Macpherson, Myra. Long Time Passing: Vietnam and the Haunted Generation, Indiana University Press 2001 p. xxxvi [5] Bolton, Alexander (29 January 2003). ""Hagel’s ethics filings pose disclosure issue"" (PDF). The Hill. itu.dk. http://www.itu.dk/people/carsten/ projects/e-voting/materials/hagel.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. [6] "A Hagel Hint?". The Hotline (National Journal Group). 9 March 2007. http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/ archives/2007/03/a_hagel_hint.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. [7] AFP: Anti-war Republican and presidential hopeful Hagel to retire [8] http://thehoya.com/node/17748 [9] New Yorker [10] Herszenhorn, David M.; Jeff Zeleny (9 September 2007). "Hagel Will Retire From the Senate in 2009". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/ 09/us/politics/09hagel.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. [11] Kornreich, Lauren (October 31, 2007). "Will the real Joe Biden please stand up?". Political Ticker (CNN). http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/ America: Our Next Chapter In Senator Hagel’s new book, America: Our Next Chapter, he suggests that the United States should adopt independent leadership and possibly another political party. He also believes that the Iraq War is one of the five biggest blunders in history. Hagel is critical of George W. Bush’s foreign policy, calling it "reckless." He has been a major critic of the war since it started, and has stated that the United States should learn from its mistakes in the Vietnam War. He considers Bush’s foreign policy a "ping pong game with American lives". Electoral history Republican primary for U.S. Senate from Nebraska, 1996[32] • - 108,612 (62.11%) • Don Stenberg - 65,753 (37.60%) • Write-ins - 498 (0.29%) Nebraska United States Senate election, 1996[33] • (R) - 379,933 (56.12%) • Ben Nelson (D) - 281,904 (41.64%) • John W. DeCamp (Libertarian) - 9,483 (1.40%) • Bill Dunn (Natural Law) - 4,806 (0.71%) • Write-ins - 832 (0.12%) Republican primary for U.S. Senate from Nebraska, 2002[34] • (inc.) - 144,160 (100.00%) - unopposed Nebraska United States Senate election, 2002[35] • (R) (inc.) - 397,438 (82.76%) • Charlie Matulka (D) - 70,290 (14.64%) 5 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Chuck Hagel 10/31/will-the-real-joe-biden-please[25] Bratton, Anna Jo (10 September 2007). stand-up/. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. "Sen. Hagel leaving Congress after ’08". [12] CNN. "Hagel: Iraq growing more like ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/US/ Vietnam; Republican Senator says Bush wireStory?id=3580692. Retrieved on should meet with protesting mom". 2008-03-23. Politics. CNN, online edition, 18 August [26] ^ Baxter, Sarah (2 March 2008). 2005. Retrieved 4 March 2007. "Barnstorming Obama plans to pick [13] Babington, Charles. "4 GOP Senators Republicans for cabinet". Times Online Hold Firm Against Patriot Act Renewal (The Times). More Safeguards Needed, They Say". http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/ Washington Post, online edition, 21 world/us_and_americas/us_elections/ December 2005, p. A04. Retrieved 4 article3466823.ece. Retrieved on March 2007. 2008-03-23. [14] ^ UPI. "Hagel takes issue with Rove". [27] Hagel says he’d consider VP offer from United Press International, online Obama Retrieved 20 June 2008 edition, 30 January 2006. Retrieved 4 [28] Madden, Mike (June 17, 2008). "And March 2007. Obama’s veep is ... a Republican?". [15] CNN. "Key Republican breaks with Bush Salon. http://www.salon.com/news/ on Mideast; Nebraska’s Sen. Hagel calls feature/2008/06/17/hagel_veep/. for immediate cease-fire". CNN, online Retrieved on 2008-06-17. edition, 31 July 2006. Retrieved 4 March [29] Who will be Obama’s running mate 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2008 [16] Hagel, Chuck. "Leaving Iraq, [30] "Republican ready to serve as Obama’s Honorably". Washington Post, Opinion, vice-president". Breaking News. p. B07, online edition. 26 November 2008-06-25. http://www.breakingnews.ie/ 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2007. world/mhgbgbidojcw/. Retrieved on [17] News Poll #9977. SurveyUSA. 15 August 2008-06-25. 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2007. [31] ’ Mark Memmott and Jill Lawrence, [18] Profile Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel "Sen. Hagel won’t be endorsing a (Republican Jr Senator). On the Issues, presidential candidate" August 12, Retrieved 4 March 2007. 2008, USA Todays On Politics blog. [19] Barrett, Ted. "GOP senator: Bush plan [32] Our Campaigns - NE US Senate - R could match Vietnam blunder", CNN, Primary Race - May 14, 1996 online edition, 11 January 2007. [33] Our Campaigns - NE US Senate Race Retrieved 4 March 2007. Nov 05, 1996 [20] BBC. "US Senate panel rejects Iraq [34] Our Campaigns - NE US Senate- R plan". BBC News, online edition, Primary Race - May 14, 2002 Americas, 24 January 2007. Retrieved 4 [35] Our Campaigns - NE US Senate Race March 2007 Nov 05, 2002 [21] Stout, David (20 March 2007). "Bush and [36] NCC. "Senator Chuck Hagel Democrats Clash Over Testimony". New Commencement speaker". North Central York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/ College. Retrieved 9 June 2007. 2007/03/20/washington/20cnd• Charlyne Berens. Chuck Hagel: Moving attorney.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-23. Forward (U. of Nebraska Press, 2006), [22] Barrett, Ted. "Dems Plan Senate Allbiography nighter". CNN, Political Ticker blog, July 16, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2007. [23] ^ Haass, Richard N., interviewer (28 Official sites November 2007). ""A Conversation with • • Speech on U.S.-Iran Relations, Senate Chuck Hagel" (Federal News Service Speeches, U.S. Government, February FNS rush transcript)". Council on 22, 2007 Foreign Relations. http://www.cfr.org/ • Sandhills PAC Hagel’s Political Action publication/14895/ Committee conversation_with_chuck_hagel_rush_transcript_federal_news_service.html?breadcrumb=%2Fpublica • Chuck Hagel, Washington Speakers Retrieved on 2008-03-23. Bureau [24] Washington Post External links 6 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia United States Senate Preceded by J. James Exon United States Senator (Class 2) from Nebraska 1997 – 2009 Served alongside: Bob Kerrey, Ben Nelson Chuck Hagel Succeeded by Mike Johanns Party political offices Preceded by Hal Daub Succeeded by Republican Party nominee for United States Senator from Neb- Mike Johanns raska (Class 2) 1996, 2002 • Joseph Lelyveld, "The Heartland Dissident", New York Times Magazine, February 12, 2006 • Chuck Hagel: A Christmas Present, and Past, Washington Post, December 22, 2005 • Interview C-SPAN Q&A, November 13, 2005 • Hagel’s ethics filings pose disclosure issue, The Hill, January 29, 2003 • Sen. Chuck Hagel Interview (video), The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, March 31, 2008 • Connie Bruck, "Odd Man Out: Chuck Hagel’s Republican Exile" The New Yorker 84/35 (3 November 2008) : 52-63 Grassroots campaigns • Blogspot: Chuck Hagel for President unofficial campaign site on Blogspot • Draft Hagel 08 grassroots presidential draft site • Michigan for Hagel 2008 unofficial Michigan campaign site on Blogspot • Students for Hagel unofficial students’ campaign site on Blogspot Documentaries, topic pages and databases • Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress • Voting record maintained by The Washington Post • Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission • Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org • Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart • Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues • New York Times — Chuck Hagel News news stories and commentary • Chuck Hagel: Moving Forward authorized biography by Charlyne Berens, book information from University of Nebraska Press ISBN 0803210752 Media coverage • Hagel low on cash on hand, raising retirement issue, The Hill, January 30, 2007 Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Hagel" Categories: United States Senators from Nebraska, Nebraska Republicans, American Episcopalians, American military personnel of the Vietnam War, American political writers, GermanAmerican military personnel, German-American politicians, International Republican Institute, Polish Americans, People from Nebraska, United States Army soldiers, Recipients of the Purple Heart medal, Recipients of the Combat Infantryman Badge, Polish-American politicians, University of Nebraska at Omaha alumni, Reagan Administration personnel, 1946 births, Living people This page was last modified on 17 May 2009, at 05:01 (UTC). 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