John H. Sununu

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John Henry Sununu, PhD (born July 2, 1939) is a former Governor of New Hampshire (1983-89) and former White House Chief of Staff under President George H. W. Bush. Sununu was born in Havana, Cuba, and is of Lebanese (Palestinian) descent, and Roman Catholic.

He earned an Bachelor of Science in 1961, a Masters in 1963, and a Ph.D. in 1966 from MIT. All degrees were in mechanical engineering.

He was the first White House Chief of Staff for George H. W. Bush, serving from 1989 to 1991. Sununu was known as an enforcer and was very harsh. He made many enemies from both within and outside the administration and the Republican Party.

From 1968 until 1973, he was Associate Dean of the College of Engineering at Tufts University and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He served on the Advisory Board of the Technology and Policy Program at MIT from 1984 until 1989.

From 1963 until 1983, he served as President of JHS Engineering Company and Thermal Research Inc. In addition, he helped establish and served as chief engineer for Astro Dynamics Inc. from 1960 until 1965.

Sununu became New Hampshire's 85th Governor on January 6, 1983, and served three consecutive terms. He served as chairman of the Coalition of Northeastern Governors, the Republican Governors Association and, in 1987, the National Governors Association.

Sununu co-hosted CNN's nightly Crossfire from March 1992 until February 1998.

Sununu currently lives in Salem, New Hampshire. He is President of JHS Associates, Ltd. and is a partner in Trinity International Partners, a private financial firm.

Sununu is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a member of the Board of Trustees for the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation. He is married to the former Nancy Hayes, and they have eight children, including U.S. Senator John E. Sununu.

Sununu was portrayed by Peter Van Norden in the comedy spoof film The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear. In the film, he supposedly conspires with a plot to remove a speaker who plans to suggest to George H.W. Bush that reliance on coal, oil, and nuclear energy is dangerous.

[edit] Controversies

Sununu angered some when he was the only governor of a U.S. state not to call for repeal of the extremely controversial UN General Assembly Resolution 3379 ("Zionism is Racism"). He left the Bush administration after being accused of misusing U.S. government planes. In addition, Sununu is responsible for recommending David Souter to president George H. W. Bush for appointment to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Preceded by: Vesta M. Roy	Governor of New Hampshire 1983 – 1989	Succeeded by: Judd Gregg
Preceded by: Kenneth Duberstein	White House Chief of Staff 1989 – 1991	Succeeded by: Samuel K. Skinner

Governors of New Hampshire

Weare • Langdon • Sullivan • Langdon • Sullivan • J. Bartlett • Gilman • Langdon • J. Smith • Langdon • Plumer • Gilman • Plumer • S. Bell • Woodbury • Morril • Pierce • J. Bell • Pierce • Harvey • Dinsmoor • Badger • Hill • Page • Hubbard • Steele • Colby • Williams • Dinsmoor Jr. • Martin • Baker • Metcalf • Haile • Goodwin • Berry • Gilmore • Smyth • Harriman • Stearns • Weston • Straw • Weston • Cheney • Prescott • Head • C. Bell • Hale • Currier • Sawyer • Goodell • Tuttle • J.B. Smith • Busiel • Ramsdell • Rollins • Jordan • Bachelder • McLane • Floyd • Quinby • Bass • Felker • R. Spaulding • Keyes • J.H. Bartlett • A. Brown • F. Brown • Winant • H. Spaulding • Tobey • Winant • Bridges • Murphy • Blood • Dale • Adams • H. Gregg • Dwinell • Powell • King • Peterson • Thomson • Gallen • Roy • Sununu • J. Gregg • Merrill • Shaheen • Benson • Lynch

White House Chiefs of Staff
Steelman • Adams • Persons • Haldeman • Haig • Rumsfeld • Cheney • Jordan • Watson • J Baker • Regan • H Baker • Duberstein • Sununu • Skinner • J Baker • McLarty • Panetta • Bowles • Podesta • Card • Bolten