Chuck Hagel
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| Chuck Hagel | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 7, 1997 Serving with Ben Nelson |
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| Preceded by | J. James Exon |
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| In office 1981 – 1982 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
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| Born | October 4, 1946 North Platte, Nebraska |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lilibet Hagel |
| Alma mater | University of Nebraska at Omaha |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
Charles Timothy "Chuck" Hagel (born October 4, 1946) is the senior United States Senator from Nebraska. A member of the Republican Party, he was first elected in 1996 and was reelected in 2002. After considering running in the 2008 presidential election, Hagel announced on September 10, 2007 that he will retire from the Senate at the end of his present term and will not seek the presidency. [1]
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[edit] Early life and family
Born in North Platte, Nebraska, to Betty and Charles 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, Purple Heart, 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 lives 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.
[edit] 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".[citation needed]
[edit] Business career
After leaving government employment, Hagel co-founded Vanguard Cellular, a mobile phone manufacturer that made him a millionaire several times over. 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, 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 ownership interest, “Hagel’s ethics filings pose disclosure issue”.[4]
In 2007 Senator Hagel attended a meeting organized by the American Iranian Council which brought together numerous national and international policy makers in an attempt to improve their understanding of Iran's role in Iraq and its nuclear enrichment intentions/capabilities. Others in attendance at this meeting were Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Ambassador Javad Zarif from Iran's UN mission, Ambassador Anders Lidén from Sweden, Mr. Nicholas Kristof from the New York Times, and a host of other distinguished academics, businessmen, nonprofit representatives and private citizens.
[edit] 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.[5] 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.[citation needed]
Since his election to the Senate in 1996, Hagel has served as deputy whip for the Republican Caucus. He has been chair of both the Senate Global Climate Change Observer Group and the Senate Oversight Task Force. He serves as co-chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. He also serves on the NATO Observer Group. Hagel is 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.
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 illegal 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).
Due to displeasure over Hagel's stance on the war, Nebraska State Attorney General Jon Bruning has planned to challenge him in the primaries in 2008 should he not step down.
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," [Robert Novak Interview with Hagel published in the Washington Post: "Hagels Stand".]
The New York Times reported on Saturday, September 8, 2007 that Hagel would retire from the Senate at the conclusion of his present term.[6]
Hagel has 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.[7]
[edit] Committee assignments
- Committee on Foreign Relations
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Select Committee on Intelligence
- Committee on Rules and Administration
[edit] 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."[8]
In November 2005, Hagel made a much-publicized 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 GOP, 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."[9]
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 of complications in these international issues, we're at war."[10]
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 and get someone elected will ultimately end up in defeat and disaster for that political party."[10]
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."[11]
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.[12]
According to a SurveyUSA poll, Hagel has a 10% higher approval rating among Nebraska Democrats than Republicans.[13][14] 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."[15] 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.[16] 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.[17]
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.[18]
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 is open to running as vice-president with the 2008 Democratic nominee.[19] 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."[19]
[edit] Retirement
On September 10, 2007, Hagel announced that he would be retiring from the Senate at the end of his term in 2009.[20] 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 in the Barack Obama administration for the cabinet position of Secretary of Defense:
Obama is hoping to appoint cross-party 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.[21]
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."[21] Hagel is also rumored to be a possible Obama pick for the Vice-Presidential candidacy in his 2008 presidential election ticket.
[edit] New book
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 their mistakes in the Vietnam War. He considers Bush's foreign policy a "ping pong game with American lives".
[edit] Vice President Possibilities
In June of 2008, CNN's ElectionCenter2008 listed Chuck Hagel as a possible running mate for Democratic nominee Barack Obama.[22]
[edit] Electoral history
Republican primary for U.S. Senate from Nebraska, 1996[23]
- Chuck Hagel - 108,612 (62.11%)
- Don Stenberg - 65,753 (37.60%)
- Write-ins - 498 (0.29%)
Nebraska United States Senate election, 1996[24]
- Chuck Hagel (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[25]
- Chuck Hagel (inc.) - 144,160 (100.00%) - unopposed
Nebraska United States Senate election, 2002[26]
- Chuck Hagel (R) (inc.) - 397,438 (82.76%)
- Charlie Matulka (D) - 70,290 (14.64%)
- Jack Graziano (Libertarian) - 7,423 (1.55%)
- Phil Chase (Independent) - 5,066 (1.06%)
[edit] Awards and honors
Hagel is a Nebraska Admiral, an honorary title. On June 9, 2007, he gave the commencement address for North Central College and was given an honorary LL.D..[27]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ AFP: Anti-war Republican and presidential hopeful Hagel to retire
- ^ Dufour, Jeff. "Glenn Close and Chuck Norris push pet projects". The Hill, online edition, Under The Dome, 11 May 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Bolton, Alexander (29 January 2003). "Hagel's ethics filings pose disclosure issue" (PDF). The Hill. itu.dk. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ "A Hagel Hint?", The Hotline, National Journal Group, 9 March 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ Herszenhorn, David M.; Jeff Zeleny. "Hagel Will Retire From the Senate in 2009", New York Times, 9 September 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ Kornreich, Lauren. "Will the real Joe Biden please stand up?", Political Ticker, CNN, October 31, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ CNN. "Hagel: Iraq growing more like Vietnam; Republican Senator says Bush should meet with protesting mom". Politics. CNN, online edition, 18 August 2005. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- ^ Babington, Charles. "4 GOP Senators Hold Firm Against Patriot Act Renewal More Safeguards Needed, They Say". Washington Post, online edition, 21 December 2005, p. A04. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- ^ a b UPI. "Hagel takes issue with Rove". United Press International, online edition, 30 January 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- ^ CNN. "Key Republican breaks with Bush on Mideast; Nebraska's Sen. Hagel calls for immediate cease-fire". CNN, online edition, 31 July 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- ^ Hagel, Chuck. "Leaving Iraq, Honorably". Washington Post, Opinion, p. B07, online edition. 26 November 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- ^ News Poll #9977. SurveyUSA. 15 August 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- ^ Profile Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel (Republican Jr Senator). On the Issues, Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- ^ Barrett, Ted. "GOP senator: Bush plan could match Vietnam blunder", CNN, online edition, 11 January 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- ^ BBC. "US Senate panel rejects Iraq plan". BBC News, online edition, Americas, 24 January 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2007
- ^ Stout, David. "Bush and Democrats Clash Over Testimony", New York Times, 20 March 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ Barrett, Ted. "Dems Plan Senate All-nighter". CNN, Political Ticker blog, July 16, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2007.
- ^ a b Haass, Richard N., interviewer (28 November 2007). "A Conversation with Chuck Hagel" (Federal News Service FNS rush transcript). Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ Bratton, Anna Jo. "Sen. Hagel leaving Congress after '08", ABC News, 10 September 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ a b Baxter, Sarah. "Barnstorming Obama plans to pick Republicans for cabinet", Times Online, The Times, 2 March 2008. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ Who will be Obama's running mate Retrieved 7 June 2008
- ^ Our Campaigns - NE US Senate - R Primary Race - May 14, 1996
- ^ Our Campaigns - NE US Senate Race - Nov 05, 1996
- ^ Our Campaigns - NE US Senate- R Primary Race - May 14, 2002
- ^ Our Campaigns - NE US Senate Race - Nov 05, 2002
- ^ NCC. "Senator Chuck Hagel Commencement speaker". North Central College. Retrieved 9 June 2007.
- Charlyne Berens. Chuck Hagel: Moving Forward (U. of Nebraska Press, 2006), biography
[edit] External links
- Official sites
- United States Senator Chuck Hagel, U.S. Senate site
- Speech on U.S.-Iran Relations, Senate Speeches, U.S. Government, February 22, 2007
- Sandhills PAC Hagel's Political Action Committee
- 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
- 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
- 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
| United States Senate | ||
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| Preceded by J. James Exon |
United States Senator (Class 2) from Nebraska 1997 – present Served alongside: Bob Kerrey, Ben Nelson |
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