Nick Theodore
Nick Theodore | |
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85th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina | |
In office January 14, 1987 – January 11, 1995 | |
Governor | Carroll Campbell |
Preceded by | Michael R. Daniel |
Succeeded by | Bob Peeler |
Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 6th District | |
In office January 8, 1985 – January 14, 1987 | |
Preceded by | Formerly multi-member district |
Succeeded by | Sam Stilwell |
Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 2nd District | |
In office January 13, 1981 – January 8, 1985 | |
Preceded by | Charles Garrett |
Succeeded by | Nell Whitley Smith |
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 21st District | |
In office January 14, 1974 – January 11, 1977 | |
Preceded by | District established |
Succeeded by | Philip Bradley |
Member of the South Carolina Senate from the 3rd District | |
In office January 10, 1967 – January 14, 1969 | |
Preceded by | District established |
Succeeded by | Charles Garrett |
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Greenville County | |
In office January 13, 1970 – January 14, 1975 | |
In office January 8, 1963 – January 10, 1967 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Greenville, South Carolina | September 16, 1928
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Emilie Demosthenes |
Children | Drew, , Stephanie |
Alma mater | University of Georgia Furman University (B.A.) |
Occupation | Businessman |
Religion | Greek Orthodox |
Nick Andrew Theodore (born March 2, 1928) is a former politician from South Carolina. He was a State representative from 1963 to 1966 and 1970 to 1978, a South Carolina state senator from 1967 to 1968 and 1981 to 1986, and the 85th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 1987 to 1995. He is a member of the Democratic Party.[1]
Theodore attended the University of Georgia and graduated in 1952 from Furman University with a bachelor of arts. He spent a total of 24 years serving in the South Carolina state legislature before being elected in 1986 to the office of Lieutenant Governor having beaten Republican Congressman Thomas F. Hartnett to the position. He served two full terms in that post under Republican Governor Carroll Campbell.
Ironically, it was fellow Greenville resident Campbell who, in 1978, had defeated Theodore in an election to the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina's 4th congressional district, one of famed political strategist Lee Atwater's first major triumphs. Despite this history, and the differences in their political philosophies and party affiliations, Campbell and Theodore worked together quite effectively during their two terms in office, and remained friendly with each other.
At the conclusion of Campbell's two terms in office, Theodore ran for Governor in 1994, defeating Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. to secure the Democratic nomination. Theodore lost to Campbell's protégé David Beasley, however, in the general election.
Four years later in 1998 he tried to regain his former post as Lt. Governor but lost in the general election to incumbent Bob Peeler (R).
In 2002, Theodore came out of a quasi-retirement to accept an interim appointment to the South Carolina Public Service Commission, ending in 2004. In 2006, his son, Drew Theodore, became the Democratic nominee for the statewide office of Comptroller General.
References
- ↑ Bailey, N. Louise, Morgan, Mary L., and Taylor, Carolyn R., Biographical Directory of the South Carolina State Senate: 1776-1985, v. III (1986). pp. 1589-1591, University of South Carolina Press, ISBN 0-87249-489-6.
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Michael R. Daniel |
Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina 1987 - 1995 |
Succeeded by Bob Peeler |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Theo Mitchell |
Democratic nominee for Governor of South Carolina 1994 |
Succeeded by Jim Hodges |
Preceded by Michael Daniel |
Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina 1986, 1990 |
Succeeded by Liz Patterson |
Preceded by Liz Patterson |
Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina 1998 |
Succeeded by Phil P. Leventis |