Lamar Alexander

Andrew Lamar Alexander ( born July 3, 1940 at Blount County, Tennessee ) is an American politician and former governor of Tennessee. Since 2003 he represents this state in the U.S. Senate.

Early years and political rise

Lamar Alexander graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1962 and completed in 1965 his law studies at the University of Tennessee from. He was a founding member of the law firm of Dearborn and Ewing. From 1967 he worked for the Republican Senator Howard Baker and after the inauguration of President Richard Nixon for Bryce Harlow, the liaison of the White House to Congress. In 1970 was Lamar Alexander campaign workers for Winfield Dunn, who was elected this year for the first Republican governor of Tennessee for 50 years. In 1974 he was a candidate himself for the office of governor, but was defeated by Democrat Ray Blanton. One reason for his defeat was probably the effect of Watergate on the Republican electorate.

Governor of Tennessee

In 1978, Alexander won the election. Severe corruption allegations against his predecessor Blanton and the questionable pardons of 52 convicts few days before the end of Blanton's tenure led to a premature inauguration of Alexander, to prevent further unpleasant surprises of Blanton's side. The early three days inauguration was also supported by the Democrats. Governor Alexander benefited from a constitutional amendment in 1978 that allowed a second consecutive four-year term of the governor. Alexander's tenure from 1979 to 1987 coincided with a period of economic boom. It created many new jobs, especially in the automotive industry. His main focus was on education policy, he developed and promoted further. He also promoted the further expansion of the road network and operated a judicial reform. He supported the construction of new prisons. He was also temporarily Chairman of the National Governors Association.

More career

After the end of his second term, Alexander was among others from 1988 to 1991 president of the University of Tennessee. Between 1991 and 1993 he was the U.S. Secretary of Education under President George Bush. He then worked as a legal consultant. In the years 1996 and 2000 he applied unsuccessfully for the Republican in each presidential nomination. Since 2003 he has been a U.S. Senator for Tennessee. Since December 2007, Alexander Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, and thus the " number 3" of Republicans in the Senate.