Rick Perry

Rick Perry
Official portrait, 2017
14th United States Secretary of Energy
In office
March 2, 2017 – December 1, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
DeputyDan Brouillette
Preceded byErnest Moniz
Succeeded byDan Brouillette
47th Governor of Texas
In office
December 21, 2000 – January 20, 2015
LieutenantBill Ratliff
David Dewhurst
Preceded byGeorge W. Bush
Succeeded byGreg Abbott
39th Lieutenant Governor of Texas
In office
January 19, 1999 – December 21, 2000
GovernorGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byBob Bullock
Succeeded byBill Ratliff
9th Agriculture Commissioner of Texas
In office
January 15, 1991 – January 19, 1999
GovernorAnn Richards
George W. Bush
Preceded byJim Hightower
Succeeded bySusan Combs
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 64th district
In office
January 8, 1985 – January 8, 1991
Preceded byJoe Hanna
Succeeded byJohn R. Cook
Personal details
Born
James Richard Perry

(1950-03-04) March 4, 1950 (age 74)
Haskell, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (since 1989)
Other political
affiliations
Democratic (before 1989)
Spouse
(m. 1982)
Children2
EducationTexas A&M University (BS)
Signature
WebsiteDepartment of Energy website
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUS Air Force
Years of service1972–1977[1]
RankCaptain
Unit772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron

James Richard Perry (born March 4, 1950) is an American politician who served as the 14th United States secretary of energy from 2017 to 2019 in the first administration of Donald Trump. He previously served as the 47th governor of Texas from 2000 to 2015 and ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in the 2012 and 2016 elections.

Born into a family of cotton farmers in Haskell, Texas, Perry graduated from Texas A&M University in 1972 and entered into the United States Air Force, serving a five-year stint and achieving the rank of captain.[2] After leaving the Air Force in 1977, Perry returned to Texas and entered politics, serving as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1985 to 1991. Initially a Democrat, Perry switched parties in 1989 and became a Republican, and was elected Agriculture Commissioner of Texas the following year. In 1998, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas, becoming the state's first Republican Lieutenant Governor since Reconstruction.

Perry assumed the governorship of Texas in December 2000, after Governor George W. Bush resigned following his election as President. Perry was re-elected Governor three times, becoming the longest-serving governor in Texas history. As Governor, Perry identified as a staunch conservative, enacting conservative fiscal policies, restrictions on abortion and expanded gun rights.[3][4] Long considered a potential presidential candidate, Perry officially announced his candidacy for the 2012 Republican nomination for President in August 2011. Perry initially performed well in polling and showed strong fundraising prowess, leading to him being considered a serious contender for the nomination. However, his support declined following debates and early primaries, and he withdrew from the race in January 2012.[5]

Perry declined to seek re-election to a fourth term as Governor and left office in 2015, launching a second presidential campaign shortly thereafter. Perry's second presidential campaign failed to garner substantial polling support, fundraising or media attention, leading him to withdraw from the race after only three months.[6] Perry was initially a vocal opponent of Donald Trump's 2016 campaign for President, however, he later endorsed Trump after he secured the Republican nomination.[7] After winning the presidency, Trump appointed Perry as Secretary of Energy, and he was confirmed by the United States Senate in a 62–37 vote on March 2, 2017. On October 17, 2019, Perry reported to Trump that he intended to resign as Secretary of Energy at the end of the year. He left office on December 1, 2019.[8]

  1. ^ Kudlow, Larry (March 6, 2015). "Captain Rick Perry: Time for a military man in the White House?". CNBC. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  2. ^ "Candidates' Corner 2012– Rick Perry". U.S. Global Leadership Coalition | American Foreign Policy & Foreign Affairs – Usglc.org. August 13, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  3. ^ "Gov. Perry Signs Landmark Business Tax Reform" (Press release). Office of the Governor. May 18, 2006. Archived from the original on August 20, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Gov. Perry Signs Bills to Protect Gun Owners' Rights". Office of the Governor Rick Perry. Archived from the original on August 20, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference nyt120119a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Theodore Schleifer (September 11, 2015). "Rick Perry drops out of 2016 presidential race − CNNPolitics.com". CNN. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  7. ^ Bash, Dana (May 6, 2016). "First on CNN: Rick Perry endorses Donald Trump for president". CNN. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Bowden, John (December 1, 2019). "Perry ends final day as Energy secretary". The Hill. Retrieved December 2, 2019.

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