Thomas Daschle Former US Senator from South Dakota Date of Birth: 09.12.1947 Country: USA

Biography of Thomas Daschle

Thomas Andrew Daschle was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from South Dakota from 1987 to 2005. He was also the leader of the Democrats in the Senate and a member of the House of Representatives from 1978 to 1987. Prior to his political career, Daschle worked as an advisor to Senator James Abourezk of South Dakota from 1973 to 1978. He also worked at the law firm Alston & Bird and lobbied for the interests of American pharmaceutical companies in Congress.

Born on December 9, 1947, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Daschle grew up in a Catholic family of Russian-German descent. His parents, Sebastian "Dash" Daschle and Elizabeth Meier, were teachers and small business owners. Daschle developed an interest in politics at a young age and idolized President John F. Kennedy.

Daschle attended South Dakota State University, where he was actively involved in campus politics and advocated for Democratic Party ideals. He graduated in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in political science. During his time at university, Daschle supported Senator George McGovern, who was known for his opposition to the Vietnam War.

In 1973, Daschle moved to Washington, D.C., and became an advisor to Senator James Abourezk. He accompanied Abourezk on trips to the Middle East and advised him on foreign policy matters. In 1978, Daschle decided to run for Congress and was elected to the House of Representatives. He served as one of the Democratic Party leaders in the House and was re-elected four times before leaving office in early 1987.

In 1986, Daschle won a seat in the Senate and became a representative of South Dakota. He served on the Senate Finance Committee and was known for his centrist political positions. Daschle was re-elected in 1992 and became the leader of the Democratic minority in the Senate in 1995. He was involved in various committees and made unsuccessful attempts to pass healthcare reform legislation.

During his career, Daschle faced criticism for his lobbying activities and his support for certain policies, such as the Bush administration's tax cuts and the invasion of Iraq. In 2003, the Democrats lost their majority in the Senate, and Daschle became the leader of the Democratic minority again. He decided not to run for president in 2004 and lost his Senate re-election bid in the same year.

After leaving the Senate, Daschle worked at the law firm Alston & Bird, where he lobbied for pharmaceutical companies. He also served on the boards of Intermedia Partners, BP America Incorporated, Mayo Clinic, CB Richard Ellis, Mascoma, Prime BioSolutions, and the Freedom Forum. Daschle was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

In 2008, Daschle supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign and was nominated to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services in Obama's administration. However, he withdrew his nomination due to a tax scandal and apologized to Obama and his colleagues. Daschle continued to be involved in policy and wrote books on healthcare reform.

Daschle was married twice. His first wife was Laurie Klinkel, whom he divorced. In 1984, he married Linda Hall, a prominent lobbyist for American aviation manufacturers. Daschle has three children from his first marriage: Kelly, Lindsay, and Nathan.

Overall, Thomas Daschle had a long and influential political career, serving as a Senator and House Representative for South Dakota and playing a significant role in the Democratic Party.