Tom Daschle | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2003 | |
| Senate Majority Leader | |
| In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Deputy | Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Trent Lott |
| Succeeded by | Bill Frist |
| In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001 | |
| Deputy | Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Trent Lott |
| Succeeded by | Trent Lott |
| Senate Minority Leader | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2005 | |
| Deputy | Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Trent Lott |
| Succeeded by | Harry Reid |
| In office January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2001 | |
| Deputy | Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Trent Lott |
| Succeeded by | Trent Lott |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001 | |
| Deputy | Wendell Ford Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Bob Dole |
| Succeeded by | Trent Lott |
| Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | George J. Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | Harry Reid |
| United States Senator from South Dakota | |
| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | James Abdnor |
| Succeeded by | John Thune |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota | |
| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Larry Pressler |
| Succeeded by | Tim Johnson |
| Constituency | 1st district (1979–1983) At-large district (1983–1987) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Andrew Daschle December 9, 1947 Aberdeen, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3, including Nathan |
| Education | South Dakota State University (BA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1969–1972 |
| Unit | Strategic Air Command |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Thomas Andrew Daschle (/ˈdæʃəl/ DASH-əl; born December 9, 1947) is an American politician and lobbyist who represented South Dakota in the United States Senate from 1987 to 2005. A member of the Democratic Party, he led the Senate Democratic Caucus during the final ten years of his tenure, during which time he served as Senate Minority Leader and Majority Leader.
After leaving the United States Air Force, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1978 and served four terms. In 1986, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming Minority Leader in 1995 and Majority Leader in 2001, becoming the highest-ranking elected official in South Dakota history.
In 2004, he was defeated for reelection in a close race.[1] Later, he took a position as a policy advisor with a lobbying firm, became a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, and co-authored a book advocating universal health care.
Daschle was an early supporter of Barack Obama's presidential candidacy, and was nominated by President-elect Obama for the position of Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services after the 2008 election.[2] However, Daschle withdrew his name on February 3, 2009, amid a growing controversy over his failure to properly report and pay income taxes.[3] He is currently working for The Daschle Group, a Public Policy Advisory of Baker Donelson,[4] a large law firm and lobbying group.
- ^ Lauck, Jon K. (2016). Daschle Vs. Thune: Anatomy of a High-Plains Senate Race. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0806138503.
- ^ Pear, Robert (December 11, 2008). "Daschle Will Lead Health Care Overhaul" (Article). New York Times. Retrieved December 11, 2008.
- ^ "Daschle withdraws as nominee for HHS secretary Archived March 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine", Associated Press, February 3, 2009; accessed February 3, 2009.
- ^ "Former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle Joins With Baker Donelson to Form The Daschle Group, A Public Policy Advisory of Baker Donelson". Baker Donelson. October 28, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2018.