Lamar Alexander

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Lamar Alexander
LamarAlexander.jpg
United States Senator
from Tennessee
Assumed office
January 3, 2003
Serving with Bob Corker
Preceded by Fred Thompson
Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Preceded by Tom Harkin
Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference
In office
December 19, 2007 – January 26, 2012
Leader Mitch McConnell
Preceded by Jon Kyl
Succeeded by John Thune
5th United States Secretary of Education
In office
March 22, 1991 – January 20, 1993
President George H. W. Bush
Preceded by Lauro Cavazos
Succeeded by Richard Riley
45th Governor of Tennessee
In office
January 20, 1979 – January 17, 1987
Lieutenant John Wilder
Preceded by Ray Blanton
Succeeded by Ned McWherter
Chairman of the National Governors Association
In office
August 6, 1985 – August 26, 1986
Preceded by John W. Carlin
Succeeded by Bill Clinton
Personal details
Born Andrew Lamar Alexander Jr.
(1940-07-03) July 3, 1940 (age 78)
Maryville, Tennessee, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s)
Honey Buhler (m. 1969)
Education Vanderbilt University (BA)
New York University (JD)
Website Senate website

Andrew Lamar Alexander Jr. (born July 3, 1940) is an American politician serving as the senior United States Senator from Tennessee, a seat he has held since 2003. A member of the Republican Party, he also was the 45th Governor of Tennessee from 1979 to 1987 and the 5th United States Secretary of Education from 1991 to 1993.

Born in Maryville, Tennessee, Alexander graduated from Vanderbilt University and the New York University School of Law. After establishing a legal career in Nashville, Tennessee, Alexander ran for Governor of Tennessee in 1974, but was defeated by Democrat Ray Blanton. Alexander ran for governor again in 1978, and this time defeated his Democratic opponent. He won re-election in 1982 and served as Chairman of the National Governors Association from 1985 to 1986.

Alexander served as the President of the University of Tennessee from 1988 until 1991, when he accepted appointment as Secretary of Education under President George H. W. Bush. Alexander sought the presidential nomination in the 1996 Republican primaries, but withdrew before the Super Tuesday primaries. He sought the nomination again in the 2000 Republican primaries, but dropped out after a poor showing in the Iowa Straw Poll.

In 2002, Alexander won election to succeed retiring Senator Fred Thompson. Alexander defeated Congressman Ed Bryant in the Republican primary and Congressman Bob Clement in the general election. He served as Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference from 2007 to 2012. Alexander has served as Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee since 2015. He introduced the Every Student Succeeds Act, which supplanted the No Child Left Behind Act in 2015.

Early life and education[edit]

Alexander was born and raised in Maryville, Tennessee, the son of Genevra Floreine (née Rankin), a preschool teacher, and Andrew Lamar Alexander Sr., a high school principal.[1][2] His family is of Scotch-Irish descent.[2] He attended Maryville High School, where he was class president,[2] and was elected Governor of Tennessee Boys State. He is an Eagle Scout, and received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.[3]

In 1962, Alexander graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American studies. He was a member of Sigma Chi.[4][1] Alexander was the editor of The Vanderbilt Hustler, the primary student newspaper on campus, and he advocated for the open admission of African Americans.[5] At Vanderbilt, he was a member of the track and field team.[6] In 1965, he obtained his Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law.

Career[edit]

Early political career[edit]

After graduating from law school, Alexander clerked for United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Judge John Minor Wisdom in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1965 to 1966.[7]

In 1967, Alexander worked as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Howard Baker. While a staffer, he was briefly roommates with future U.S. Senator Trent Lott, and met his future wife at a staffer softball game. In 1969, he worked for Bryce Harlow, President Richard Nixon's executive assistant.[7] In 1970, he moved back to Tennessee, serving as campaign manager for Memphis dentist Winfield Dunn's successful gubernatorial bid.[1] Dunn was the first Republican in 50 years to win the governorship.[8] After this campaign, Alexander co-founded[9] and worked as a partner in the Nashville law firm of Dearborn and Ewing.[1] Meanwhile, Alexander rented a garage apartment to Thomas W. Beasley, a student at the Vanderbilt Law School who later co-founded Corrections Corporation of America.[10]

The Tennessee State Constitution at the time prevented governors from serving consecutive terms, so with Dunn unable to run, Alexander sought the party's nomination for Governor in 1974. He defeated his two chief opponents, Commissioner of Mental Health Nat T. Winston, Jr., and Southwestern Company president Dortch Oldham, 120,773 votes to 90,980 and 35,683, respectively.[11] He faced the Democratic nominee, Ray Blanton, a former Congressman and unsuccessful 1972 Senate candidate, in the general election. Blanton attacked Alexander for his service under Nixon, who had resigned in disgrace several months earlier as a result of the Watergate scandal, and defeated Alexander on election day, 576,833 votes to 455,467.[8]

After the 1974 campaign, Alexander returned to the practice of law.[8] In 1974, TIME Magazine named Alexander one of the 200 Faces of the Future.[12] In 1977, Alexander once again worked in Baker's Washington office following Baker's election as Senate Minority Leader.[8]

Governor of Tennessee[edit]

Although the Tennessee State Constitution had been amended in early 1978 to allow a governor to succeed himself, Blanton chose not to seek re-election, due to a number of scandals. Alexander once again ran for governor, and made a name for himself by walking from Mountain City in the far northeast of the state to Memphis in the far southwest, a distance of 1,022 miles (1,645 km), wearing a red and black flannel shirt that would become something of a trademark for him.[1][13][14] Investigative news reports disclosed late during the 1978 Tennessee gubernatorial campaign revealed that Alexander once transferred the non-profit charter of a Christian church to his Ruby Tuesday restaurant in order to sell liquor-by-the-drink in the once "dry town" of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.[15]

After winning the Republican nomination with nearly 86% of the vote, he defeated Knoxville banker Jake Butcher in the November 1978 election, 665,847 votes to 523,013.[8]

In early 1979, a furor ensued over pardons made by Governor Blanton, whose administration was already under investigation in a cash-for-clemency scandal.[16][17] Since the state constitution is somewhat vague on when a governor must be sworn in, several political leaders from both parties, including Lieutenant Governor John S. Wilder and State House Speaker Ned McWherter, arranged for Alexander to be sworn in on January 17, 1979, three days earlier than the traditional inauguration day, to prevent Blanton from signing more pardons.[17] Wilder later called the move "impeachment Tennessee-style."

In February 1979, shortly after his inauguration, Alexander created an Office of Ombudsman, which was charged with cutting government red tape.[1] He also gave state employees a 7% raise,[8] and replaced state prisoners working at the Governor's Mansion with a paid staff.[2] One of Alexander's biggest accomplishments as governor was the relationship he cultivated with the Japanese corporate community, which resulted in the construction of a $500 million Nissan plant in Smyrna in 1982, the largest single investment in the state's history up to the time.[18]

In 1982 Alexander took advantage of the 1978 constitutional amendment allowing governors to serve a second consecutive four-year term. He ran again and defeated Knoxville mayor Randy Tyree, 737,963 votes to 500,937.[8] During his second term, he served as chairman of the National Governors Association from 1985 to 1986, and was chair of the President's Commission on American Outdoors, 1985 to 1986.[1] He also oversaw the "Tennessee Homecoming" in 1986, in which local communities launched numerous projects that focused on state and local heritage.[19]

In 1983, Alexander implemented his "Better Schools" program, which standardized basic skills for all students, and increased math, science and computer education.[20] A portion of this plan, known as "Master Teachers," or "Career Ladder," called for income supplements for the state's top teachers. Due to staunch opposition from the Tennessee Education Association, which derided the plan's method of teacher evaluations, the bill initially died in the state legislature. Later that year, Alexander convinced House Speaker Ned McWherter to support an amended version of the bill, which passed.[18]

After opting out of the 1984 US Senate contest for the open seat of retiring Majority Leader Howard Baker, Alexander was constitutionally ineligible for a third term and stepped down from the governorship on January 17, 1987.

President of the University of Tennessee[edit]

Alexander along with his family moved to Australia for a time. While there he wrote a book titled Six Months Off.[21] Upon returning to Tennessee, he served as President of the University of Tennessee from 1988 to 1991.

United States Secretary of Education[edit]

Alexander served as the United States Secretary of Education from 1991 to 1993. As Education Secretary, he sparked controversy after he approved Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) to accredit schools despite an advisory panel that repeatedly recommended against it in 1991 and 1987.[22][23][24][25]

In 1993, Steve Levicoff published a book-length critical discussion of TRACS and Alexander's decision in When The TRACS Stop Short.[26][27]

Former Department of Education employee and writer Lisa Schiffren has stated that, "His fortune is founded on sweetheart deals not available to the general public, and a series of cozy sinecures provided by local businessmen. Such deals are not illegal..." Schiffren further notes that, in 1987, Alexander helped found Corporate Child Care Management, Inc. (now known as Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc.), a company that – via a merger – is now the nation's largest provider of worksite day care. While businessman Jack C. Massey spent $2 million on this enterprise, Alexander co-founded the company with only $5,000 of stock which increased in value to $800,000, a 15,900 percent return within four years. Also in 1987, he wrote a never-cashed investment check for $10,000 to Christopher Whittle for shares in Whittle Communications that increased in value to $330,000. In 1991, Alexander's house just purchased for $570,000 was sold to Whittle for $977,500. Alexander's wife obtained an $133,000 profit from her $8,900 investment in a company created to privatize prisons. Alexander frequently shifted assets to his wife's name, yet such transfers are not legal under federal ethics and security laws.[28] In his 2005 US Senate financial disclosure report, he listed personal ownership of BFAM (Bright Horizons Family Solutions) stock valued (at that time) between $1 million and $5 million. He taught about the American character as a faculty member at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.[29]

United States presidential bids[edit]

Alexander made two unsuccessful runs for President of the United States in 1996 and in 2000. In 1996, he finished 3rd in the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary, and dropped out before the Super Tuesday primaries. After dropping out of the race, Alexander took on an advisory role in the Dole/Kemp campaign. In 2000, during his second candidacy, he traveled around the US in a Ford Explorer, eschewing a campaign bus or plane, and that journey lasted less than six months, having been announced 9 March 1999, and was withdrawn on 16 August 1999, after a poor showing in the Ames Straw Poll, both times in Nashville, Tennessee.[30][31]

U.S. Senate career[edit]

Senator and Mrs. Alexander with the Presbyterian Chaplain of the 844th from Rhea County in 2005

Despite vowing not to return to elective office, Alexander was nevertheless persuaded by the White House to run for the open seat of retiring Senator Fred Thompson in 2002. Seen as a moderate Republican by Tennessee standards, his candidacy was vigorously opposed by conservatives, who instead supported US Representative – and a House manager during the 1998 impeachment of Bill Clinton, Ed Bryant.

Alexander was better-funded and armed with more prominent endorsements, however, and edged Bryant in the primary, 295,052 votes to 233,678.[32] Democrats had high hopes of retaking the seat that they lost in 1994 with their candidate, US Representative Bob Clement, a member of a prominent political family. However, Clement's campaign never really caught on, and Alexander defeated him in the general election with 54 percent of the vote. With his election to the US Senate, he became the first Tennessean to be popularly elected both governor and senator. At the age of 62, Alexander also became the oldest elected freshman US senator from Tennessee since Democrat Lawrence D. Tyson in 1924.

In 2006, a newly discovered species of springtail found in Great Smoky Mountains National Park was named Cosberella lamaralexanderi in Alexander's honor, because of his support of scientific research funding in the park and because the springtails' patterning is reminiscent of the plaid shirts Alexander typically wears while campaigning.[33]

Iraq[edit]

Before the Iraq War began, Alexander supported sending troops to Iraq and expressed his agreement with President Bush that Iraq must be dealt with immediately.[34] A year after the war began, Alexander stated that the Iraq War had provided "lessons" to the nation, but went on to say that American troops should not be withdrawn, saying "It would be even worse if we left before the job was done."[35] In 2007, Alexander touted implementing the Iraq Study Group recommendations, noting that he believes Bush will be viewed as a Truman-esque figure if he implements the Group's recommendations.[36][37]

Health care reform[edit]

On July 15, 2009, Alexander voted against President Obama's health care reform bill in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.[38] Alexander stated that he opposed the bill because he says it will result in higher state taxes, an increased federal debt, government-run health care, and Medicare cuts, and instead supports a different approach to reform.[39] Alexander voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in December 2009,[40] and he voted against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.[41] Alexander is part of the group of 13 Senators drafting the Senate version of the AHCA behind closed doors.[42][43][44][45]

Bipartisanship[edit]

Lamar Alexander with U.S. Senator Bob Corker, Congressman John Duncan, and Dolly Parton at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2009

According to the 2009 annual vote studies by Congressional Quarterly, Alexander is one of the most bipartisan Republican members of the Senate.[46] According to National Journal’s 2009 Vote Ratings, he was ranked as the 32nd most conservative member in the Senate.[47]

Alexander broke ranks with conservative Senate Republicans when he announced his support for the nomination of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.[48]

Gun laws[edit]

In April 2013, Alexander was one of forty-six senators to vote against the passing of a bill which would have expanded background checks for all gun buyers. Alexander voted with 40 Republicans and 5 Democrats to stop the bill.[49]

National security[edit]

Alexander critiqued President Donald Trump's 2017 executive order to temporarily curtail immigration from 7 Muslim-majority countries with increased terrorism risk until better screening methods were devised. He stated that the executive order was "inconsistent with our American character."[50]

Committee assignments[edit]

Caucus memberships[edit]

Legislation sponsored[edit]

The following is an incomplete list of legislation that Alexander introduced in the Senate.

Republican leadership[edit]

In late 2006, Alexander announced that he had secured the requisite number of votes to become the Republican Party's Minority Whip in the Senate during the 110th Congress. Even though he was seen as the preferred choice of Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Bush Administration, he lost the election to former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott by one vote (25–24).[55]

Alexander would get a second shot at entering his party's leadership a year later when Lott announced his intent to resign from the Senate by the end of 2007. Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, then Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, ran for Whip and was elected without opposition. With the Conference Chair vacant, Alexander announced that he would seek the position.[56] He would go on to defeat Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina by a margin of 31–16.[57]

Alexander stepped down as Conference Chairman in January 2012, citing his desire to foster consensus. He said, "I want to do more to make the Senate a more effective institution so that it can deal better with serious issues." He added, "For these same reasons, I do not plan to seek a leadership position in the next Congress", ending speculation that he would run for the position of Republican Whip after Jon Kyl retired in 2013.[58]

2008 re-election campaign[edit]

Main article: Tennessee United States Senate election, 2008

In April 2007, Alexander announced he would run for re-election to the Senate in 2008.[59]

Alexander was favored throughout the entire campaign, due to his long history in Tennessee politics and a disorganized Democratic opposition. His rivals were former state Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke, who won a heated primary, and Libertarian candidate Daniel T. Lewis.

Alexander won reelection, taking 65 percent of the vote to Tuke's 32 percent. Alexander also carried all but one of Tennessee's 95 counties; he lost only in Haywood County in western Tennessee, which was secured by Tuke. He won the normally Democratic strongholds of Davidson and Shelby counties—home to Nashville and Memphis, respectively. Alexander also benefited from riding the coattails of John McCain, who won the state with a solid majority.

2013 presidential inauguration role[edit]

As Co-Chairman of the Joint Congressional Inaugural Committee, Alexander was one of the speakers at the Second inauguration of Barack Obama on 21 January 2013, alongside the Committee's chair, Senator Charles Schumer.

2014 senatorial re-election campaign[edit]

Main article: United States Senate election in Tennessee, 2014

In December 2012, Alexander announced he would be seeking re-election to a third Senate term in 2014.[60] Alexander's campaign had a war chest of $3.1 million in cash going into his 2014 re-election bid.[61]

In an August 2013 letter to Alexander signed by over 20 Tennessee tea-party groups, the groups called on Alexander to retire from the Senate in 2014, or face a primary challenge.[62] The letter stated: "During your tenure in the Senate we have no doubt that you voted in a way which you felt was appropriate. Unfortunately, our great nation can no longer afford compromise and bipartisanship, two traits for which you have become famous. America faces serious challenges and needs policymakers who will defend conservative values, not work with those who are actively undermining those values."[63][64]

Although Alexander was initially thought to be vulnerable to a primary challenge from the right, he worked to avoid this and ultimately did not face a high-profile challenger. He declared his intention to run early, quickly won the endorsement of Governor Bill Haslam, every living former Tennessee Republican Party Chairman and the state's entire Republican congressional delegation (except scandal-hit Scott DesJarlais). He also raised a large amount of money and worked to avoid the mistakes of ousted Senators Bob Bennett and Richard Lugar by trying to stay in touch with his constituents, especially in East Tennessee. Moreover, out-of-state conservative organizations such as the Senate Conservatives Fund made little effort to defeat Alexander.[65]

Alexander won the Republican primary, defeating State Representative and Tea Party challenger Joe Carr. However, Alexander recorded the lowest winning percentage (49.7%) and lowest margin of victory (9.2 points) ever in a primary for a Republican U.S. Senator from Tennessee. Carr won a larger percentage of the vote (40.5%) than the previous 11 challengers to sitting Republican U.S. Senators in Tennessee history combined (40.3%).[66]

Alexander won the general election with 62% of the vote.

Personal life[edit]

In 1969, Alexander married Leslee "Honey" Buhler,[67] who grew up in Victoria, Texas, and graduated from Smith College in Massachusetts.[68] They had met during a softball game for Senate staff members. Together they have four children: Drew, Leslee, Kathryn, and Will. After a six-month trip to Australia with his family in the late 1980s, Alexander wrote about their adventure in a book entitled, Six Months Off.[69]

Alexander is a classical and country pianist. He began taking lessons at age three, and won several competitions as a child.[2] In April 2007, he played piano on singer Patti Page's re-recording of her 1950 hit Tennessee Waltz. He appeared on the record at the invitation of record executive Mike Curb. Alexander and Page performed the song live at an April 4 fundraiser for his senatorial re-election campaign in Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center.[70]

Alexander is a member of Sons of the Revolution.[71]

Electoral history[edit]

Tennessee US Senate election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Lamar Alexander 849,748 61.9
Democratic Gordon Ball 437,175 31.8
Tennessee US Senate Republican primary election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lamar Alexander 331,705 49.7
Republican Joe Carr 271,324 40.6
Republican George Shea Flinn 34,668 5.2
Republican Christian Agnew 11,320 1.7
Republican Brenda Lenard 7,908 1.2
Republican John King 7,748 1.2
Republican Erin Kent Magee 3,366 0.5
Tennessee US Senate election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Lamar Alexander 1,571,637 67.3 +13.0
Democratic Bob Tuke 762,779 32.6
Tennessee US Senate election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Lamar Alexander 888,223 54.3
Democratic Bob Clement 726,510 44.2
Tennessee US Senate Republican primary election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lamar Alexander 295,052 53.8
Republican Ed Bryant 233,678 42.6
Republican Mary Taylor-Shelby 5,589 1.0
Republican June Griffin 4,930 0.9
Republican Michael Brent Todd 4,002 0.7
Republican James DuBose 3,572 0.7
Republican Christopher Fenner 1,552 0.3
Republican Write-ins 102 0.0
Tennessee gubernatorial election, 1982
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Lamar Alexander 737,693 59.56 +3.72
Democratic Randy Tyree 500,937 40.44
Tennessee gubernatorial election, 1978
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Lamar Alexander 661,959 55.84
Democratic Jake Butcher 523,495 44.16
Tennessee gubernatorial election, 1974
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Ray Blanton 576,833 55.88
Republican Lamar Alexander 455,467 44.12

United States presidential election, 1996 (Republican primaries):[72]

Republican Senate Minority Whip[73]

  • Trent Lott (MS) – 25 (51.02%)
  • Lamar Alexander (TN) – 24 (48.98%)

Senate Republican Conference Chairman[74]

  • Lamar Alexander (TN) – 31 (65.96%)
  • Richard Burr (NC) – 16 (34.04%)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Finding Aid for Governor Lamar Alexander Papers Archived June 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine., 1991. Retrieved: 3 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lamar Alexander, Six Months Off (New York: Morrow, 1988), pp. 24–38.
  3. ^ Distinguished Eagle Scout Award Archived April 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine., Boy Scouts of America website. Retrieved: 26 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Lamar Alexanders Biography". Project VoteSmart. Retrieved 12 November 2014. 
  5. ^ "The Vaughn Home". Robert Penn Warren Center. 
  6. ^ "Deep Roots, Strong Tree," Vanderbilt Magazine, 7 April 2010.
  7. ^ a b Lamar Alexander (1991–1993): Secretary of Education Archived March 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine., Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Phillip Langsdon, Tennessee: A Political History (Franklin, Tenn.: Hillsboro Press, 2000), pp. 370–381, 370–393.
  9. ^ "Deep Roots, Strong Tree". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved 2018-09-09. 
  10. ^ Wray, Harmon L., Jr. (1986). "Cells for Sale". Southern Changes. Southern Regional Council. 8 (3): 3–6. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016. Thanks to effective lobbying by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, the CCA bid was tabled last year by the Democratically-controlled state legislature. The action came during a special session called for the prison crisis by Republican governor Lamar Alexander, a CCA supporter who once rented a garage apartment to law student Tom Beasley. Alexander has spent seven years overseeing an unconstitutional prison system but has never set foot inside one of his state's prisons. 
  11. ^ Our Campaigns – 1974 TN Governor, Republican Primary, Our Campaigns. Retrieved: 3 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Special Section: 200 Faces for the Future". Time. 104 (3). July 15, 1974. 
  13. ^ Sciolino, Elaine; Gerth, Jeff (February 26, 1996). "POLITICS: LAMAR ALEXANDER;Behind the Flannel Shirt, Deep Washington Roots". The New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2014. 
  14. ^ "Sen. Lamar Alexander's Office Tour — With Framed Flannel". ABC. May 19, 2010. Retrieved January 24, 2014. , archived https://web.archive.org/web/20140203011450/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2010/05/sen-lamar-alexanders-office-tour-with-framed-flannel/
  15. ^ https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19781026&id=EE4aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nCkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6747%2C4152834&hl=en "Spicy Ingredients in Tennessee Race". The Milwaukee Journal, October 26, 1978. Retrieved via Google News, December 5, 2015.
  16. ^ Fred Rolater, Leonard Ray Blanton, Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 2009. Retrieved: 12 February 2013.
  17. ^ a b Pardon Abuse: Deja Vu by David Boaz, Cato Institute website, March 7, 2001.
  18. ^ a b Billy Stair, The Life and Career of Ned McWherter (State Public Affairs Office, 2011), pp. 67–79.
  19. ^ Carroll Van West, "Lamar Alexander," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 2009. Retrieved: 6 January 2013.
  20. ^ Mary Isabelle Frank, Teachers: Economic Growth and Society (Psychology Press, 1984), p. 121.
  21. ^ McCutcheon, Michael; Barone, Chuck (2013). 2014 Almanac of American Politics. The University of Chicago Press. 
  22. ^ Scott Jaschik (September 4, 1991). "Rejecting Review Board's Advice, Alexander Grants Federal Recognition to Christian Accrediting Body" (A40). The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved December 26, 2008. [dead link]
  23. ^ "Accrediting body angers secretary of education". Washington Times. November 7, 1991. Retrieved December 26, 2008. 
  24. ^ "BATTLE LINES DRAWN ON A COLLEGE DIVERSITY DEBATE". Philadelphia Inquirer. 20 October 1991. Retrieved 26 December 2008. 
  25. ^ Sandefur, Timothy (March 24, 2002). "Dinosaur TRACS: The Approaching Conflict between Establishment Clause Jurisprudence And College Accreditation Procedures". Nexus (law journal) from Chapman University School of Law. Archived from the original on January 6, 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2006. 
  26. ^ Steve Levicoff, When The TRACS Stop Short: An Evaluation And Critique Of The Transnational Association Of Christian Colleges And Schools, (Institute on Religion and Law, 1993)
  27. ^ Jaschik, Scott (June 16, 1995). "Christian Accrediting Group Faulted in Federal Review". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved May 4, 2007. [dead link]
  28. ^ Schiffren, Lisa (September 1995). "The Man From Tennessee". The American Spectator. Arlington, Virginia: 35–36. 
  29. ^ "Center for Business and Government - Richard Light Faculty Spotlight". www.hks.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2017-02-06. 
  30. ^ "Biography of Lamar Alexander". Christ-Centered Mall, Inc., US. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2017. 
  31. ^ Henneberger, Melinda (12 August 1999). "Alexander, After 6-Year Run, Is Short on Time and Money". The New York Times, US. Retrieved 29 May 2017. 
  32. ^ Our Campaigns – TN US Senate, 2002 Republican Primary; retrieved January 6, 2013.
  33. ^ "Scientists Name Insect Species After Sen. Lamar Alexander". Associated Press. November 24, 2007. Via WLVT TV (Knoxsville, Tennessee). wvlt.tv. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
  34. ^ On Alexander swing, Cheney demands Iraqi compliance, by Brad Schrade, The Tennessean, September 27, 2002
  35. ^ Alexander Cites Lessons Of Iraq Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine., The Chattanoogan, February 19, 2004
  36. ^ Alexander Touts Iraq Study Group Findings, appearance on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer, July 19, 2007
  37. ^ Alexander champions Iraq course, by Bartholomew Sullivan, The Commercial Appeal, September 9, 2007
  38. ^ Committee: Health care overhaul a yes Archived January 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine., Politico.com, July 15, 2009
  39. ^ Lamar Alexander: 'It's Not Time' Archived August 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine., Nashville Scene, July 15, 2009
  40. ^ "U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote". senate.gov. March 28, 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2014. 
  41. ^ "US Senate: Legislation & Records Home – Votes – Roll Call Vote". Senate.gov. Retrieved August 29, 2010. 
  42. ^ Bash, Dana; Fox, Lauren; Barrett, Ted (May 9, 2017). "GOP defends having no women in health care group". CNN. Retrieved 2017-06-14. 
  43. ^ Bryan, Bob (June 9, 2017). "'We have no idea what's being proposed': Democratic senator gives impassioned speech on GOP healthcare bill secrecy". Business Insider. Retrieved 2017-06-17. 
  44. ^ Litvan, Laura (June 13, 2017). "Senate Republicans Are Writing Obamacare Repeal Behind Closed Doors". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2017-06-17. 
  45. ^ Scott, Dylan (June 9, 2017). "Senate Republicans are closer to repealing Obamacare than you think". Vox. Retrieved 2017-06-17. 
  46. ^ Theobald, Bill (Jan 17, 2010). "Alexander among most bipartisan of GOP senators". The Leaf-Chronicle. WASHINGTON: Gannett. Retrieved January 19, 2010. [dead link]
  47. ^ "2009 VOTE RATINGS". National Journal. Feb 27, 2010. Archived from the original on February 28, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2010. 
  48. ^ Floor Remarks of US Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) – Nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Senator Lamar Alexander, July 30, 2009
  49. ^ Silver, Nate (April 18, 2013). "Modeling the Senate's Vote on Gun Control". FiveThirtyEight (blog). New York Times. nytimes.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-20. Retrieved 2018-02-16. 
  50. ^ Cobb, David. "Corker, Alexander call Trump's immigration ban 'poorly implemented' and 'confusing'". Times Free Press. Retrieved 31 January 2017. 
  51. ^ "PREEMIE Reauthorization Act (S. 252/H.R. 541)". March of Dimes. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2013. 
  52. ^ "S. 252 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved 11 November 2013. 
  53. ^ (2014-01-20). "Alexander bill pushes for more ACA enrollment data" Archived January 21, 2014, at Archive.is. Ripon Advance. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  54. ^ "H.R. 3362 – Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved 7 January 2014. 
  55. ^ Babington, Charles (November 16, 2006). "Lott Rejoins Senate Leadership". Washington Post. Retrieved December 21, 2007. 
  56. ^ "Alexander Announces Interest in Conference Chair". November 26, 2007. Retrieved January 12, 2008. 
  57. ^ Bresnahan, John (December 6, 2007). "Alexander Wins Senate GOP Conference Chairmanship". CBS News. Retrieved January 12, 2008. 
  58. ^ Raju, Manu (20 September 2011). "Lamar Alexander quitting leadership post in Senate". Politico. Retrieved 5 March 2012. 
  59. ^ "Alexander Running Again, Sets Fundraiser". The Chattanoogan. April 3, 2007. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved April 6, 2007. 
  60. ^ Richard Locker, "Alexander Says He's Running for Re-election as Tenn. Senator," Memphis Commercial Appeal, 2 December 2012. Retrieved: 6 January 2013.
  61. ^ Raju, Manu (4 April 2014). "Lamar Alexander's primary foe: 'We're friends'". Politico. Retrieved 14 August 2014. 
  62. ^ Joey Gerrison; The Tennessean (August 16, 2013). "Topple Sen. Lamar Alexander? TN tea party going for it". tennessean.com. 
  63. ^ J.R. Lind; Nashville Post (August 14, 2013). "I'm sure he'll take this under advisement". nashvillepost.com. 
  64. ^ Blake Neff (August 15, 2013). "Tea Party groups tell Alexander to quit". thehill.com. 
  65. ^ Alexis Levinson (August 1, 2014). "How Lamar Alexander Staved Off His Primary Challenger". Retrieved March 16, 2015. 
  66. ^ Ostermeier, Eric (August 7, 2014). "Alexander Records Weakest Primary Win for GOP US Senator in Tennessee History". 
  67. ^ "Meet Lamar". Alexander for Senate. Retrieved September 9, 2010. 
  68. ^ "Honey Alexander's Biography". U.S. Senate site. Retrieved September 9, 2010. 
  69. ^ "SIX MONTHS OFF: An American Family's Australian Adventure". Kirkus. September 22, 1988. Retrieved 29 May 2018. 
  70. ^ "Songbird, Senator Team Up on "Waltz"". The Tennessean, US. 3 April 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2007. 
  71. ^ "Reports from State Societies" (PDF). Drumbeat. Independence, Mo.: General Society Sons of the Revolution. Winter 2004. Retrieved January 10, 2010. 
  72. ^ "Our Campaigns - US President - R Primaries Race - Jul 07, 1996". www.ourcampaigns.com. 
  73. ^ "Our Campaigns - US Senate Assistant Minority Leader Race - Nov 15, 2006". www.ourcampaigns.com. 
  74. ^ "Our Campaigns - US Senate Republican Conference Chairman Race - Dec 06, 2007". www.ourcampaigns.com. 

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Party political offices
Preceded by
Winfield Dunn 		Republican nominee for Governor of Tennessee
1974, 1978, 1982 		Succeeded by
Winfield Dunn
Preceded by
Fred Thompson 		Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Tennessee
(Class 2)
2002, 2008, 2014 		Most recent
Preceded by
Jon Kyl 		Chair of the Senate Republican Conference
2007–2012 		Succeeded by
John Thune
Political offices
Preceded by
Ray Blanton 		Governor of Tennessee
1979–1987 		Succeeded by
Ned McWherter
Preceded by
John Carlin 		Chair of the National Governors Association
1985–1986 		Succeeded by
Bill Clinton
Preceded by
Ted Sanders
Acting 		United States Secretary of Education
1991–1993 		Succeeded by
Richard Riley
Academic offices
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Edward Boling 		President of the University of Tennessee System
1988–1991 		Succeeded by
Joe Johnson
U.S. Senate
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Fred Thompson 		U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Tennessee
January 3, 2003 – present
Served alongside: Bill Frist, Bob Corker 		Incumbent
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Bob Bennett 		Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee
2011–2013 		Succeeded by
Pat Roberts
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Patty Murray
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Current U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
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