Pete du Pont
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Pete du Pont | |
---|---|
68th Governor of Delaware | |
In office January 18, 1977 – January 15, 1985 | |
Lieutenant | James D. McGinnis Mike Castle |
Preceded by | Sherman W. Tribbitt |
Succeeded by | Mike Castle |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's at-large district | |
In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1977 | |
Preceded by | William Roth |
Succeeded by | Thomas B. Evans Jr. |
Member of the Delaware House of Representatives from the 12th district | |
In office January 7, 1969 – January 3, 1971 | |
Preceded by | David Benson |
Succeeded by | William Poulterer |
Personal details | |
Born | Pierre Samuel du Pont IV January 22, 1935 Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. |
Died | May 8, 2021 Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. | (aged 86)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Elise Ravenel Wood |
Children | 4, including Ben |
Relatives | See du Pont family |
Education | Princeton University (BS) Harvard University (LLB) |
Pierre Samuel "Pete" du Pont IV (January 22, 1935 – May 8, 2021) was an American attorney, businessman, and politician who served as the
Early life and family
Pierre Samuel du Pont IV was born on January 22, 1935, in
Professional and political career
From 1963 until 1970 du Pont was employed by
U.S. House of Representatives
In 1970 du Pont was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Democrat John D. Daniello, a New Castle County Councilman and labor leader. He won election to the U.S. House of Representatives two more times, defeating Democrats Norma Handloff in 1972 and University of Delaware professor James R. Soles in 1974. In Congress, du Pont supported an attempt to limit presidential authority through the War Powers Act of 1973, but was one of the last to remain loyal to U.S. President Richard M. Nixon during the impeachment process.
Governor of Delaware
Du Pont did not seek another term in the U.S. House of Representatives and instead ran for Governor of Delaware in 1976, defeating incumbent Democratic Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt. He was elected to a second term as governor in 1980, defeating Democratic State House leader William J. Gordy, and served two terms from January 18, 1977, until January 15, 1985.[2]
As Governor, du Pont signed into law two income tax reduction measures and a constitutional amendment that restrained future tax increases and limited government spending.
In 1981, Du Pont helped establish the credit card industry in Delaware, in a race against
Delaware General Assembly (sessions while Governor) | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Assembly | Senate Majority | President pro tempore |
House Majority | Speaker | ||||||
1977–1978 | 129th | Democratic | Richard S. Cordrey | Democratic | Kenneth W. Boulden John P. Ferguson | ||||||
1979–1980 | 130th | Democratic | Richard S. Cordrey | Republican | Robert W. Riddagh | ||||||
1981–1982 | 131st | Democratic | Richard S. Cordrey | Republican | Charles L. Hebner | ||||||
1983–1984 | 132nd | Democratic | Richard S. Cordrey | Democratic | Orlando J. George Jr. |
Presidential aspirations
With his second and final term as governor expiring in 1985,[3] du Pont, as the dominant Delaware politician, was widely expected to challenge the popular incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator and future President, Joe Biden, but du Pont had little interest in legislative politics and declined to run, preparing instead for a long shot bid for the Republican U.S. presidential nomination in the 1988 election. (His wife, Elise, ran for the U.S. Congressional seat that he had previously held in 1984, but lost to incumbent Democrat Tom Carper.)[6] He declared his intent on September 16, 1986,[7] before anyone else. Biden also sought his party's nomination but dropped out of the race after a plagiarism scandal.
Running in the
Later career
In 1984, du Pont served as chairman of the
Du Pont was the chairman of the board for the National Center for Policy Analysis, a think tank based in Dallas, Texas; he was a retired director with the Wilmington, Delaware law firm of Richards, Layton, and Finger, and until May 2014, he wrote the monthly Outside the Box column for the Wall Street Journal.
Death
Du Pont died at his home in Wilmington, on May 8, 2021, following a long illness.[1][10][11]
Electoral history
Public Offices | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Office | Type | Location | Began office | Ended office | notes | |
State Representative | Legislature | Dover | January 14, 1969 | January 3, 1971 | ||
U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | January 3, 1971 | January 3, 1973 | ||
U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | January 3, 1973 | January 3, 1975 | ||
U.S. Representative | Legislature | Washington | January 3, 1975 | January 3, 1977 | ||
Governor | Executive | Dover | January 18, 1977 | January 20, 1981 | ||
Governor | Executive | Dover | January 20, 1981 | January 15, 1985 |
Delaware General Assembly service | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dates | Assembly | Chamber | Majority | Governor | Committees | District |
1969–1970 | 125th | State House | Republican | Russell W. Peterson | New Castle 12th |
United States Congressional service | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dates | Congress | Chamber | Majority | President | Committees | Class/District |
1971–1973 | 92nd | U.S. House | Democratic | Richard M. Nixon
|
at-large
| |
1973–1975 | 93rd | U.S. House | Democratic | Gerald R. Ford
|
at-large
| |
1975–1977 | 94th | U.S. House | Democratic | Gerald R. Ford
|
at-large
|
Election results | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Office | Election | Subject | Party | Votes | % | Opponent | Party | Votes | % | ||
1970
|
U.S. Representative | General | Pierre S. du Pont IV | Republican | 86,125 | 54% | John D. Daniello | Democratic | 71,429 | 46% | ||
1972
|
U.S. Representative | General | Pierre S. du Pont IV | Republican | 141,237 | 63% | Norma Handloft | Democratic | 83,230 | 37% | ||
1974
|
U.S. Representative | General | Pierre S. du Pont IV | Republican | 93,826 | 58% | James R. Soles | Democratic | 63,490 | 40% | ||
1976 | Governor | General | Pierre S. du Pont IV | Republican | 130,531 | 57% | Sherman W. Tribbitt | Democratic | 97,480 | 42% | ||
1980 | Governor | General | Pierre S. du Pont IV | Republican | 159,004 | 71% | William J. Gordy | Democratic | 64,217 | 29% |
References
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c "DU PONT, Pierre Samuel, IV". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ a b "Pierre 'Pete' du Pont IV dies; ran for president in 1988". Politico. Associated Press. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-4464-5014-7.
- ^ Banking Haven, by Neil Gilbride, The Washington Post, June 26, 1983.
- ^ [1] Archived February 27, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Koplinski 2000, p. 238.
- ^ Cohen, Celia. Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State.
- ^ Bittle, Matt (May 9, 2021). "Former Gov. Pete du Pont, praised for tenure. dies at 86". Bay to Bay News. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ "Pierre 'Pete' du Pont IV dies; ran for president in 1988 – POLITICO". Politico. May 9, 2021.
Sources
- Koplinski, Brad (2000). Hats in the ring : conversations with presidential candidates. Presidential Publishing. OCLC 44945022.
Further reading
- Boyer, William W. (2000). Governing Delaware. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
- Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
- Martin, Roger A. (1984). History of Delaware Through its Governors. Wilmington, Delaware: McClafferty Press.
- Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin.