Samuel K. Skinner
Samuel K. Skinner | |
---|---|
15th White House Chief of Staff | |
In office December 16, 1991 – August 23, 1992 | |
President | George H. W. Bush |
Deputy | Andrew Card Henson Moore |
Preceded by | John H. Sununu |
Succeeded by | James Baker |
10th United States Secretary of Transportation | |
In office February 6, 1989 – December 15, 1991 | |
President | George H. W. Bush |
Deputy | Elaine Chao |
Preceded by | James Burnley |
Succeeded by | Andrew Card |
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois | |
In office 1975–1977 | |
President | Gerald Ford |
Preceded by | James R. Thompson |
Succeeded by | Thomas P. Sullivan |
Personal details | |
Born | Samuel Knox Skinner June 10, 1938 |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1960–1961 |
Rank | Lieutenant |
Samuel Knox Skinner (born June 10, 1938) is an American politician, lawyer, and businessman. Skinner served as
Early life
Skinner was born in
After his military service, Skinner held various sales and management positions with the
Law career
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (August 2017) |
From 1968-75, Skinner served in the office of the
This was the first time in U.S. history that a sitting federal court of appeals judge was found guilty of a federal crime. During his tenure at the U.S. Attorney's office, Skinner also worked directly with future U.S. Court of Appeals Judges
From 1977-89, Skinner practiced law as a senior partner in the Chicago law firm
George H. W. Bush Administration
After leaving the U.S. Attorney's office for a career in the private sector, Skinner became active in Republican politics in Illinois. Skinner led the Illinois efforts of George H. W. Bush's unsuccessful 1980 presidential campaign and successful 1988 presidential campaign, the last time a Republican candidate for President carried Illinois in the general election.
In December 1988, Skinner was nominated by President Bush to serve as Secretary of Transportation. Skinner was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate on January 31, 1989, and assumed the office on February 6, 1989.
As Secretary of Transportation, he served as chief executive officer of a cabinet-level federal department with a budget over $30 billion and a workforce of 105,000 people. During his tenure, Skinner was credited with numerous successes, including the development of the President's National Transportation Policy and the passage of landmark aviation and surface-transportation legislation. He also issued regulations mandating wheelchair lifts on buses. In addition, Skinner was instrumental in developing President Bush's Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, which served as the catalyst for the whole ITS industry.
He also developed the "
After
As White House Chief of Staff, Skinner acted as the President's chief surrogate and led the implementation of the President's domestic policy agenda leading into the 1992 general election. Under Sununu, domestic policy initiatives had drifted into the background in favor of foreign policy centered around the
Post-Bush administration career
Upon leaving the White House, Skinner returned to Chicago and became president of Commonwealth Edison and its holding company Unicom Corporation (now Exelon) from 1993 to 1998. In 1998, Skinner left this role to become co-chairman of the Chicago-based law firm Hopkins and Sutter. In July 2000, he was named chairman, president, and CEO of US Freightways, retiring from that role three years later in April 2003.
Skinner is currently on the board of directors of
Since 2006, Skinner has served as
Family
Skinner and his first wife, Susan Ann Thomas, had three children. His eldest son, Thomas Vernon Skinner, is the former head of the
Skinner currently resides in
Awards
Skinner has been awarded honorary degrees from George Washington University and Lake Forest College.[citation needed]
In 2017, he was inducted as a laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln (the state's highest honor) by the governor of Illinois in the areas of government and law.[5]
References
- ^ Mehler, Neil H. (December 9, 1991). "Wheaton Pals Recall 'Good Guy' Skinner". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
- ^ Hinz, Greg (May 1, 2020). "Where will Chicago's economy be when we're on the other side?". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ Schefter, Adam (August 8, 2006). "Goodell now comes to the forefront". NFL. Archived from the original on August 14, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
- ^ Jacobs, Gillian (February 4, 2016). "Gillian Jacobs Is a Computer Science Advocate" (Interview). Interviewed by Fallon, Jimmy. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "Laureates Inducted in 2016". The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
Further reading
- Gattuso, James L. (1990). "Heritage Foundation Policy Research and Analysis". Sam Skinner's Sensible National Transportation Strategy. Heritage Foundation. Retrieved February 17, 2006.
- Warde, Anne (1999). "Heritage Foundation Policy Research and Analysis". Sam Skinner joins Board of Odetics ITS. Its America. Retrieved February 17, 2006. [dead link]
- "Sam Skinner". NNDB database. Retrieved February 20, 2006.