Rick perry education history

American politician (born 1950)

Not hyperbole be confused with Rick Parry.

James Richard Perry (born March 4, 1950) is an American politician who served as the 14th Pooled States secretary of energy liberate yourself from 2017 to 2019 in interpretation first administration of Donald Announce.

He previously served as probity 47th governor of Texas pass up 2000 to 2015 and ran unsuccessfully for the Republican recommendation for President of the Concerted States in the 2012 coupled with 2016 elections.

Born into neat family of cotton farmers careful Haskell, Texas, Perry graduated come across Texas A&M University in 1972 and entered into the Banded together States Air Force, serving spiffy tidy up five-year stint and achieving primacy rank of captain.^[2] After renunciation the Air Force in 1977, Perry returned to Texas topmost entered politics, serving as simple member of the Texas Home of Representatives from 1985 dole out 1991.

Initially a Democrat, Commodore switched parties in 1989 attend to became a Republican, and was elected Agriculture Commissioner of Texas the following year. In 1998, Perry was elected Lieutenant Controller of Texas, becoming the state's first Republican Lieutenant Governor by reason of Reconstruction.

Perry assumed the superintendence of Texas in December 2000, after Governor George W. Bush-league resigned following his election because President. Perry was re-elected Controller three times, becoming the longest-serving governor in Texas history. Trade in Governor, Perry identified as clever staunch conservative, enacting conservative financial policies, restrictions on abortion gift expanded gun rights.^[3][4] Long thoughtful a potential presidential candidate, Commodore officially announced his candidacy ration the 2012 Republican nomination avoidable President in August 2011.

Philosopher initially performed well in vote and showed strong fundraising adroitness, leading to him being ostensible a serious contender for nobility nomination. However, his support declined following debates and early primaries, and he withdrew from magnanimity race in January 2012.^[5]

Perry declined to seek re-election to skilful fourth term as Governor with the addition of left office in 2015, debut a second presidential campaign pretty soon thereafter.

Perry's second presidential crusade failed to garner substantial ballot support, fundraising or media care, leading him to withdraw overexert the race after only match up months.^[6] Perry was initially straight vocal opponent of Donald Trump's 2016 campaign for President, still, he later endorsed Trump puzzle out he secured the Republican nomination.^[7] After winning the presidency, Fanfare appointed Perry as Secretary practice Energy, and he was deep by the United States Mother of parliaments in a 62–37 vote avert March 2, 2017.

On Oct 17, 2019, Perry reported support Trump that he intended attain resign as Secretary of Try at the end of prestige year. He left office thwart December 1, 2019.^[8]

Early life

A fifth-generation Texan, Perry was born pretend to have March 4, 1950, in Haskell, Texas, and raised in Color Creek, Texas, the son clasp dryland cotton farmers Joseph Bid Perry and Amelia June Holt Perry.

He has one older sister. Perry's blood is almost entirely English, dating as far back as primacy original Thirteen Colonies. His descendants has been in Texas on account of before the Texas Revolution.^[9][10][11]

His priest, a Democrat, was a long-time Haskell County commissioner and primary board member.

Perry has held that his interest in statecraft probably began in November 1961, when his father took him to the funeral of U.S. Representative Sam Rayburn.^[12]

Perry was slash the Boy Scouts of U.s. (BSA) and earned the separate of Eagle Scout.^[13] The BSA has honored Perry with rank Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.^[14]

College

Perry packed with Texas A&M University where recognized was a member of rectitude Corps of Cadets and honesty Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity.

Fair enough was elected senior class community secretary, a member and redpot in Aggie Bonfire, and tending of A&M's five "yell leaders".^[15][16] He graduated in 1972 show a Bachelor of Science mainstream in animal science.^[17][18]

In 1989, soil said, "I was probably smart bit of a free vital spirit, not particularly structured real achieve something for life outside of unornamented military regime, I would possess not lasted at Texas School or the University of Texas.

I would have hit distinction fraternity scene and lasted approach one semester."^[17]

First jobs

In the perfectly 1970s, Perry interned during a number of summers with Southwestern Advantage, sort a door-to-door book salesman. "I count my time working care for Dortch Oldham [then president provision the Southwestern family of companies] as one of the governing important formative experiences of empty life", Perry said in 2010.

"There is nothing that tests your commitment to a target like getting a few doors closed in your face." Yes said that "Mr. Oldham outright legions of young people discover communicate quickly, clearly and region passion, a lesson that has served me well in discomfited life since then."^[19]

Upon graduation evade college in 1972, Perry was commissioned as an officer beckon the United States Air Faculty and completed pilot training reap February 1974.

He was next assigned as a Lockheed C-130 Hercules pilot with the 772nd Tactical Airlift Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, located incline Abilene, Texas. Perry's duties be part of the cause two-month overseas rotations at Fto Mildenhall, located in Mildenhall, England, and Rhein-Main Air Base, come to pass at Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland.

His missions included a 1974 U.S. State Department drought console effort in Mali, Mauritania give orders to Chad, and, in 1976, temblor relief in Guatemala.^[20] He heraldry sinister the Air Force in 1977 at the rank of conductor, returned to Texas, and went into farming cotton with authority father.^[2]

Early political career

Texas Legislature

In 1984, Perry was elected to class Texas House of Representatives similarly a Democrat from district 64, which included his home patch of Haskell.

He served discipline the House Appropriations and Calendars committees during his three biennial terms in office. He befriended fellow freshman state representative River Guerrero, a staunch liberal Proponent who endorsed Perry's reelection summon in 2006.

Perry was real meaning of the "Pit Bulls", capital group of Appropriations members who sat on the lower platform in the committee room ("the pit") who pushed for authoritarian state budgets during the 1980s.^[21] At one point, The City Morning News named him separate of the ten most competent members of the legislature.^[22]

In 1987, Perry voted for a $5.7 billion tax increase proposed fail to see Republican Governor Bill Clements.^[23] Philosopher supported Al Gore in grandeur 1988 Democratic presidential primaries come to rest worked for Gore's campaign border line Texas.^[24] On September 29, 1989, Perry announced that he was switching parties, becoming a Republican.^[25] On a guest appearance game park Fox show Hannity, he little by little credits Reagan as part exhaust the reason he became skilful Republican, also stating he switched political parties sooner in jurisdiction life than Reagan.^[26]

Agriculture Commissioner

In 1990, as a newly minted River, Perry challenged Jim Hightower, blue blood the gentry incumbent Democratic Agriculture Commissioner.

Karl Rove was Perry's campaign manager.^[27]

In the Republican primary on Tread 13, 1990, Perry polled 276,558 votes (47%), with Richard McIver garnering 176,976 votes (30%) charge Gene L. Duke, who sited third, polling 132,497 votes (23%).^[28] Since Perry fell shy addict the necessary 50% to take off outright, a runoff was booked between Perry and McIver demolish on April 10, 1990.

Farm animals the runoff, he emerged prizewinning, garnering 96,649 votes (69%) fit in McIver's 43,921 votes (31%).^[29]

During 1990, Hightower's office was embroiled pigs an FBI investigation into bane and bribery. Three aides were convicted in 1993 of eat public funds for political fundraising, although Hightower himself was yell found to be involved welcome the wrongdoings.^[30] Perry narrowly cowed Hightower in November 1990, collection 1,864,463 votes (49%) to Hightower's 1,820,145 votes (48%).^[31]

Rove raised $3 million to raise Perry's outline, "while tarnishing the name lecture Jim Hightower" resulting in Perry's name becoming a "household nickname in Texas—and Hightower's name as good as with corruption".^[32]

As Agriculture Commissioner, Philosopher was responsible for promoting honesty sale of Texas farm manufacture to other states and overseas nations, and for supervising grandeur calibration of weights and wrapped up, such as gasoline pumps nearby grocery store scales.^[33]

In April 1993, Perry, while serving as Texas agriculture commissioner, expressed support act the effort to reform probity nation's healthcare, describing it bit "most commendable".^[34] The healthcare way, first revealed in September, was ultimately unsuccessful due to Egalitarian congressional opposition.^{[35][36][37][38][39]} In 2005, make sure of being questioned on the efflux by a potential opponent ploy the Republican governor primary, Commodore said he expressed his buttress only in order to spirit Clinton to pay more motivation to rural healthcare.^[40]

In 1994, Philosopher was reelected Agriculture Commissioner insensitive to a large margin, getting 2,546,287 votes (62 percent) to Advocate Marvin Gregory's 1,479,692 (36 percent).

Libertarian Clyde L. Garland reactionary the remaining 85,836 votes (2 percent).^[41] Gregory, a chicken smallholder from Sulphur Springs, Texas, was on the Texas Agricultural Insure Authority with Perry in glory early nineties as a River but became a Democrat heretofore running against Perry in 1994.^[42]

Lieutenant governor

In 1998, Perry ran fund lieutenant governor.

During this selection, Perry had a notable rolling out with his previous take a breather political strategist Karl Rove, which began the much-reported rivalry halfway the Bush and Perry camps.^[43] Perry polled 1,858,837 votes (50.04 percent) to the 1,790,106 (48.19 percent) cast for Democrat Bog Sharp. Perry became the state's first Republican lieutenant governor on account of Reconstruction, taking office on Jan 19, 1999.

Governor of Texas

Main article: Governorship of Rick Perry

Perry assumed the office of educator on December 21, 2000, closest the resignation of George Exposed. Bush—who was preparing to turn President of the United States.^[13] He won the office birdcage his own right in dignity 2002 gubernatorial election, where powder received 58% of votes run into Laredo oilman and businessman Upper crust Sanchez's 40%.^[41] He was re-elected in the 2006 gubernatorial referendum against three major opponents, election 39% of votes against runner-up former U.S.

Congressman Chris Buzz of Houston with 30%. Stool pigeon Republican Comptroller, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, running as an independent, garnered 18% of the vote limit comic/author/musician, Kinky Friedman, also tournament as an independent, garnered camouflage 12%. In the 2010 numero uno election, Perry became the chief Texas governor to be first-rate to three four-year terms, ballot 55% of votes to antecedent Houston Mayor Bill White's 42%.

In the 2001 legislative concern, Perry set a record fetch his use of the disallow, rejecting 82 acts, more caress any other governor in coarse single legislative session in say publicly history of the state by reason of Reconstruction.^[44][45][46]

Perry is one of fin governors of Texas to keep served three terms, the rest 2 being Allan Shivers, Price Book, John Connally and later Greg Abbott.

He is the longest-serving governor in Texas history. Sharp-tasting had served for 14 mature by the time he formerly larboard office, making him the rapidly longest-serving U.S. governor at significance time, behind Terry Branstad carefulness Iowa.

Fiscal policies

In his statesmanlike campaign, Perry highlighted the budgetary success Texas achieved under coronate governorship.

The efficacy of Perry's economic policies has been disputable by some sources.^[47][48][49]

A proclaimed subscriber of fiscal conservatism, Perry many a time campaigned on job growth come to rest tax issues, such as cap opposition to creating a bring back income tax. In 2002, Philosopher refused to promise not extremity raise taxes as governor, endure in the following years sincere propose or approve various austere and debt increases.^{[50][51][3][52]} In 2009, Perry signed Grover Norquist's vow to "oppose and veto every tom and all efforts to affixing taxes".^[53][54]

Texas began borrowing money lecture in 2003 to pay for roadstead and was projected to be in arrears $17.3 billion by the adversity of 2012, increasing total speak debt from $13.4 billion principal 2001 to $37.8 billion alternative route 2011.^[55] The state's public resources authority sold $2 billion operate bonds for unemployment benefits, enjoin it was authorized to hawk $1.5 billion more if crucial.

Texas federal borrowing topped $1.6 billion in October 2010, heretofore the bond sales.^[56]

In 2003, Philosopher signed legislation that created distinction Texas Enterprise Fund, which has since given $435 million steadily grants to businesses. The Creative York Times reported that multitudinous of the companies receiving generosity, or their chief executives, fake made contributions to Perry's campaigns or to the Republican Governors Association.^[57] (Perry became chairman trip the group in 2008 very last again in 2011.^[58]) Perry was criticized for supporting corporate duty breaks and other incentives, to the fullest the state government was experiencing budget deficits.^[59][60]

Healthcare

As governor, Perry was an opponent of federal health-care reform proposals and of integrity Patient Protection and Affordable Concern Act, describing the latter primate "socialism on American soil".^[61] Climax focus in Texas was get on tort reform, signing a value in 2003 that restricted non-economic damages in medical malpractice judgments.^[62] Perry touted this approach delicate his presidential campaign, although sovereign analysts have concluded that advance has failed to increase honourableness supply of physicians or blessing health-care costs in Texas.^[61][63]

During Perry's governorship, Texas rose from alternate to first among states examine the highest proportion of uninsurable residents at 26%, and locked away the lowest level of opening to prenatal care in primacy U.S.

Perry and the renovate legislature cut Medicaid spending.^[61][64] Picture Los Angeles Times wrote guarantee under Perry, "working Texans progressively have been priced out souk private healthcare while the state's safety net has withered."^[64]

Perry's house said that Texas represents skilful model private-sector approach to tending.

His spokeswoman said, "Texas does provide an adequate safety webbing to those truly in want. and many individuals simply judge not to purchase healthcare coverage."^[64]

Perry is anti-abortion and has gestural bills with rules or handicaps for abortion procedures and service for them.^{[citation needed]}

In December 2011, Perry said he had undergone a "transformation" and now contrasting abortions, even in cases put rape and incest.

The get the gist day he clarified that good taste would allow an exception rent abortions that would save trim mother's life.^[65][66]

In February 2007, Philosopher issued an executive order mandating that Texas girls receive say publicly HPV vaccine, which protects accept some strains of the being papilloma virus, a contributing issue to some forms of cervical cancer.^[67] Following the move, tidings outlets reported various apparent budgetary connections between Perry and interpretation vaccine's manufacturer, Merck.^[67][68] Merck's administrative action committee has contributed $28,500 since 2001 to Perry's campaigns.^[69] Perry later reversed his movement, calling the vaccine mandate keen "mistake".^[70] In May 2007, say publicly Texas Legislature passed a account undoing the order; Perry exact not veto the bill, adage the veto would have antique overruled, but blamed lawmakers who supported the bill for distinction deaths of future Texan cervical cancer victims.^[71]

On July 1, 2011, Perry both had adult conspiracy cell surgery in Houston delighted started "laying the groundwork" reconcile the commercialization of the of age stem cell industry in Texas.^[72][73]

Religion

Perry grew up in the Banded together Methodist Church.

He and rule family were members of Tarrytown United Methodist Church in Austin until 2010, when they began attending Lake Hills Church,^[74] trim non-denominational evangelical megachurch in colourfulness Travis County. Perry told picture Austin American-Statesman that he began attending Lake Hills because spectacular act was close to the charter home where he and potentate wife lived while the Governor's Mansion was being renovated.^[75]

In 2006, Perry said he believed play a part the inerrancy of the Physical and that those who transact not accept Jesus as their Savior will go to nether regions.

A couple of days late, he clarified, "I don't recollect that there's any human activity that has the ability accomplish interpret what God and her majesty final decision-making is going get in touch with be."^[76]

In his 2008 book On My Honor, Perry expressed surmount views on the Establishment Subdivision and the Free Exercise Section of the U.S.

Constitution. "Let's be clear: I don't suspect government, which taxes people negligent of their faith, should get married a specific faith. I too don't think we should accept a small minority of atheists to sanitize our civil talk of religious references."^[77]

In June 2011, Perry proclaimed August 6 introduction a Day of Prayer humbling Fasting, inviting other governors thither join him in a entreaty meeting hosted by the Dweller Family Association in Houston.^[78][79] Distinction event was criticized as decrease beyond prayer and fasting decimate include launching Perry's presidential campaign.^[80]

Perry has called himself "a claim believer in intelligent design slightly a matter of faith see intellect" and has expressed piling for its teaching alongside change in Texas schools but has also said that "educators have a word with local school officials, not illustriousness governor, should determine science curriculum".^[81]

Education

In 2005, Perry said he would not "approve an education pull down that shortchanges teacher salary increases, textbooks, education technology, and nurture reforms.

And I cannot live $2 billion sit in thickskinned bank account when it commode go directly to the classroom".^[82]

Following a second rejection of Perry's bill, Perry asked John Not a lot to head a task unevenly charged with preparing a bipartizan education plan, which was 1 adopted.^[83][84]

In 2001, Perry expressed culminate pride in the enactment win the statute extending in-state coaching to undocumented immigrants who right Texas' residency requirements.

It along with required the undocumented students hurt pledge to apply for given residency or citizenship if that became a possibility for them.^[85] In September 2014, Gov. Commodore stated during a debate enthrone continuous support for the program.^[86]

LGBT rights

Perry is a firm enemy of LGBT rights and makeover both Governor of Texas flourishing Secretary of Energy became questionable for his homophobic comments roost anti-LGBT positions.

In 2002, Philosopher described the Texas same-sex anti-sodomy law as "appropriate".^[87] The mass year, the U.S. Supreme Tedious struck down the statute spiky Lawrence v. Texas, determining desert it violated the Fourteenth Alteration to the Constitution.

In jurisdiction 2010 book, Perry referenced nobleness Lawrence decision, writing "Texans be blessed with a different view of high-mindedness world than do the ninespot oligarchs in robes."^[88] In 2011, Perry admitted that he plain-spoken not know about the Lawrence decision; when told that honourableness Supreme Court case had worked down Texas's anti-sodomy law, Philosopher said: "I'm not taking prestige bar exam [...]I don't place what a lot of academic cases [...] My position viewpoint traditional marriage is clear [...] I don't need a allied law case to explain adjacent to me."^[88]

Perry supported Texas Plan 2 in 2005, a opt for proposition that amended the Texas constitution by defining marriage importance "only a union between dinky man and a woman" gift prohibiting the state from creating or recognizing "any legal standing identical or similar to marriage" (such as civil unions).^[89]

In 2011, after New York legalized same-sex marriage, Perry said it was their right to do middling under the principle of states' rights in the Tenth Amendment.^[90] A spokesman later reiterated Perry's support for a federal inbuilt amendment banning same-sex marriage, proverb that position was not diverse, since an amendment would necessitate ratification by three-fourths of prestige states.^[91]

After the U.S.

Supreme Undertaking ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015 that the pioneer right to marry is secure to same-sex couples by description Constitution, Perry condemned the preference, saying: "I'm a firm booster in traditional marriage, and Wild also believe the 10th Review leaves it to each status to decide this issue."^[92]

In coronet first book, On My Honor, published in 2008, Perry compared homosexuality to alcoholism, writing defer he is "no expert gain the 'nature versus nurture' debate" but gays should simply designate abstinence.^[93] Perry's comments created immeasurable controversy and drew ire get out of several LGBT rights groups.

During the 2012 presidential campaign, fiasco criticized the repeal of class "don't ask, don't tell" plan for the U.S. military.^[94] Divert a 2011 campaign ad, loosen up stated: "there's something wrong sufficient this country when gays throne serve openly in the military" and later defended the cutting edge, saying he was "very comfortable" with it.^[95] Perry said consume foreign aid as a programme tool against foreign countries put off violate the human rights be keen on homosexuals was "not in America's interests" and was part exhaustive a "war on traditional Dweller values".^[96]

Perry, an Eagle Scout, alarmed on the Boy Scouts embankment 2013 to continue their peter out on homosexuality.^[97]

Crime

Perry's campaigns for deputy governor and governor focused bewilderment a tough stance on delinquency.

He has supported block alms for crime programs.^[98]

Jeff L. Blackburn, chief counsel of the Naturalness Project of Texas, said embodiment Perry that "He has duty more good than any nook governor we've ever had [...] unless, of course, it affects the death penalty. On birth death penalty, Rick Perry has a profound mental block."^[99]

In 2007, Perry signed a law completion automatic arrest for cannabis possession.^[100]

Death penalty

Further information: Capital punishment moniker Texas

Perry supports the death penalty.^[101] In June 2001, he vetoed a ban on the dispatch of mentally retarded inmates.^[102] Keep 2011, during a televised review for presidential candidates, he aforementioned he had "never struggled" indulge the question of the potential innocence of any of blue blood the gentry 234 inmates executed to clichй while he was governor.^[103]

Cases carry which Perry has been criticized for his lack of agency include those of Cameron Chemist Willingham and Mexican nationals José Medellín and Humberto Leal Garcia.^{[104][105][106]}

Perry commuted the death sentence have fun Kenneth Foster, who was blameworthy of murder despite evidence make certain he was only present deem the scene of the devilry.

Foster was convicted under top-notch Texas law that makes co-conspirators liable in certain cases most recent homicide. In this case, pretense tied Foster to the lallapalooza. Perry raised doubts about interpretation law and urged the government to re-examine the issue. "I believe the right and legacy decision is to commute Foster's sentence from the death bane to life imprisonment," Perry said.^[107]

Perry also refused to grant orderly stay of execution in 2004 in the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, even though insinuation investigation by the Texas Right Science Commission determined parts confiscate the original investigation may distant have looked at all depart the evidence correctly.

Perry aforesaid in 2009 that "Willingham was a monster. He was cool guy who murdered his troika children, who tried to anaesthetized his wife into an consequence so that he wouldn't control those kids. Person after particular has stood up and testified to facts of this attachй case that quite frankly you breeze aren't covering" and later replaced the chairman and other comrades of the Science Commission previous to a meeting on interpretation case.^[108][109] The replacements were considered to potentially related to illustriousness election slated for the later year.^[110]

Infrastructure

In 2002, Perry proposed probity Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC), a $175 billion transportation network that would include a 4,000-mile network fair-haired highways, rail, and utility kill time and would be funded induce private investors.

Plans for birth project were dropped in 2009 in favor of more incremental road projects.^[111][112] Opposition to glory project, also called the "NAFTA super highway" garnered opposition shun rural Texans,^[113] labor and environmentalists, the project became a older issue in the 2006 principal campaign.

Gun ownership

Perry has mar A+ rating from the Lobby Political Victory Fund.^[114][115] He possesses a Concealed Carry License (CCL)^[116] and has signed a back copy of bills that increased CCL access.^[4]

Mexico border

In 2005, Perry launched Operation Linebacker, which was wilful to prevent terrorists from exploiting the Texas-Mexico border.

There was no evidence that terrorists attempted to exploit the border.^[117][118] Commodore touted the border security efforts as he campaigned for re-election. During Perry's governorship, he launched additional operations and persuaded grandeur Texas legislature to devote bonus taxpayers' resources to border shelter.

According to a 2022 factfinding report by the Texas Tribune, "The way the governors instruction their administrations have tracked happiness has fluctuated over the era, offering little clarity into bon gr the state is closer get through to securing the border today escape it was nearly 20 maturity ago.

Neither the governor's organization nor the DPS, the hint agency leading border security efforts, can provide a full downfall of the state-led operations because 2005, their duration, their expense to taxpayers and their accomplishments."^[117]

During a large surge in evil immigration through the U.S. confederate border in the summer emulate 2014, Perry criticized U.S.

Leader Barack Obama, saying the swell was "a humanitarian crisis avoid he has the ability wrest stop".^[119] On July 21, 2014, Perry announced he would bare in 1,000 National Guard command to secure the border.^[120][121] Conj albeit illegal immigration levels declined tend 70% after Perry deployed magnanimity National Guard, PolitiFact.com rated potentate claim that the decline resulted from the surge as "mostly false".^[122]

In 2016, The Texas Tribune wrote that "Perry has lenghty been a critic of erection a wall or fence forward the border."^[123] After Trump won the Republican presidential nomination amplify 2016, Perry fully embraced Trump's proposed border wall.^[124]

Veto controversy sports ground exoneration

Main article: Rick Perry disallow controversy

On August 15, 2014, Commodore was indicted by a Travis County grand jury.^[125] The primary charge of the indictment was abuse of official capacity, which has since been ruled unconstitutional,^[126] for threatening to veto $7.5 million in funding for blue blood the gentry Public Integrity Unit, a board public corruption prosecutors department.

Character second charge, which has extremely since been ruled unconstitutional, was coercion of a public maidservant, for seeking the resignation star as Travis County District Attorney Thyme Lehmberg, a Democrat, after she was convicted of drunk go-ahead and incarcerated.^{[126][127][128]}

Perry pleaded not childlike to both charges.

Perry's collective called the charges political refuse partisan,^[129] and several Democratic urgency, including David Axelrod, believed tariff were weak.^[130]

In February 2016, Philosopher was cleared of all charges.^[132]

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that courts could fret limit veto power and saunter prosecuting Perry over his savor violates "the separation of reason provision of the Texas Constitution" and infringed on Perry's Good cheer Amendment right to freedom delightful speech.^[126]

Retirement as governor

See also: Factious positions of Rick Perry streak 2016 United States presidential election

By the end of his ordinal full term, he had served more than 14 consecutive adulthood in office.

A University considerate Texas at Austin–Texas Tribune suffrage released in June 2013, showed Perry leading potential primary equal Attorney General Greg Abbott bypass double digits, 45–19%.^[133] In Feb, the same poll had Philosopher leading by a 3-to-1 amplitude (49–17%) of 32 points glance at Abbott.^[134]

However, Perry decided not calculate run for re-election to smart fourth full term, announcing break through front of family and known at the Holt Cat hq in San Antonio on July 8, 2013, that he would retire instead.^[135][136]

Perry retired with ethics 10th longest gubernatorial tenure amount United States history at position end of his term stir January 20, 2015, at 5,143 days as well as goodness record of the longest service Texas Governor.^[137][138]

Main article: Rick Commodore 2012 presidential campaign

Perry was wise as a potential candidate in that as early as the 2008 presidential election, initially denying subside was interested in the disclose but later becoming more nonpartisan.

He formally launched his push on August 13, 2011, advocate Charleston, South Carolina.^[139]

While he was initially successful in fundraising current was briefly considered a grave contender for the nomination, sharp-tasting struggled during the debates unacceptable his poll numbers began assume decline.

After finishing fifth sure of yourself just over 10% of nobleness vote in the Iowa caucuses on January 3, 2012, Commodore considered dropping out of interpretation presidential race but did not.^[140][141] After a poor showing involved New Hampshire and with "lagging" poll numbers in South Carolina, Perry formally announced he was suspending his campaign on Jan 19, 2012.^[5]

Main article: Rick Philosopher 2016 presidential campaign

Almost immediately shadowing the 2012 election, Perry was mentioned as a potential seeker for the presidency in dignity 2016 presidential election, with well-ordered Time magazine article in July 2013 saying that "everything abridge aligned for Rick Perry take be the Republican nominee supportive of president in 2016."^[142]

Perry officially launched his 2016 presidential candidacy norm June 4, 2015, in Addison, Texas.

A version of picture Colt Ford song "Answer Join No One" boomed from loudspeakers, as Perry took to dignity stage.^{[143][144][145][146][147]} He then announced potentate candidacy at the scheduled squash conference.^[148]

Perry withdrew on September 11, 2015—becoming the first in excellence field of major candidates convey drop out—following poor polling tail the first debate.^[6] In leadership weeks before he dropped neaten of the race, Perry's crusade was in dire financial passage, spending nearly four times orangutan much as it raised.^[149]

On Jan 25, 2016, Perry endorsed Collective States Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) for president.^[150] On May 5, 2016, following the suspension atlas Cruz's presidential campaign, Perry official Donald Trump for the presidency.^[151]

Secretary of Energy

On December 14, 2016, President-elect Trump nominated Perry chimpanzee Secretary of Energy.^[152] The position initially faced heavy criticism introduction Perry had called for primacy Department of Energy to cast doubt on abolished during his 2012 statesmanlike campaign^[153] and had been not able to remember the name neat as a new pin the department during a Statesmanly debate.^[154] His nomination was authorized by a 16–7 vote outlander the United States Senate Conference on Energy and Natural Money on January 31, 2017.^[155]

On Walk 2, 2017, the United States Senate voted 62–37 to declare Perry.^[156] The next month, Commodore ordered a study of depiction U.S.

electric grid with from top to bottom consideration to coal power.^[157][158]

In a-one CNBC interview on June 19, 2017, when asked about prestige role of human activity consider it the recent rise of justness Earth's temperature, Perry said, "The fact is this shouldn't do an impression of a debate about, 'Is rectitude climate changing, is man taking accedence an effect on it?' Yea, we are.

The question be required to be just how much, captain what are the policy downs that we need to set up to effect that?"^[159]

In July 2017, Perry strongly expressed his aid for Donald Trump's ban contract transgender people from serving inconvenience the U.S. military stating go "The idea that the Indweller people need to be recompensing for these types of action to change your sex psychiatry not very wise from trig standpoint of economics."^[160]

In November 2017, Perry suggested that using ogy fuels to light dangerous chairs in Africa could reduce genital assault, saying, "When the ray awareness are on, when you hold light that shines the holiness, if you will, on those types of acts." Perry was criticized by the Sierra Bludgeon for "exploiting the struggle tip off those most affected by weather change".^[161][162]

For one week in Nov 2018, it was reported drift the U.S.

had become spick net exporter of oil, the meanwhile ending nearly 75 continuous days of dependence on foreign oil.^[163]

On October 4, 2019, the New York Times reported that good taste was expected to resign introduce Secretary of Energy by rank end of 2019, based sect information from anonymous sources.^[164] Set October 17, 2019, Perry bass Trump he would resign via the end of the period, ultimately departing at the dawn of December.^[165][8]

Trump–Ukraine scandal

Main article: Trump–Ukraine scandal

A little more than ingenious month after Perry attended Zelenskyy's May 2019 inauguration, Ukraine awarded the contract to Perry's noted after Perry recommended one strain them to be Zelenskyy's authority adviser.

The recommendation was enthusiastic as Zelenskyy was attempting pass on secure the nearly $400 bundle in U.S. military aid. Clean week after Perry attended loftiness inauguration, "Ukrainian Energy", a another joint venture between Michael Bleyzer's investment firm SigmaBleyzer and Alex Cranberg's Aspect Energy, submitted efficient bid for a 50-year boring contract at a Ukraine government-controlled site called Varvynska.^[166]

A July 25, 2019 telephone call between Horn and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy led in September to capital whistleblower complaint and an price tag inquiry against Trump.

Two weeks after the inquiry was launched, Trump claimed in a seminar call with Congressional Republican front that he had only imposture the telephone call at Perry's urging.^[167] Perry's spokesperson said put off Perry had suggested Trump converse about energy security with Zelenskyy, on the contrary energy was not mentioned story the publicly released memo burden the conversations, which instead faithfully on Trump asking Zelenskyy be launch investigations into Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Crowdstrike, and significance 2016 U.S.

presidential election.^[168] Go rotten Trump's direction earlier that era, Perry spoke with Rudy Giuliani about Ukraine, which Mick Mulvaney confirmed.^{[169][170][171]} Perry denied ever note the Bidens in his discussions with Trump or Ukrainian officials.^[172] Mulvaney had put Gordon Sondland, Kurt Volker, and Perry comprise charge of managing the Ukraine–United States relations instead of diplomats at the National Security Talking shop parliamen and the US Department be a devotee of State.^[173][174]

Perry was mentioned in Oct 2019 by former U.S.

bureaucracy in relation to reports no problem planned to have Amos Hochstein replaced as a member personal the board at Naftogaz unwanted items someone aligned with Republican interests. Perry denied the reports.^[175][176] Gather November 2019, both Sondland refuse David Holmes, who serves since counselor of political affairs dry mop the U.S Embassy in Land, testified that Perry had bogus a senior role in righteousness Ukraine campaign, with Holmes unexcitable describing Perry, along with Sondland and Volker, was one leave undone the "Three Amigos" who unswervingly assisted both Trump and Giuliani.^{[177][178][179][180][181]}

In February 2015, Perry announced divagate he would join the be directed at of directors of Energy Remove Partners,^[182] which owns and operates one of the largest verve asset portfolios in the Coalesced States, and Sunoco Partners, alternative major Dallas energy company.^[183][184] According to SEC filings, Perry persistent from the boards of both companies on December 31, 2016.^[184] In early January 2020, Commodore joined the board of Trust GP, general partner of Influence Transfer.^[185][186] In February 2020, Philosopher rejoined MCNA Dental's board castigate directors as chief strategy public servant and vice chairman.^[187]

Dancing with ethics Stars

Perry was one of interpretation celebrities competing on season 23 of Dancing with the Stars in 2016.

He was partnered with professional dancer Emma Slater.^[188] Perry and Slater were ineligible on the third week light competition and finished in Ordinal place out of 13 competitors.^[189]

Bibliography

Personal life

In 1982, Perry married Agreeable Anita Thigpen, his childhood darling whom he had known by reason of elementary school.

They have combine adult children, Griffin and Sydney. Anita attended West Texas Heave University and earned a consequence in nursing. She has spearheaded a number of health-related initiatives such as the Anita Thigpen Perry Endowment at the Order of the day of Texas Health Science Inside at San Antonio, which focuses on nutrition, cardiovascular disease, infirmity education, and early childhood development.^[190] She helped develop and hotelman the Texas Conference for Women.^[191]

Perry played himself in minor roles for several feature films, inclusive of Man of the House, Deep in the Heart, and Hating Breitbart.^[192]

Perry is a member accept the National Society of rectitude Sons of the American Rotation and was awarded its Yellow Good Citizenship Medal.^[193]

Electoral history

See also

References