Jim Nicholson (U.S. politician)
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| Jim Nicholson | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 26, 2005 |
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| Under President | George W. Bush |
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| Preceded by | Anthony J. Principi |
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| Born | February 4, 1938 Struble, Iowa |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | attorney |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Robert James "Jim" Nicholson (born February 4, 1938[1]) is an attorney, real estate developer, and more recently, a former Republican Party chairman and recent political appointee. He has been the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs since January 26, 2005.
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[edit] Political career
Nicholson has never held elected office, but has long been active in the Republican Party. In January 1986, he was elected committeeman from Colorado for the Republican National Committee (RNC). In 1993, he was elected Vice-Chairman of the RNC, and was the "surprise pick"[2] for GOP national chairman in January 1997. He served in that role through the 2000 presidential election.
Between 2001 and his appointment as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, he served as United States Ambassador to the Holy See.
Nicholson's department is currently under scrutiny as a result of revelations pertaining to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center neglect scandal.
[edit] Legal and business career
Before becoming active in civilian government service, he practiced law in Denver, Colorado, specializing in real estate, municipal finance and zoning law. In 1978 he founded Nicholson Enterprises, Inc., a developer of planned residential communities, and in 1987 he bought Renaissance Homes, which became an award-winning builder of quality custom homes.
[edit] Military service
He is a 1961 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and served eight years in active duty. He was a paratrooper and Ranger-qualified Army officer. He fought in the Vietnam War, where he earned the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and two Air Medals.
After thirty years of military service he retired in 1991 with the rank of Colonel.
[edit] Personal life
Nicholson was born on a farm near Struble, Iowa. Nicholson has characterized his childhood as "growing up dirt poor in a tenant house without plumbing and sometimes without food".[3]
Nicholson has a Master's degree in Public Policy from Columbia University. He received a law degree from the University of Denver in 1972.[4]
Nicholson is married to the former Suzanne Marie Ferrell of Highland Falls, New York, who is an accomplished artist. They are the parents of three children who are grown and live on their own.[5]
[edit] Trivia
- Nicholson is credited with leading the development that turned Parker, Colorado into a fast-growing suburb of Denver.[6].
- Nicholson was a designated survivor during the 2006 State of the Union address.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ U.S. Envoy Thanks Pope for Prayers and Closeness, a post-9/11 press release from the Zenit News Agency
- ^ Coloradan Nicholson to lead Veterans Affairs, a December 2004 Denver Post article
- ^ Official transcript of Nicholson's nomination, whitehouse.gov; Accessed March 13, 2007.
- ^ College of Law History Alumni Image Collection from the University of Denver
- ^ Official biography - whitehouse.gov.
- ^ The Party Line, a January 1998 column from Westword
- ^ Situation Room transcript. CNN.com.
[edit] External links
- Official biography from the Department of Veterans Affairs website
| Preceded by Corinne Claiborne Boggs |
U. S. Ambassador to the Holy See 2001-2005 |
Succeeded by Francis Rooney |
| Preceded by Margaret Spellings |
Presidential Line of Succession 15th in line |
Succeeded by Michael Chertoff |
| Preceded by Anthony Principi |
United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Served Under: George W. Bush 2005 – present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Margaret Spellings |
United States order of precedence as of 2007 |
Succeeded by Michael Chertoff |
| United States Secretaries of Veterans Affairs |  |
|---|---|
| Derwinski • Brown • West • Principi • Nicholson |
Morgan • Ward • Claflin • Morgan • Chandler • Cameron • Jewell • Sabin • Jones • Quay • Carter • Hanna • Payne • Cortelyou • New • Hitchcock • Hill • Rosewater • Hilles • Hays • Adams • Butler • Work • Huston • Fess • Saunders • Fletcher • Hamilton • Martin • Walsh • Spangler • Brownell • Reece • Scott • Gabrielson • Summerfield • Roberts • Hall • Alcorn • T. Morton • Miller • Burch • Bliss • R. Morton • Dole • Bush • Smith • Brock • Richards • Fahrenkopf • Atwater • Yeutter • Bond • Barbour • Nicholson • Gilmore • Racicot • Gillespie • Mehlman • Martinez
Bodman • Bolten • Chao • Cheney • Chertoff • Gates • Gonzales • Gutierrez • Jackson • Johanns • Johnson • Kempthorne • Leavitt • Nicholson • Paulson • Peters • Portman • Rice • Schwab • Spellings • Walters
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Nicholson, Jim |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Nicholson, Robert James "Jim" |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | 5th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 4, 1938 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Struble, Iowa, United States |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
Categories: 1938 births | Living people | Ambassadors of the United States | Colorado lawyers | University of Denver alumni | Columbia University alumni | Developers | Recipients of the Combat Infantryman Badge | Republican National Committee chairmen | People from Iowa | United States Secretaries of Veterans Affairs | Military personnel of the Vietnam War | West Point graduates
