John H. Sununu

John H. Sununu
Richard Whitney · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	John H. Sununu
Caption	Official portrait, 1989
Office	White House Chief of Staff
President	George H. W. Bush
Term start	January 20, 1989
Term end	December 16, 1991
Predecessor	Kenneth Duberstein
Successor	Samuel K. Skinner
Order2	75th
Office2	Governor of New Hampshire
Term start2	January 6, 1983
Term end2	January 4, 1989
Lieutenant2	Ralph D. Hough, Vesta M. Roy
Predecessor2	Hugh Gallen
Successor2	Judd Gregg
Birth name	John Henry Sununu
Birth date	2 July 1939
Birth place	Havana, Cuba
Party	Republican
Spouse	Nancy Hayes
Children	8, including Chris Sununu
Education	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS, MS, PhD)

John H. Sununu is an American engineer, politician, and government official who served as the 75th Governor of New Hampshire and as White House Chief of Staff to President George H. W. Bush. A prominent figure in the Republican Party, his tenure was marked by fiscal conservatism and a forceful managerial style. His later career has included roles as a political commentator and involvement with various conservative organizations.

Early life and education

John Henry Sununu was born in Havana, Cuba, to Lebanese immigrants. His family moved to the United States, and he was raised in the New York City neighborhoods of Forest Hills and The Bronx. He demonstrated an early aptitude for mathematics and science, which led him to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At MIT, Sununu earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering in 1961, followed by a Master of Science in 1962 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1966, also in mechanical engineering.

Engineering career

Prior to entering politics, Sununu established a significant career in academia and engineering. He served as a professor and later dean of the College of Engineering at Tufts University. He also worked as a consultant for various industrial firms and was a principal in a firm specializing in thermal power systems analysis. His technical expertise was recognized through his election as a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Political career

Sununu's political involvement began in New Hampshire, where he served as a member and chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee. He first sought elected office in 1980, running unsuccessfully for the United States Senate against incumbent John A. Durkin. His strong showing in that race established him as a formidable political figure within the state and set the stage for his successful gubernatorial campaign two years later.

Governor of New Hampshire

Elected in 1982, Sununu served three terms as Governor of New Hampshire from 1983 to 1989. His administration was defined by a commitment to a low-tax, limited-government philosophy, famously opposing the introduction of a broad-based sales tax or income tax. He chaired the National Governors Association and the Coalition of Northeastern Governors, and was an early prominent supporter of George H. W. Bush's 1988 presidential campaign.

White House Chief of Staff

Following the victory of George H. W. Bush in the 1988 United States presidential election, Sununu was appointed White House Chief of Staff. In this role, he was known as a powerful and sometimes controversial gatekeeper, exerting significant control over the Executive Office of the President and policy access. His tenure included involvement in major legislative efforts like the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990. He resigned in December 1991 amid controversy over his use of military aircraft for personal travel.

Later career and public life

After leaving the White House, Sununu remained active in public life as a political commentator on CNN and later Fox News Channel. He served as co-host of CNN's debate program Crossfire. He has held board positions with several corporations and conservative think tanks, including the Heritage Foundation. His son, Chris Sununu, was elected Governor of New Hampshire in 2016, continuing the family's political legacy in the state. Category:1939 births Category:Living people Category:Governors of New Hampshire Category:White House Chiefs of Staff Category:American people of Lebanese descent