Thomas H. Kean

Thomas H. Kean is an American politician, academic, and author who served as the 48th Governor of New Jersey from 1982 to 1990. A member of the Republican Party, he later gained national prominence as the chairman of the 9/11 Commission, formally known as the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. His tenure in New Jersey was marked by bipartisan cooperation and significant educational reforms, and he has remained an influential voice on national security and public policy.

Early life and education

Thomas Howard Kean was born on April 21, 1935, in New York City to a prominent political family. His father, Robert Kean, was a longtime U.S. Representative from New Jersey, and his mother, Elizabeth Stuyvesant Howard, was a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant. He attended the preparatory St. Mark's School before earning a Bachelor of Arts in history from Princeton University in 1957. He subsequently received a Master of Arts in history from Columbia University in 1963, where he studied under noted historian James P. Shenton.

Political career

Kean's political career began with his election to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1967, where he served for a decade, including a term as Speaker. After an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974, he was elected Governor of New Jersey in 1981, defeating James Florio. During his two terms, he focused on environmental protection, signing the landmark Pinelands Protection Act, and championed education reform, including the Department of Higher Education and the Garden State Scholars program. He worked closely with leaders like President Ronald Reagan and State Senate President John Lynch.

9/11 Commission

In late 2002, Kean was appointed by President George W. Bush to chair the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. Alongside vice-chairman Lee H. Hamilton, he led the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States in its comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the September 11 attacks. The commission's final report, released in 2004, provided a detailed narrative of the events and issued recommendations that led to significant reforms, including the creation of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and restructuring of the Congressional oversight committees.

Post-commission career

Following the commission's work, Kean remained active in public policy and academia. He served as president of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, from 1990 to 2005 and later as chairman of the Center for the Study of the Presidency. He co-authored a book on counterterrorism, *Without Precedent: The Inside Story of the 9/11 Commission*, with Lee H. Hamilton. Kean has also served on corporate boards, including Amerada Hess Corporation, and remains a frequent commentator on issues of homeland security and political bipartisanship.

Personal life

Kean married Deborah Bye in 1974, and they have two children. He has maintained residences in Bedminster and New Vernon, New Jersey. An avid historian, he has been involved with numerous cultural institutions, including the New-York Historical Society and the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. His son, Tom Kean Jr., has served in both the New Jersey Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

Category:1935 births Category:Living people Category:Governors of New Jersey Category:American Republicans Category:9/11 Commission