Jack Lew

Jack Lew
United States Department of State · Public domain · source
Name	Jack Lew
Birth date	April 29, 1955
Birth place	New York City
Alma mater	State University of New York at Albany, Columbia Law School
Occupation	Attorney, public official, policymaker
Party	Democratic Party
Spouse	Ruth (Ruth) Lew

Jack Lew Jack Lew is an American attorney and senior policymaker who served in multiple high-level positions during the administrations of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, including White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Treasury. He has held leadership roles at the United States Office of Management and Budget, the Department of the Treasury, and in congressional staffs, and has been involved in fiscal negotiations with lawmakers and international institutions. Lew's career spans municipal, federal, and academic contexts, engaging with issues addressed by institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Early life and education

Lew was born in New York City and raised in a family active in civic life in Brooklyn and Queens. He attended Stuyvesant High School before enrolling at the State University of New York at Albany, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts, then received a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School. During his student years Lew engaged with legal clinics and internship programs connected to offices like the New York State Attorney General and community organizations in Manhattan and Albany.

Early career and legal practice

After law school, Lew practiced law in New York and joined nonprofit and public interest efforts that intersected with city and state agencies such as the New York City Department of Social Services and advocacy groups operating in Harlem and the Bronx. He worked with municipal leaders and legal offices on programs tied to federal initiatives administered by agencies like the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lew also spent time on the staffs of elected officials in New York State and developed relationships with policymakers connected to statewide courts and legislative bodies such as the New York State Assembly.

Political career and public service

Lew entered federal service during the Clinton administration as a senior aide in the United States Department of State and later within the Office of Management and Budget, collaborating with figures from the United States Congress and the Senate Finance Committee. He served as OMB Director under President Bill Clinton and returned to public office during the presidency of Barack Obama as OMB Director again, where he interacted with cabinet members from the Department of Defense and Department of Commerce. Lew also served as Chief of Staff to Hillary Clinton at the U.S. Senate and worked on policy initiatives involving agencies like the United States Agency for International Development and stakeholders from finance sectors such as the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Tenure as White House Chief of Staff

As White House Chief of Staff under Barack Obama, Lew managed the West Wing staff and coordinated with congressional leaders from both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate on issues including the Affordable Care Act implementation and fiscal negotiations over the Budget Control Act. He acted as a principal liaison to cabinet secretaries including the United States Secretary of Defense and the United States Attorney General, and participated in interagency meetings with the National Security Council and economic briefings involving officials from the Federal Reserve System and the Treasury Department. Lew's tenure saw engagement with lawmakers concerning debt ceiling debates and budget sequestration disputes involving bipartisan coalitions such as the Problem Solvers Caucus and leadership from the House Democratic Caucus.

Secretary of the Treasury

Nominated by President Barack Obama, Lew served as Secretary of the Treasury during discussions with international finance institutions including the International Monetary Fund and the G20 finance ministers. He testified before committees such as the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Finance on topics including fiscal policy, tax enforcement administered by the Internal Revenue Service, and sanctions programs coordinated with the United Nations Security Council and allied finance ministries. Lew negotiated with leaders from major economies represented by the European Commission and finance ministers from countries like Germany and China on currency, trade, and debt sustainability. His tenure included oversight responsibilities tied to federal financial regulations interacting with agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Later career and public activities

After leaving Cabinet office, Lew engaged with academic institutions including guest roles at Harvard University and Columbia University, provided advice to nonprofit organizations and think tanks like the Brookings Institution and the Center for American Progress, and participated in panels with representatives from the Council on Foreign Relations and the Atlantic Council. He has served on corporate and nonprofit boards interacting with firms in the financial services sector and philanthropic entities associated with civic initiatives in New York City and national policy forums in Washington, D.C.. Lew continues to contribute to discussions involving fiscal frameworks, international finance, and legislative outreach with groups such as the Bipartisan Policy Center and academic conferences hosted by institutions like the Kennedy School of Government.

Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:United States Secretaries of the Treasury Category:White House Chiefs of Staff