Max Baucus
Maxwell Sieben Baucus (né Enke; born December 11, 1941) is an American politician who served as a United States senator from Montana from 1978 to 2014. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a U.S. senator for over 35 years, making him the longest-serving U.S. senator in Montana history. President Barack Obama appointed Baucus to replace Gary Locke as the 11th U.S. Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, a position he held from 2014 until 2017.
Max Baucus | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2014 | |
| 11th United States Ambassador to China | |
| In office March 20, 2014 – January 16, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Gary Locke |
| Succeeded by | Terry Branstad |
| United States Senator from Montana | |
| In office December 15, 1978 – February 6, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Hatfield |
| Succeeded by | John Walsh |
| Chair of the Senate Finance Committee | |
| In office January 4, 2007 – February 6, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Chuck Grassley |
| Succeeded by | Ron Wyden |
| In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Chuck Grassley |
| Succeeded by | Chuck Grassley |
| In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | William Roth |
| Succeeded by | Chuck Grassley |
| Chair of the Senate Environment Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Patrick Moynihan |
| Succeeded by | John Chafee |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana's 1st district | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – December 14, 1978 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Shoup |
| Succeeded by | Pat Williams |
| Member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 18th district | |
| In office January 1973 – January 1975 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Maxwell Sieben Enke December 11, 1941 Helena, Montana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Ann Geracimos
(m. 1975; div. 1982)Wanda Minge
(m. 1984; div. 2009)Melodee Hanes (m. 2011) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Stanford University (BA, JD) |
As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Baucus played an influential role in the debate over health care reform in the United States. He was also chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and was chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Before his election to the Senate, Baucus was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1978, representing Montana's 1st congressional district. He previously served in the Montana House of Representatives from 1973 to 1974.