Tommy Thompson

Tommy George Thompson (born November 19, 1941) is an American politician who served as the 19th United States secretary of Health and Human Services from 2001 to 2005 in the cabinet of President George W. Bush. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 42nd governor of Wisconsin from 1987 to 2001 and as the Republican leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1981 to 1987.

Tommy Thompson
Official portrait, c. 2001
President of the University of Wisconsin System
In office
July 1, 2020  March 18, 2022
Preceded byRaymond W. Cross
Succeeded byJay Rothman
19th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
In office
February 2, 2001  January 26, 2005
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byDonna Shalala
Succeeded byMike Leavitt
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office
August 1, 1995  July 16, 1996
Preceded byHoward Dean
Succeeded byBob Miller
42nd Governor of Wisconsin
In office
January 5, 1987  February 1, 2001
LieutenantScott McCallum
Preceded byTony Earl
Succeeded byScott McCallum
Minority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
December 17, 1981  January 5, 1987
Preceded byJohn C. Shabaz
Succeeded byBetty Jo Nelsen
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 42rd district
In office
January 2, 1967  January 5, 1987
Preceded byLouis C. Romell
Succeeded byBen Brancel
ConstituencyAdamsJuneauMarquette district (1967–1973)
79th district (1973–1983)
87th district (1983–1985)
Personal details
Born
Tommy George Thompson

(1941-11-19) November 19, 1941
Elroy, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Sue Mashak
(m. 1968)
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison (BA, JD)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Wisconsin Army National Guard
United States Army Reserve
Years of service1966–1972 (ARNG)
1972–1976 (USAR)
Rank Captain

He is the longest-serving governor in Wisconsin history, holding office from January 1987 until February 2001, and is the only person to be elected to the office four times. During his tenure as governor he was also chair of Amtrak, the nation's passenger rail service. He was chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 1991 and 1992, and the National Governors Association in 1995 and 1996. After his time in the Bush Administration, Thompson became a partner in the law-firm Akin Gump and Independent Chairman of Deloitte's Center for Health Solutions. He has served on the boards of 22 other organizations. Thompson most recently served as interim president of the University of Wisconsin System from 2020 to 2022.

Thompson was a candidate for President of the United States, running in the 2008 Republican Party presidential primaries, but withdrew from the race before voting began. He was the Republican nominee for United States Senate in Wisconsin in the 2012 election, vying to replace retiring senator Herb Kohl, but was defeated by Democrat Tammy Baldwin in what was his only statewide election loss.

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