Thomas E. Donilon: Difference between revisions
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'''Thomas E. Donilon''' (born ca. 1955) is [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] in the [[Obama Administration]],<ref name="WSJ">[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123879462053487927.html "Hedge Fund Paid Summers $5.2 Million in Past Year"] by John D. McKinnon and F. W. Farnum, ''wsj.online'', April 4, 2009. Retrieved 4/5/09.</ref> and has had a career as a U.S. political advisor, government official and lawyer. He served together with diplomat [[Wendy Sherman]] as Agency Review Team Lead for the [[State Department]] in the [[Obama transition]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.change.gov/learn/obama_biden_transition_agency_review_teams |title=Obama-Biden Transition: Agency Review Teams | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team |publisher=Change.gov |date= |accessdate=2010-04-13}}</ref> and was reported to be the frontrunner for the National Security position.<ref>[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/defense-secretary-said-to-be-staying-on/ Defense Secretary Said to Be Staying On] Baker, Peter. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> On October 8, 2010, it was reported that Donilon would be replacing [[Gen. James L. Jones]] as President [[Barack Obama]]'s [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] #23. <ref>[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/donilon-to-replace-jones-as-national-security-adviser/ Donilon to Replace Jones as National Security Adviser] Sanger, David E. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> |
'''Thomas E. Donilon''' (born ca. 1955) is [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] in the [[Obama Administration]],<ref name="WSJ">[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123879462053487927.html "Hedge Fund Paid Summers $5.2 Million in Past Year"] by John D. McKinnon and F. W. Farnum, ''wsj.online'', April 4, 2009. Retrieved 4/5/09.</ref> and has had a career as a U.S. political advisor, government official and lawyer. He served together with diplomat [[Wendy Sherman]] as Agency Review Team Lead for the [[State Department]] in the [[Obama transition]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.change.gov/learn/obama_biden_transition_agency_review_teams |title=Obama-Biden Transition: Agency Review Teams | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team |publisher=Change.gov |date= |accessdate=2010-04-13}}</ref> and was reported to be the frontrunner for the National Security position.<ref>[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/defense-secretary-said-to-be-staying-on/ Defense Secretary Said to Be Staying On] Baker, Peter. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> On October 8, 2010, it was reported that Donilon would be replacing [[Gen. James L. Jones]] as President [[Barack Obama]]'s [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] #23. <ref>[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/donilon-to-replace-jones-as-national-security-adviser/ Donilon to Replace Jones as National Security Adviser] Sanger, David E. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> |
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It is interesting to note that he has never served in the military in any capacity. Regardless of political persuasion many feel this makes him a very poor choice of someone making life and death decisions for real troops. Many soldiers and veterans are stunned and sickened by this since there are countless expertly qualified veterans in the democratic party who know what it's like to be a veteran and warrior instead of a career lawyer and talker. <ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101008/pl_nm/us_obama_jones_6]<ref> |
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==Education and personal life== |
==Education and personal life== |
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Revision as of 01:52, 9 October 2010
Thomas E. Donilon (born ca. 1955) is National Security Advisor in the Obama Administration,[1] and has had a career as a U.S. political advisor, government official and lawyer. He served together with diplomat Wendy Sherman as Agency Review Team Lead for the State Department in the Obama transition,[2] and was reported to be the frontrunner for the National Security position.[3] On October 8, 2010, it was reported that Donilon would be replacing Gen. James L. Jones as President Barack Obama's National Security Advisor #23. [4]
It is interesting to note that he has never served in the military in any capacity. Regardless of political persuasion many feel this makes him a very poor choice of someone making life and death decisions for real troops. Many soldiers and veterans are stunned and sickened by this since there are countless expertly qualified veterans in the democratic party who know what it's like to be a veteran and warrior instead of a career lawyer and talker. Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).[5]
Government and political work
During the Carter Administration, Donilon worked in the White House Office of Congressional Liaison.[6] He was manager of the 1980 and 1984 Democratic National Conventions.[citation needed] Beginning in 1986, he served as a Senior Advisor to Senate Judiciary Committee Joseph Biden on Supreme Court nominations.[7] After Biden ended his 1988 presidential campaign, Donilon became a senior adviser to the presidential campaign of former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, with responsibility for debate preparation; he later went on to assist Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton with debate preparation and then serve as an adviser to President Clinton's 1992 presidential transition. Donilon later assisted Barack Obama in preparing to debate with Arizona Senator John McCain in the 2008 presidential election.
During the Clinton Administration, Donilon became part of the Democratic foreign policy establishment as the State Department's chief spokesman and Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and chief of staff to Secretary of State Warren Christopher. [8] In November 1996, he was awarded the State Department's highest award: the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award.[9]
Because of his professional connections and family ties to Vice President Biden and the Bidens' staff members, Donilon in the National Security position was expected to see to it that the Vice President's office was kept fully involved in foreign policy and defense matters.[10]
Donilon figures prominently during formulation of strategy for Afghanistan and associated discussions in Bob Woodward's 2010 book, "Obama's Wars."[11]
Private sector
He worked as Executive Vice President for Law and Policy at Fannie Mae, the federally-chartered mortgage finance company. This line on his resume raised eyebrows when his appointment to the Obama transition team was announced, given that the company had been seized by federal regulators.[12] The Washington Times reported that Donilon made millions for work that included supervising Fannie Mae's lobbying against increased regulation.[13]
Before his appointment to the Obama Administration, Donilon was a partner in the Washington law firm O'Melveny & Myers, where he advised companies and their boards on a range of "sensitive governance, policy, legal and regulatory matters." [9] His previous year's income, in a 2009 report, was reported by The Wall Street Journal to have been $3.9 million; his clients included Citigroup, Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., and Obama fundraiser and heiress Penny Pritzker.[1]
References
- ^ a b "Hedge Fund Paid Summers $5.2 Million in Past Year" by John D. McKinnon and F. W. Farnum, wsj.online, April 4, 2009. Retrieved 4/5/09.
- ^ "Obama-Biden Transition: Agency Review Teams | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team". Change.gov. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
- ^ Defense Secretary Said to Be Staying On Baker, Peter. The New York Times.
- ^ Donilon to Replace Jones as National Security Adviser Sanger, David E. The New York Times.
- ^ Biden Beefs Up Staff Rucker, Philip. November 26, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
- ^ "State Department Archived Biographies - THOMAS E. DONILON". Dosfan.lib.uic.edu. 1993-04-01. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
- ^ Cast of Characters: The Foreign Policy Deputies Kamen, Al. Washington Post. November 24, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
- ^ Duo Heading State Transition Seasoned Vets ABC News. November 12, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
- ^ a b "O'Melveny & Myers LLP | Professionals". Omm.com. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
- ^ Cast of Characters: The Foreign Policy Deputies Kamen, Al. Washington Post. November 24, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
- ^ Bob Woodward book details Obama battles with advisers over exit plan for Afghan war Washington Post. September 22, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
- ^ Duo Heading State Transition Seasoned Vets ABC News. November 12, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
- ^ "Obama adviser lobbied to protect Fannie." McElhatton, Jim. The Washington Times. November 18, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
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