Ben Sasse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ben Sasse
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Sasse in 2016
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| 13th President of the University of Florida | |
| In office February 6, 2023 – July 31, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Kent Fuchs |
| Succeeded by | Kent Fuchs (acting) |
| United States Senator from Nebraska |
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| In office January 3, 2015 – January 8, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Johanns |
| Succeeded by | Pete Ricketts |
| 15th President of Midland University | |
| In office December 10, 2010 – December 31, 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Stephen Fritz |
| Succeeded by | Jody Horner |
| Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Planning and Evaluation | |
| In office December 19, 2007 – January 20, 2009 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Michael O'Grady |
| Succeeded by | Sherry Glied |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Benjamin Eric Sasse
February 22, 1972 Plainview, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Melissa McLeod
(m. 1995) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education |
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| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Texas at Austin Midland University |
| Thesis | The anti-Madalyn majority: Secular left, religious right, and the rise of Reagan's America (2004) |
| Doctoral advisor | Jon Butler Harry Stout |
Benjamin Eric Sasse (born February 22, 1972) is an American politician and academic. He was a U.S. Senator for Nebraska from 2015 to 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party.
After leaving the Senate, Sasse became the president of the University of Florida in February 2023. He resigned from this role in July 2024. Before his time in politics, he worked as a professor and was the president of Midland University in Nebraska.
Sasse was known in the Senate for being one of the few Republicans who often criticized former President Donald Trump. In 2021, he was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial.
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Early Life and Education
Ben Sasse was born in Plainview, Nebraska. His father was a high school teacher and football coach. In 1990, he graduated from Fremont Senior High School as the valedictorian, which means he had the highest grades in his class.
Sasse went on to study at some of the most famous universities in the country. He earned his first degree from Harvard University. He later earned three more degrees, including a PhD in history, from Yale University. His studies focused on government and history.
Career Before Politics
Before becoming a politician, Sasse had several different jobs. He worked as a business consultant and for a Christian organization. He also taught as a professor at the University of Texas at Austin.
From 2007 to 2009, he worked for the U.S. government under President George W. Bush. He was an assistant secretary in the Department of Health and Human Services, where he helped advise the government on health care policy.
In 2010, Sasse became the president of Midland University in his home state of Nebraska. The university was struggling with low enrollment and money problems. Sasse helped turn the university around, and the number of students grew from about 600 to 1,300 during his time there. He left this job in 2014 to run for the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Senate Career
In 2014, Sasse was elected to the U.S. Senate to represent Nebraska. The Senate is one of the two parts of the U.S. Congress, where laws are made. Each state has two senators. Sasse won his election with 64% of the vote. He was reelected in 2020.
As a senator, Sasse was known for his conservative views. He served on several important committees, including the Judiciary Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Intelligence Committee. These committees handle issues like the court system, taxes, and national security.
Relationship with Donald Trump
Even though they were both in the Republican Party, Sasse was often a critic of President Donald Trump. In 2016, Sasse announced he would not support Trump for president. He said he was worried about Trump's respect for the U.S. Constitution.
Throughout Trump's presidency, Sasse continued to speak out. He criticized Trump's trade policies and his friendly comments toward leaders of other countries, like Russia's Vladimir Putin.
The biggest moment came in 2021. After a crowd of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump. Sasse was one of only seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump for his role in the event. This was an unusual step, as most Republicans defended the president.
Because of his criticism of Trump, some Republicans in Nebraska were unhappy with Sasse. However, he often said that "politics isn't about the weird worship of one dude."
University of Florida President
In late 2022, Sasse was chosen to be the new president of the University of Florida. He resigned from the Senate in January 2023 to take the new job.
His time at the university was short and had some challenges. Some students and professors protested his appointment. They were concerned about his past political statements.
In July 2024, after about a year and a half, Sasse announced he was resigning. He said he needed to care for his wife, who was having health problems.
After he left, news reports showed that his office had spent a lot of money. The spending included hiring many of his former political staff for high-paying jobs and paying for expensive parties and private jet flights.
Political Views
Sasse is known as a political conservative. This generally means he supports lower taxes, less government spending, and a strong military.
- Term Limits: Sasse supports term limits for members of Congress. This would mean senators and representatives could only serve for a certain number of years.
- China: He has been a strong critic of the Chinese government. He believes China is a threat to the security of the United States.
- Health Care: Sasse was a major opponent of the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). He wanted to repeal the law and replace it.
- Ukraine: When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Sasse argued that the U.S. should send as much military aid as possible to help Ukraine defend itself.
Personal Life
Sasse is married to Melissa Sasse, and they have three children. While he was president of the University of Florida, his family lived on campus. Before that, they lived in Fremont, Nebraska. His children were homeschooled.
Sasse has written two books: The Vanishing American Adult and Them: Why We Hate Each Other – and How to Heal.
Images for kids
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Sasse speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference
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Sasse speaking at the 2016 Conservative Political Action Conference
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Sasse at a 2018 election night victory party for Governor Pete Ricketts
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See also
In Spanish: Ben Sasse para niños
