Bill Hagerty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Hagerty
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Official portrait, 2021
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| United States Senator from Tennessee |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2021 Serving with Marsha Blackburn
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| Preceded by | Lamar Alexander |
| 30th United States Ambassador to Japan | |
| In office August 31, 2017 – July 22, 2019 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Caroline Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Young (acting) |
| Economic and Community Development Commissioner of Tennessee | |
| In office February 14, 2011 – June 6, 2014 |
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| Governor | Bill Haslam |
| Preceded by | Matt Kisber |
| Succeeded by | Randy Boyd |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Francis Hagerty IV
August 14, 1959 Gallatin, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Chrissy Hagerty
(m. 2001) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | V Vanderbilt University (BA, JD) |
| Website | |
William Francis Hagerty IV (born August 14, 1959) is an American politician, businessman, and diplomat. Since 2021, he has served as a United States senator for the state of Tennessee. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Before becoming a senator, Hagerty had a career in business. He also served as the 30th United States ambassador to Japan from 2017 to 2019 during the presidency of Donald Trump. An ambassador is a person who represents their country in a foreign nation.
Hagerty co-founded a private equity investment firm called Hagerty Peterson & Company. From 2011 to 2014, he was in charge of Tennessee's department for economic and community development. In 2019, he resigned as ambassador to run for the U.S. Senate. He won the election in 2020.
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Early Life and Schooling
Hagerty was born and raised in Gallatin, Tennessee. As a young man, he became an Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts. In 2017, he received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award for his life achievements.
After graduating from high school in Kentucky, he went to Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. He earned a degree in economics and business in 1981. He later earned a law degree from Vanderbilt Law School in 1984.
Career Journey
Hagerty started his career working for a business consulting company, which included a three-year job in Tokyo, Japan. He also worked as an economic advisor to President George H. W. Bush. Later, he started his own investment company.
From 2011 to 2014, Hagerty worked for the Tennessee state government. He was the commissioner for the Department of Economic and Community Development. In this role, he helped bring large companies like Bridgestone and Nissan to the state, which created jobs.
Bringing Soccer to Nashville
Hagerty played a key role in bringing a Major League Soccer (MLS) team to Nashville, Tennessee. He created and led a group called the Nashville MLS Steering Committee. Their hard work paid off when Nashville was chosen for a new MLS team in 2017. The team, Nashville SC, began playing in 2020.
Working with Donald Trump
During the 2016 presidential election, Hagerty supported Donald Trump. After Trump won, Hagerty was chosen to be the director of appointments for the new president's team. This meant he helped find people for important government jobs.
Ambassador to Japan
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In 2017, President Trump nominated Hagerty to be the U.S. Ambassador to Japan. The Senate approved his nomination with a vote of 86–12. He served as ambassador for two years, representing the United States and working with the Japanese government. He resigned in July 2019 to run for the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Senate Career
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When Senator Lamar Alexander announced he would not run for reelection, Hagerty decided to run for the open seat. President Trump endorsed him, which means he publicly supported his campaign.
Hagerty officially started his campaign in September 2019. He won the Republican primary election in August 2020. In the main election in November, he defeated the Democratic candidate, Marquita Bradshaw. He took office as a U.S. Senator on January 3, 2021.
Time in Office
On January 6, 2021, supporters of Donald Trump entered the U.S. Capitol building. Hagerty had planned to object to the election results but changed his mind after the attack and voted to certify the results.
In August 2021, Hagerty used a special Senate rule to slow down the vote on a large spending bill for roads, bridges, and other projects. He said he was concerned about the cost of the bill.
In July 2022, a report from Business Insider stated that Hagerty was late in reporting stock sales made for his children. A federal law called the STOCK Act requires government officials to report these things on time.
What Committees Does He Serve On?
In the Senate, Hagerty is a member of several important committees:
- Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Committee on Foreign Relations
- Committee on Appropriations
- Committee on Rules and Administration
Political Views
Hagerty describes himself as a conservative. His political ideas are often similar to those of Donald Trump.
He supports the death penalty for certain serious crimes. He believes the U.S. should continue to be a strong ally of Israel.
On economic issues, Hagerty supports lower taxes and wants a law that would require the government to have a balanced budget. He is against raising the federal minimum wage.
Regarding energy, Hagerty supports using more fossil fuels like oil and gas. He believes the U.S. should produce its own energy to be independent from other countries.
Personal Life
Hagerty is married to Chrissy Hagerty. They have four children. He is a member of the Episcopal Church and identifies as a conservative Christian.
Honors
See also
In Spanish: Bill Hagerty para niños
