Chuck Hagel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chuck Hagel
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Official portrait, 2013
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| 24th United States Secretary of Defense | |
| In office February 27, 2013 – February 17, 2015 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Ash Carter Christine Fox (acting) Robert O. Work |
| Preceded by | Leon Panetta |
| Succeeded by | Ash Carter |
| Chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board | |
| In office October 28, 2009 – February 27, 2013 Served with David Boren |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Steve Friedman |
| Succeeded by | Shirley Ann Jackson Jami Miscik (2014) |
| Chair of the Intelligence Oversight Board | |
| In office October 28, 2009 – February 27, 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Steve Friedman |
| Succeeded by | Dan Meltzer |
| United States Senator from Nebraska |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | J. James Exon |
| Succeeded by | Mike Johanns |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Charles Timothy Hagel
October 4, 1946 North Platte, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Patricia Lloyd
(m. 1979; div. 1982)Lilibet Ziller
(m. 1985) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Brown Institute University of Nebraska Omaha (BGS) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1967–1968 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment 9th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War (WIA) |
| Awards | Purple Heart (x2) Army Commendation Medal Vietnam Gallantry Cross Combat Infantryman Badge |
Charles Timothy Hagel (born October 4, 1946) is an American politician and former soldier. He was the 24th United States Secretary of Defense, a very important job, from 2013 to 2015. He worked for President Barack Obama. Before that, he was a U.S. Senator for Nebraska from 1997 to 2009. He also led the President's Intelligence Advisory Board from 2009 to 2013.
Chuck Hagel was a soldier in the Vietnam War and was even awarded two Purple Heart medals. After the war, he became successful in business. He helped start a mobile phone company called Vanguard Cellular. He also led other companies. As a member of the Republican Party, he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996 and won again in 2002.
On January 7, 2013, President Obama chose Hagel to be the Secretary of Defense. The Senate had to approve him. After some debate, the Senate voted and confirmed him on February 26, 2013. He officially started his new role the next day. Before becoming Secretary of Defense, Hagel was a professor at Georgetown University. He also served on the boards of several companies, like Chevron Corporation. He resigned from his role as Secretary of Defense in November 2014.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Chuck Hagel was born in North Platte, Nebraska. He was the oldest of four brothers. His father passed away when Chuck was 16. He finished high school in 1964 and later studied history at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Hagel volunteered to join the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 as a sergeant. He and his younger brother, Tom, served in the same group. They even saved each other's lives during the war. For his service, Hagel received two Purple Hearts, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
After leaving the army, he worked as a radio newscaster. From 1971 to 1977, he worked for a Congressman. He also worked as a lobbyist and helped with Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign in 1980. After Reagan became president, Hagel worked for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. He later resigned because he disagreed with cuts to programs for veterans.
Business Career (1982–1996)
After leaving government work, Hagel helped start Vanguard Cellular, a mobile phone company. This made him a very wealthy person. He also led other organizations, like the United Service Organizations. He was also on the board of groups like the American Red Cross.
In 1992, Hagel moved back to Nebraska. He became the president of the McCarthy Group, an investment banking firm. He also led American Information Systems Inc. (AIS), which made computerized voting machines. He left AIS in 1995 to run for political office.
U.S. Senate (1997–2009)
Becoming a Senator
In 1996, Chuck Hagel ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Nebraska. He won the election, becoming the first Republican in 24 years to win that seat in Nebraska. In 2002, he was re-elected with a very large number of votes. He chose not to run for a third term in 2008.
Key Votes and Policies
As a Senator, Hagel often voted in line with traditional Republican views. He supported tax cuts and voted against some education and healthcare bills.
Foreign Policy Views
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Hagel voted to allow military force in Afghanistan. He supported NATO's involvement there. Later, he said that the U.S. should not try to "win or lose" wars in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, but rather help those countries develop. He believed the U.S. should look for ways to end its involvement.
In 2002, Hagel voted to allow the use of force in Iraq. However, he later became a strong critic of the Iraq War. He said that the U.S. needed to be more careful and humble about its role in the Middle East. In 2007, he supported a plan to start withdrawing troops from Iraq. He visited Iraq with then-Senator Barack Obama in 2008.
National Security and Veterans
Hagel supported laws to prevent chemical and biological weapons. He also voted to create the United States Department of Homeland Security. He supported increasing spending for the Defense Department each year he was in the Senate.
He also worked to help veterans. In 2008, he helped pass the "21st Century GI Bill." This law expanded education help for veterans who served after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Civil Liberties and Immigration
Hagel voted for the Patriot Act in 2001, which gave the government more power to investigate. He also supported expanding surveillance laws. He believed that the military prison at Guantanamo Bay detention camp was hurting America's image around the world.
He supported efforts to reform immigration laws. He voted for the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which aimed to build a fence along the Mexico–United States border.
2008 Presidential Election
Many people thought Hagel might be chosen for a high position in a future government. Some even thought he could be a running mate for Barack Obama in the 2008 United States presidential election. Hagel said he would consider it, but he didn't think Obama would pick him.
Hagel was good friends with Senator John McCain, but they disagreed on the Iraq War. Because of their differences, Hagel did not support McCain for president in 2008. He chose not to endorse any candidate.
Leaving the Senate
Chuck Hagel had said he would only serve two terms in the Senate. On September 10, 2007, he announced he would retire and not seek a third term. He also decided not to run for president in 2008. After leaving the Senate, he went into academia.
Time Away from Public Service (2009–2013)
In 2008, Hagel wrote a book called America: Our Next Chapter: Tough Questions, Straight Answers. In it, he suggested that the U.S. should have independent leadership. He also called the Iraq War one of the biggest mistakes in U.S. history. He was critical of President George W. Bush's foreign policy.
After retiring from the Senate, Hagel became a professor at Georgetown University. He also chaired the Atlantic Council, a group that studies foreign policy. He was a co-chairman of President Obama's Intelligence Advisory Board. He also served on the boards of companies like Chevron Corporation.
Hagel supported the idea of getting rid of nuclear weapons worldwide. He was an early supporter of the Global Zero campaign, which works for the international elimination of nuclear weapons.
Secretary of Defense (2013–2015)
President Obama chose Hagel to be the Secretary of Defense on January 7, 2013. Hagel was the first former enlisted combat soldier to hold this important office. He had a long hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee on January 31, 2013.
Nomination Process
Many people supported Hagel's nomination. Several former ambassadors and retired military officers wrote letters of support. Former Secretaries of Defense Robert Gates and Colin Powell also endorsed him. They said he was an independent and bold leader.
During his Senate hearing, Hagel said he supported using American military power. He also said he supported Israel and using special operations forces against terrorist groups. He faced tough questions from some Republican senators. They asked about his past comments on the "Jewish lobby" and the Iraq War. Hagel said he regretted some of his past words.
On February 14, 2013, some Republicans in the Senate tried to delay his confirmation vote. This was the first time a nominee for Secretary of Defense was delayed in this way. However, on February 26, 2013, the Senate voted to confirm him as Secretary of Defense.
Time in Office
Hagel officially became Secretary of Defense on February 27, 2013. In May 2013, he visited Asian countries. He said that a decrease in American military power was good because it made allies share more responsibility.
In August 2013, Hagel said the U.S. was ready to strike Syria if ordered. He also pushed for the National Guard to provide benefits for same-sex domestic partnerships.
In November 2013, Hagel announced the Pentagon's new plan for the Arctic. This plan focused on protecting U.S. interests and promoting international cooperation in the region.
In 2014, during the Crimean crisis, Hagel warned Russia not to use its military against Ukraine. He also worked on a plan for NATO countries to increase their defense spending. He believed this was important for the alliance's strength.
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During his time as Secretary of Defense, Hagel developed a close relationship with Israeli defense officials. They saw him as a true friend, even though some in Washington had concerns about his views before he took office.
Resignation
On November 24, 2014, it was announced that Hagel would resign. This happened after some disagreements within the Obama administration, especially about policy toward ISIL. President Obama thanked Hagel for his service. Hagel said it was a "mutual decision" to step down. Some believed he was frustrated with how decisions were made in the White House. Hagel continued in his role until his successor, Ash Carter, was confirmed in February 2015.
Later Years
In 2019, Hagel gave a speech about the health of the ocean and international law. In 2020, Hagel and many other former Republican national security officials signed a statement. They said that President Trump was not fit for another term and supported Joe Biden for president. In January 2021, Hagel and all other former secretaries of defense wrote an article. They told President Trump not to involve the military in the 2020 election results.
Hagel is also a member of the Council for Responsible Social Media. This group works to address the negative effects of social media in the United States.
Awards and Honors
In 2001, Chuck Hagel received the Horatio Alger Award for Distinguished Americans. He also received an honorary title called Nebraska Admiral. He has been given honorary degrees from several universities, including North Central College and the College of William & Mary.
Personal Life
Chuck Hagel has two younger brothers, Thomas and Michael. His third brother, James, passed away at age 16 in a car accident. Hagel was raised Catholic but later became a member of the Episcopal Church.
He married Patricia Lloyd in 1979, but they divorced in 1982. In 1985, he married Lilibet Ziller. They have a daughter, Allyn, and a son, Ziller. They live in McLean, Virginia.
When he was a Senator, Hagel had a fun tradition of wearing costumes to work on Halloween. He would dress up as other politicians. In 2013, he gave back part of his salary to show support for his department's workers who faced pay cuts.
Images for kids
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Hagel with Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and General al-Sisi in Cairo, April 24, 2013
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Hagel with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, May 16, 2014
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Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel presents Japan's minister of defense Itsunori Onodera with a University of Nebraska Omaha tennis shirt at the joint press availability at the United States Department of Defense Washington, DC on July 11, 2014.
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See also
In Spanish: Chuck Hagel para niños
