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 | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| 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 Army veteran. He served as the 24th Secretary of Defense from 2013 to 2015 under President Barack Obama. Before that, he was a U.S. Senator for Nebraska from 1997 to 2009.
Hagel was a soldier in the Vietnam War and received two Purple Heart medals. After his military service, he worked in business and politics. He helped start a mobile phone company called Vanguard Cellular. He was also involved in other businesses before becoming a senator.
In 2013, President Obama chose Hagel to be the Secretary of Defense. This is a very important job, leading the country's military. The Senate approved his nomination, and he took office in February 2013. He resigned in November 2014.
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Early Life and Military Service
Chuck Hagel was born in North Platte, Nebraska. He was the oldest of four brothers. His father, a World War II veteran, passed away when Chuck was 16. Hagel graduated from high school in 1964 and later studied at Brown Institute and the University of Nebraska Omaha.
Hagel volunteered to join the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He served as an infantry squad leader from 1967 to 1968. He and his younger brother, Tom, served in the same squad. They even saved each other's lives during the war. For his service, Hagel received the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, two Purple Hearts, and other awards.
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. He later worked for the Veterans Administration but resigned due to disagreements over funding for veterans' programs.
Business Career Before the Senate
After leaving government work, Hagel co-founded Vanguard Cellular, a company that provided mobile phone service. This business helped him become very successful. He also held leadership roles in other organizations, including the United Service Organizations (USO) and 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), a company that made computerized voting machines. He left AIS in 1995 to run for political office.
Serving in the U.S. Senate (1997–2009)
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. He was re-elected in 2002 with a very large number of votes. He chose not to run for re-election in 2008.
Key Votes and Policies
As a senator, Hagel was known for his "traditionally Republican" voting record. He supported tax cuts and voted for the Patriot Act. He also voted against some major bills like "No Child Left Behind" and the Medicare prescription drug bill.
Foreign Policy Views
Hagel supported military action in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks. He also voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq in 2002. However, he later became a strong critic of the Iraq War. He believed the U.S. should not try to control the fate of countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2007, he supported a plan for U.S. troops to start leaving Iraq. He visited Iraq with then-Senator Barack Obama in 2008.
National Security and Veterans Affairs
Hagel supported creating the United States Department of Homeland Security. He also voted to increase spending for the Defense Department. He was a strong supporter of veterans. In 2008, he helped create the "21st Century GI Bill," which expanded education benefits for veterans.
Civil Liberties and Immigration
Hagel voted for the Patriot Act in 2001 and its reauthorization in 2006. He also supported expanding electronic surveillance laws. He believed that the Guantanamo Bay detention camp hurt America's image around the world.
On immigration, Hagel 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.
Criticism of the Bush Administration
Hagel often spoke out against the George W. Bush administration, especially regarding the Iraq War. He compared the war to Vietnam and said that questioning the government was patriotic. He believed the Bush administration's foreign policy was "reckless."
In 2007, he criticized President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq. He called it "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam." He also said the Bush administration was "the lowest in capacity" of any presidency in 40 years.
2008 Presidential Election
Hagel was considered a possible choice for a top job in either a John McCain or Barack Obama administration. He was even rumored to be a possible running mate for Barack Obama. However, Hagel did not endorse either candidate in the 2008 election because he disagreed with McCain on foreign policy.
After the Senate (2009–2013)
After leaving the Senate, Hagel became a professor at Georgetown University. He also served as chairman of the Atlantic Council, a foreign policy think tank. He was co-chairman of President Obama's Intelligence Advisory Board. He also served on the boards of several companies, including Chevron Corporation.
Hagel wrote a book in 2008 called America: Our Next Chapter: Tough Questions, Straight Answers. In the book, 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.
Secretary of Defense (2013–2015)
President Obama nominated Chuck Hagel to be the Secretary of Defense on January 7, 2013. He was the first former enlisted combat soldier to hold this position.
Nomination Process
Hagel's nomination faced some criticism. Some people accused him of having views that were not supportive enough of Israel. He clarified his remarks, saying he meant the "pro-Israel lobby" and that he regretted using the word "intimidation." He also apologized for past comments about a gay ambassador nominee.
However, many people supported his nomination. Several former ambassadors and military officers wrote letters in his favor. Former Secretaries of Defense Robert Gates and Colin Powell also endorsed him.
During his Senate hearing, Hagel said he supported using American military power. He also said he would do everything possible to support equal benefits for gay and women service members. After a long debate, the Senate confirmed his nomination by a vote of 58–41 on February 26, 2013.
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Time as Secretary of Defense
Hagel was sworn in on February 27, 2013. He worked to reduce the military budget and explored options to make the armed forces more efficient. In 2013, he announced that the U.S. was ready to strike Syria if ordered.
He also pushed for equal benefits for same-sex domestic partnerships in the National Guard. In November 2013, he announced a new Arctic strategy for the Pentagon. This strategy focused on protecting U.S. interests and promoting cooperation in the Arctic region.
Hagel warned Russia against military actions near the Ukrainian border in 2014. He also worked to encourage NATO allies to increase their defense spending. He had a close relationship with Israeli defense officials during his time as Secretary of Defense.
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Resignation
On November 24, 2014, it was announced that Hagel would resign from his position. Reports suggested there were disagreements within the Obama administration, especially about the strategy to defeat ISIL. Hagel stated that he and President Obama agreed it was the right time for new leadership. He continued in his role until Ash Carter was confirmed as his successor in February 2015.
Retirement Activities
After leaving public service, Hagel continued to be involved in public discussions. In 2019, he funded the annual Hagel Lecture at the University of Chicago Project for Security and Threats. He also gave a speech about the health of the ocean's constitution.
In 2020, Hagel joined over 130 other former Republican national security officials in signing a statement. They believed that President Trump was not fit for another term and supported Joe Biden for president. He also signed a letter in November 2020, along with other former defense secretaries, stating that delays in the presidential transition could harm national security. In January 2021, Hagel and all other living former secretaries of defense published an article telling President Trump not to involve the military in election results.
Awards and Personal Life
In 2001, Hagel received the Horatio Alger Award for Distinguished Americans. He has also received honorary degrees from several universities.
Hagel has two younger brothers, Thomas and Michael. His third brother, James, passed away at age 16. Hagel was raised Catholic but later converted to the Episcopal Church.
He married Patricia Lloyd in 1979, but they divorced in 1982. He married his second wife, Lilibet Ziller, in 1985. They have two children, Allyn and Ziller, and live in McLean, Virginia. While a senator, Hagel had a fun tradition of wearing costumes to work on Halloween.
See also
In Spanish: Chuck Hagel para niños
