Dan Coats facts for kids

"Senator Coats" redirects here. For the New York state senate member, see Herbert P. Coats.

Quick facts for kids Dan Coats
Official portrait, 2017

5th Director of National Intelligence
In office March 16, 2017 – August 15, 2019
President	Donald Trump
Deputy	Susan M. Gordon
Preceded by	James Clapper
Succeeded by	John Ratcliffe
Chair of the Joint Economic Committee
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Kevin Brady
Succeeded by	Pat Tiberi
United States Senator from Indiana
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Evan Bayh
Succeeded by	Todd Young
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by	Dan Quayle
Succeeded by	Evan Bayh
United States Ambassador to Germany
In office August 15, 2001 – February 28, 2005
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	John C. Kornblum
Succeeded by	William R. Timken
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 4th district
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1989
Preceded by	Dan Quayle
Succeeded by	Jill Long Thompson

Personal details
Born	Daniel Ray Coats (1943-05-16) May 16, 1943 (age 82) Jackson, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Marsha Coats (m. 1965)
Children	3
Education	Wheaton College (BA) Indiana University, Indianapolis (JD)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1966–1968
Rank	Staff Sergeant

Daniel Ray Coats (born May 16, 1943) is an American politician, lawyer, and diplomat. He has held several important roles in the United States government. From 2017 to 2019, he was the Director of National Intelligence for the Trump administration. This job involves overseeing all the different intelligence agencies in the U.S.

Before that, Coats was a U.S. Senator for Indiana twice. He served from 1989 to 1999 and again from 2011 to 2017. He also worked as the United States Ambassador to Germany from 2001 to 2005. Earlier in his career, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1989. Coats is a member of the Republican Party.

Early Life and Education
Career in Public Service
Political Views
Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Dan Coats was born in Jackson, Michigan on May 16, 1943. His mother's parents came from Sweden. He went to school in Jackson and graduated from Jackson High School in 1961.

After high school, he attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. He earned a degree in political science in 1965. While at Wheaton, he was a player on the soccer team.

Coats served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968. After his military service, he studied law at the Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis. He earned his law degree in 1972.

Career in Public Service

After law school, Coats worked for a life insurance company. He then began his career in politics.

Working for Congressman Dan Quayle (1976–1980)

From 1976 to 1980, Dan Coats worked for Dan Quayle, who was a Congressman from Indiana at the time. Coats was Quayle's representative in his home district.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (1981–1988)

Dan Coats as a first-term Congressman in 1981

When Dan Quayle decided to run for the U.S. Senate, Dan Coats ran for Quayle's seat in the United States House of Representatives. Coats won the election and represented Indiana's 4th congressional district. He was reelected four times.

First Time as a U.S. Senator (1988–1998)

Senator Coats visiting a military hospital in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1996

In 1988, Dan Quayle became Vice President of the United States. This meant he had to leave his Senate seat. Coats, who had just been elected to his fifth term in the House, was chosen to fill Quayle's empty Senate seat.

Coats then won a special election in 1990 to finish Quayle's term. In 1992, he was elected for a full six-year term as a Senator. He decided not to run for reelection in 1998. He served in the Senate until January 1999.

U.S. Ambassador to Germany (2001–2005)

Ambassador Daniel Coats

From 2001 to 2005, Dan Coats served as the United States Ambassador to Germany under President George W. Bush. As ambassador, he worked to build strong relationships between the U.S. and Germany. He also played a part in building a new U.S. Embassy in Berlin.

Second Time as a U.S. Senator (2011–2016)

Official portrait of Senator Coats, 2011

In 2010, Coats announced he would run for his old Senate seat in Indiana. The person holding the seat, Evan Bayh, then announced he would retire. Coats won the election by a large number of votes.

He decided not to run for reelection in 2016. During this time, he served on the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. This committee oversees the U.S. intelligence agencies.

Director of National Intelligence (2017–2019)

Coats being sworn in as Director of National Intelligence by Vice President Mike Pence on March 16, 2017

In January 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Dan Coats to be the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). This is a very important job that involves leading all the intelligence agencies in the U.S. He was confirmed by the Senate and started his role on March 16, 2017.

As DNI, Coats was responsible for giving the President and other leaders important information about threats to the United States. He released a "Worldwide Threat Assessment" report in 2019, which listed major dangers to the U.S. These included cyber threats, the spread of dangerous weapons, and conflicts around the world. He also talked about how new technologies could bring both risks and opportunities.

Coats left his position as Director of National Intelligence on August 15, 2019.

Political Views

Dan Coats has held various political views throughout his career.

Gun Laws

Coats has supported some measures related to gun control. In the past, he voted for laws that would have created waiting periods for handgun purchases. He also supported a law that put a waiting period in place before handguns could be sold by licensed dealers.

Taxes

In 1995, Coats proposed a bill called the "Family, Investment, Retirement, Savings, and Tax Fairness Act." This bill aimed to provide tax credits for families and help people save money for retirement.

Social Issues

Coats has expressed his views on social topics. He was involved in creating the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy regarding military service for LGBT individuals, and he later opposed its repeal. He does not support same-sex marriage but has stated he does not want to interfere with "alternative lifestyles."

Foreign Policy

Coats has been clear about his views on international relations.

Russia and Ukraine: He urged President Barack Obama to take strong action against Russia after it took over Crimea in 2014. For this, Russia banned him from traveling there.
Iran and Iraq: He supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also opposed the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, saying Iran supports terrorism.
Palestine: Coats supported the Taylor Force Act, which aims to stop U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority if it pays people who commit acts of terrorism. He also signed a letter urging President Obama to veto resolutions against Israel at the United Nations.

Personal Life

Dan Coats is married to Marsha Coats. They have three children. Marsha Coats is Indiana's woman representative to the Republican National Committee.

He has received awards for his public service, including the Charles G. Berwind Lifetime Achievement Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in 2012. In 2015, he received the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site Advancing American Democracy Award.

Coats is a big fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. He and his wife went to a Cubs game the day after they got married.