Eric Greitens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Greitens
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Official portrait, 2017
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| 56th Governor of Missouri | |
| In office January 9, 2017 – June 1, 2018 |
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| Lieutenant | Mike Parson |
| Preceded by | Jay Nixon |
| Succeeded by | Mike Parson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Eric Robert Greitens
April 10, 1974 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 2015) Republican (2015–present) |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 2 |
| Education | Duke University (BA) Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford (MPhil, DPhil) |
| Civilian awards | President's Volunteer Service Award |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 2001–2021 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
| Unit | U.S. Navy SEALs U.S. Navy Reserve |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Military awards | Bronze Star Purple Heart Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal See full list |
Eric Robert Greitens (born April 10, 1974) is an American author, former politician, and former Navy SEAL. He served as the 56th governor of Missouri from January 2017 to June 2018. He resigned from office amid multiple investigations and public disagreements.
Greitens was born and raised in St. Louis. He went to Duke University and later earned a doctorate from the University of Oxford in England as a Rhodes scholar. He served as a U.S. Navy SEAL officer, completing four tours of duty. During his service, he earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
After his military service, Greitens started a nonprofit group called The Mission Continues to help veterans. In 2013, Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was elected governor of Missouri in 2016 as a member of the Republican Party. He was the first Jewish governor of Missouri.
In 2022, Greitens ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate but lost in the Republican primary election.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Eric Greitens was born on April 10, 1974, in St. Louis, Missouri. His mother was a special education teacher, and his father was an accountant. He was raised in the Jewish faith. He graduated from Parkway North High School in 1992.
Greitens attended Duke University, where he studied ethics, philosophy, and public policy. He graduated in 1996 with the highest honors. He won a Rhodes Scholarship, which allowed him to study at the University of Oxford in England. He earned two graduate degrees there, including a doctorate in politics in 2000.
As a young man, Greitens did humanitarian work around the world. He worked with children in countries like Cambodia, Bolivia, and Croatia. He also volunteered as a photographer for the United Nations in Rwanda and Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
In 2001, Greitens joined the United States Navy and began training to become a Navy SEAL. The SEALs are a special operations force known for their tough training and difficult missions. He graduated from the training program in 2002.
During his time in the Navy, Greitens was deployed four times. He served in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and Southeast Asia. He became a lieutenant commander and led special operations teams.
In 2007, while serving in Iraq, Greitens was injured in an attack and received a Purple Heart. He was also awarded the Bronze Star for his brave service.
After leaving full-time active duty, he worked as a White House fellow for President George W. Bush. He helped create a program for students to help rebuild areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina. He remained a Navy reservist until he resigned his commission in May 2021.
Helping Veterans
After returning from Iraq, Greitens founded The Mission Continues. It is a nonprofit group that helps military veterans adjust to life back home. The organization connects veterans with volunteer opportunities in their communities. This helps them use their skills and continue to serve the country.
Author and Speaker
Greitens has written three books based on his experiences:
- Strength & Compassion (2008): A book of his photographs and essays about his humanitarian work.
- The Heart and the Fist (2011): A book about his journey from a humanitarian worker to a Navy SEAL. It became a bestseller.
- Resilience (2015): A book written as a series of letters to a fellow SEAL who was struggling after his service.
He also became a popular public speaker, sharing stories from his military and humanitarian work.
Becoming a Politician
Switching Parties
Greitens grew up in a family that supported the Democratic Party. In 2015, he announced he had become a Republican. He said he felt the Republican Party's ideas were better for helping the country and the middle class.
2016 Election for Governor
In 2015, Greitens announced he was running for governor of Missouri. He won the Republican primary election against three other candidates.
In the general election on November 8, 2016, he faced Democrat Chris Koster. Greitens won the election with 51.3% of the vote.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Greitens | 236,481 | 34.56 | |
| Republican | John Brunner | 169,620 | 24.79 | |
| Republican | Peter Kinder | 141,629 | 20.70 | |
| Republican | Catherine Hanaway | 136,521 | 19.95 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eric Greitens | 1,424,730 | 51.3 | |
| Democratic | Chris Koster | 1,261,110 | 45.4 | |
Governor of Missouri (2017–2018)
Greitens took office on January 9, 2017. As governor, he saw himself as a conservative outsider.
One of his first actions was to sign an executive order. It banned employees in his administration from taking gifts from lobbyists. Lobbyists are people who try to influence politicians.
Key Actions as Governor
In February 2017, Greitens signed a right-to-work bill. This law changed the rules for labor unions in Missouri. However, voters later overturned this law in a statewide vote in 2018.
He also worked to bring jobs to the state. He called a special meeting of the state legislature to pass a bill to help a steel mill reopen. The bill passed, and the company announced it would restart the plant.
Greitens proposed a large tax cut package in 2018. He wanted to lower taxes for both individuals and businesses. He also wanted to start collecting sales tax on items bought online.
Helping Children in Foster Care
As governor, Greitens signed Missouri's first Foster Care Bill of Rights. This law was created to improve the lives and safety of children in the state's foster care system. His wife, Sheena Greitens, also worked on projects to help foster children and families.
Resignation
Greitens's time as governor was short. He faced several investigations and disagreements with other lawmakers. On June 1, 2018, he announced his resignation from office. Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson then became the new governor.
2022 U.S. Senate Campaign
In 2020, Greitens announced he would run for the U.S. Senate. He wanted to replace Senator Roy Blunt, who was retiring. He ran in the Republican primary election.
During his campaign, Greitens released an ad that showed him with a shotgun, saying he was "RINO hunting." "RINO" is a term for "Republican in Name Only." The ad was criticized by many people and was removed by Facebook.
On the day before the primary, former President Donald Trump endorsed "ERIC" in the race. It was unclear if he meant Eric Greitens or his main opponent, Eric Schmitt.
Greitens lost the primary election, finishing in third place. Eric Schmitt won the primary and later won the general election to become the new senator for Missouri.
Personal Life
Greitens was married to Rebecca Wright from 2000 to 2003. He married Sheena Chestnut in 2011, and they had two sons. The couple divorced in 2020.
Greitens is a boxer and has a black belt in taekwondo. He was Missouri's first Jewish governor.
Honors and Awards
- President's Volunteer Service Award (2008), given by President George W. Bush for his work with The Mission Continues.
- Bronfman Prize (2012), an award for young humanitarians.
- Time 100 (2013), named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time magazine.
- World's 50 Greatest Leaders (2014), named by Fortune magazine.
Images for kids
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Greitens with U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis in March 2017
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Greitens meeting with Vice President Mike Pence, January 2017
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Sheena Greitens in 2017
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Eric and Sheena Greitens dancing at the inaugural ball
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See also
In Spanish: Eric Greitens para niños
