Jack Lew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Lew
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Official portrait, 2023
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| 28th United States Ambassador to Israel | |
| In office November 5, 2023 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Thomas R. Nides |
| Succeeded by | Mike Huckabee |
| 76th United States Secretary of the Treasury | |
| In office February 28, 2013 – January 20, 2017 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Neal S. Wolin Mary J. Miller (acting) Sarah Bloom Raskin |
| Preceded by | Timothy Geithner |
| Succeeded by | Steven Mnuchin |
| 25th White House Chief of Staff | |
| In office January 27, 2012 – January 20, 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Alyssa Mastromonaco Nancy-Ann DeParle Mark B. Childress |
| Preceded by | William M. Daley |
| Succeeded by | Denis McDonough |
| 32nd & 38th Director of the Office of Management and Budget | |
| In office November 18, 2010 – January 27, 2012 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Jeffrey Liebman (acting) Heather Higginbottom |
| Preceded by | Peter R. Orszag |
| Succeeded by | Sylvia Mathews Burwell |
| In office July 31, 1998 – January 19, 2001 Acting: May 21, 1998 – July 31, 1998 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Deputy | Joshua Gotbaum (acting) Sylvia M. Mathews |
| Preceded by | Franklin Raines |
| Succeeded by | Mitch Daniels |
| 1st Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources | |
| In office January 28, 2009 – November 18, 2010 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Thomas R. Nides |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jacob Joseph Lew
August 29, 1955 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ruth Schwartz |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Jacob Joseph Lew (born August 29, 1955), often called Jack Lew, is an American lawyer and diplomat. He served as the 28th United States Ambassador to Israel from 2023 to 2025. Before that, he was the 76th United States Secretary of the Treasury from 2013 to 2017.
A member of the Democratic Party, he also worked as the 25th White House Chief of Staff from 2012 to 2013. He was also the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for two different presidents. He worked for both the Clinton administration and the Obama administration.
During the Obama administration, Lew was the first Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources from 2009 to 2010. He then returned to his role as OMB Director from 2010 to 2012. After that, he served as Chief of Staff for President Barack Obama from 2012 to 2013.
In 2013, President Obama nominated Lew to be the new Treasury Secretary. He was confirmed and served until the end of Obama's presidency. Since 2017, he has worked at a company called Lindsay Goldberg. He is also a visiting professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lew was born in New York City on August 29, 1955. His parents were Ruth and Irving Lew. His family is Jewish. He went to public schools in New York City and graduated from Forest Hills High School. His father was a lawyer and also sold rare books.
Lew studied at Carleton College for a year. He then graduated from Harvard College in 1978. Later, he earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1983.
Starting His Career in Government
From 1974 to 1975, Lew worked as an assistant for a politician named Joe Moakley. In 1979, he became a senior policy advisor to House Speaker Tip O'Neill. In this role, he helped with important issues like Social Security, Medicare, and the national budget.
Lew also worked as a lawyer for five years. He focused on issues related to electric power. He also held positions at the Center for Middle East Research and in the city of Boston's Office of Management and Budget.
Working for President Clinton
From 1993 to 1994, Lew was a Special Assistant to the President for Bill Clinton. He helped create new policies, including the national service program (AmeriCorps).
In 1994, Lew moved to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). From 1995 to 1998, he was the Deputy Director of OMB. In this job, he helped manage the office and worked on budget and spending issues. He was often part of the team that negotiated with Congress on budget matters.
Leading the OMB
President Clinton chose Lew to be the director of the OMB. The United States Senate approved his nomination in July 1998. He held this position until 2001, when Clinton's presidency ended.
As OMB director, Lew was in charge of the Clinton administration's policies on the budget and how the government was managed. He was a key advisor to the president on many important issues. He also represented the administration in budget talks with Congress.
Between Administrations
After leaving the Clinton administration, Lew worked at New York University. He was an executive vice president and a professor.
In 2004, President George W. Bush appointed Lew to the board of directors for the Corporation for National and Community Service. He stayed in this role until 2008.
In 2006, Lew became the chief operating officer for a part of Citigroup, a large financial company. He oversaw investments.
Lew also helped lead the Advisory Board for City Year New York. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, which studies international issues.
Working for President Obama
Deputy Secretary of State
As Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Lew was like the chief operating officer for the State Department. He was mainly responsible for how the department used its money and resources. He also helped lead a major review of the State Department's work.
Budget Director Again
In July 2010, the White House announced that Lew would return to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Senate confirmed him in November 2010.
Lew worked on President Obama's 2011 budget plan. This plan aimed to reduce the national debt over ten years. It included cuts to government spending and changes to tax laws.
White House Chief of Staff
In January 2012, President Obama announced that Lew would become his White House Chief of Staff. This is a very important role, as the Chief of Staff manages the White House staff and advises the president.
During his time as Chief of Staff, Lew was a key negotiator. He worked to find a "grand bargain" deal between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner. This deal aimed to avoid major budget cuts and tax increases.
Secretary of the Treasury
On January 10, 2013, President Obama nominated Lew to be the Secretary of the Treasury. This role involves managing the nation's money and finances. His unique signature became a topic of discussion because it would appear on U.S. paper currency. He later changed it to a more traditional signature for currency.
The Senate approved his nomination on February 27, 2013. He was sworn into office the next day.
In December 2013, Lew warned that the government might run out of money to pay its bills by early 2014. This led to discussions in Congress about raising the debt limit. Lew stated that raising the debt limit simply allows the government to pay for spending that Congress has already approved.
In May 2014, Lew received an honorary degree from Georgetown University. He also spoke at a graduation ceremony there.
In 2016, a character based on Lew appeared in the TV series Mr. Robot.
Working for President Biden
Ambassador to Israel
On September 5, 2023, President Biden nominated Lew to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel. An ambassador is a country's official representative in another country. His nomination was discussed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in October 2023.
His approval became more urgent after the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel and the start of the war in Gaza. Some senators had concerns about his past work on a nuclear agreement with Iran. However, the committee approved his nomination.
On October 31, 2023, the United States Senate voted to confirm Lew as ambassador. He presented his official papers to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on November 5, 2023.
In January 2024, Lew supported the sale of certain bombs to Israel. He believed the Israeli air force would try to avoid harming civilians. However, these bombs were later used in attacks on crowded civilian areas. Embassy officials had raised concerns about civilian deaths to Lew.
Personal Life
Lew is married to Ruth Schwartz, his high school sweetheart. They have two adult children. One of their children, Shoshana Lew, leads the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Lew is an Orthodox Jew. He observes the Jewish Shabbat, a day of rest. He has attended several synagogues in New York and Washington, D.C. His former boss, Sandy Berger, said that Lew's faith never stopped him from doing his job.
In 1971, when he was 16, Lew helped organize The New York March Against Hunger. In 2018, he was honored for his work on social equality.
See also
In Spanish: Jack Lew para niños
- List of Harvard University politicians
- List of Jewish United States Cabinet members
