Jack Lew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Lew
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Official portrait, 2023
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| United States Ambassador to Israel | |
| In office November 5, 2023 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Stephanie Hallett (interim) |
| Succeeded by | Stephanie Hallett (interim) |
| 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 and 38th Director of the Office of Management and Budget |
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| 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 United States 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 has held many important jobs in the United States government. He was the U.S. Ambassador to Israel. He also served as the main money manager for the U.S. as the Secretary of the Treasury from 2013 to 2017.
Lew is a member of the Democratic Party. He was also the White House Chief of Staff and the director of the Office of Management and Budget. He worked for two different presidents, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
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Early Life and Education
Jack Lew was born in New York City on August 29, 1955. His parents were Ruth and Irving Lew, and 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. Later, he went to Harvard College and finished in 1978. He then earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1983.
Early Career in Government
Lew started his career helping politicians. From 1974 to 1975, he worked for Representative Joe Moakley. In 1979, he became a senior advisor to House Speaker Tip O'Neill. He helped with important issues like Social Security and Medicare.
Before joining the White House, Lew worked as a lawyer for five years. He also worked for the city of Boston's Office of Management and Budget.
Working for President Clinton
From 1993 to 1994, Lew was a special assistant to President Bill Clinton. He helped create new policies, including the AmeriCorps program. He also worked on health care reform ideas.
Lew then moved to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). He was the Deputy Director from 1995 to 1998. In this role, he helped manage the OMB's daily operations. He also helped the Clinton administration with budget talks in Congress.
In 1998, President Clinton chose Lew to be the director of the OMB. The United States Senate approved his nomination. As OMB director, Lew was in charge of the government's budget and how money was spent. He also advised the president on many important topics. He was part of the National Security Council.
Between Government Jobs
After working for President Clinton, Lew became an executive at New York University from 2001 to 2006. He was in charge of the university's operations. He also taught public administration there.
In 2006, Lew joined Citigroup, a large financial company. He was the chief operating officer for a part of the company that invested money. He worked there until 2008.
Lew also served on the board of directors for the Corporation for National and Community Service. This group helps people volunteer in their communities.
Working for President Obama
Deputy Secretary of State
In 2009, Lew became the first Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources. In this job, he was the main manager for the State Department. He was responsible for how the department used its money and resources.
Budget Director
In 2010, President Obama asked Lew to return as the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Senate approved his new role.
As OMB director, Lew helped create the government's budget plan. This plan aimed to reduce the national debt over time. He worked on finding ways to cut spending and change tax rules.
White House Chief of Staff
In 2012, President Obama chose Lew to be his White House Chief of Staff. This is a very important job, as the Chief of Staff manages the White House staff and advises the president.
During this time, Lew played a key role in talks between President Obama and Congress. He helped try to reach agreements on important money issues for the country.
Secretary of the Treasury
In 2013, President Obama nominated Lew to be the Secretary of the Treasury. This job is in charge of the U.S. economy and money. When he was nominated, people noticed his unique signature, which would appear on U.S. paper money. He later changed it to a more traditional one for currency.
The Senate approved his nomination, and he became Secretary of the Treasury on February 28, 2013. He served in this role until President Obama's term ended in 2017.
As Treasury Secretary, Lew often talked about the country's debt limit. He explained that raising the debt limit allows the government to pay bills it already owes. He said it was important for the country's financial strength.
Ambassador to Israel
On September 5, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Jack Lew to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel. An ambassador is a country's top representative in another country.
His nomination was discussed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Senate confirmed his nomination on October 31, 2023. He officially started his role as ambassador on November 5, 2023.
Personal Life
Jack Lew is married to Ruth Schwartz, his high school sweetheart. They have two grown 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 towards social equality.
See also
In Spanish: Jack Lew para niños
- List of Jewish United States Cabinet members
