John H. Sununu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John H. Sununu
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Official N.H. gubernatorial oil painting portrait by artist Richard Whitney
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| Chair of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee | |
| In office January 17, 2009 – January 22, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Fergus Cullen |
| Succeeded by | Jack Kimball |
| 14th White House Chief of Staff | |
| In office January 20, 1989 – December 15, 1991 |
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| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Deputy | Andrew Card |
| Preceded by | Ken Duberstein |
| Succeeded by | Samuel K. Skinner |
| 75th Governor of New Hampshire | |
| In office January 6, 1983 – January 4, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Vesta M. Roy (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Judd Gregg |
| Chair of the National Governors Association | |
| In office July 28, 1987 – August 9, 1988 |
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| Preceded by | Bill Clinton |
| Succeeded by | Gerald Baliles |
| Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the 5th Rockingham district |
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| In office 1973–1975 |
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| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Multi-member district |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Henry Sununu
July 2, 1939 Havana, Cuba |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Nancy Hayes (died 2024) |
| Children | 8, including John and Chris |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS, MS, PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mechanical engineering |
| Institutions | Tufts University |
| Thesis | Flow of a High Temperature, Variable Viscosity Fluid at Low Reynolds Number (1966) |
John Henry Sununu (born July 2, 1939) is an American politician. He served as the 75th governor of New Hampshire from 1983 to 1989. He was also the 14th White House chief of staff for President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1991.
Sununu was born in Cuba. His father was American, and his mother was from El Salvador. He has Greek, Hispanic, and Lebanese family roots. He was the first person of Arab American, Greek American, and Hispanic American background to be governor of New Hampshire. He was also the first to be White House chief of staff.
John H. Sununu is the father of two other well-known politicians. His son John E. Sununu was a U.S. Senator for New Hampshire. Another son, Chris Sununu, is a former governor of New Hampshire. From 2009 to 2011, John H. Sununu was the chairman of the Republican Party in New Hampshire.
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Early Life and Education
Sununu was born in Havana, Cuba. His parents were there on a business trip. His father, John Saleh Sununu, was an international film distributor. His mother was Victoria Sununu.
His father's family came to the United States from Lebanon. They were Greek Orthodox Christians. His family had Greek and Lebanese roots from Jerusalem and Beirut. His mother's family was also Greek Orthodox. They had Greek and Hispanic roots and settled in Central America. As a child, Sununu visited Beirut, Lebanon. He grew up in New York City. He graduated from the La Salle Military Academy on Long Island.
Sununu studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1961. He received a Master of Science degree in 1963. In 1966, he earned his PhD. All his degrees were in mechanical engineering.
Career in Public Service
From 1966 to 1982, Sununu taught at Tufts University. He was an associate professor of mechanical engineering. He also served as the associate dean of the university's College of Engineering. This was from 1968 to 1973.
Sununu is a member of the Republican Party. He represented the 5th Rockingham district. This was in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1973 to 1975.
Governor of New Hampshire
Sununu became the 75th governor of New Hampshire on January 6, 1983. He was re-elected two times. This allowed him to serve three terms in a row. He was the first Arab-American governor of New Hampshire.
He also led several important groups. He was chairman of the Coalition of Northeastern Governors. He also chaired the Republican Governors Association. In 1987, he was chairman of the National Governors Association.
White House Chief of Staff
Sununu was the first White House chief of staff for President George H. W. Bush. He held this important role from 1989 to 1991. Time magazine once called him "Bush's Bad Cop."
Sununu played a key role in President Bush's decision to raise taxes. This was a change from Bush's earlier promise of "no new taxes." Sununu also had a role in discussions about global warming. He believed that world leaders were not ready to make big commitments to reduce carbon emissions.
Sununu recommended David Souter to President Bush for the Supreme Court of the United States. Souter was from New Hampshire. Sununu later said he was disappointed with some of Souter's decisions on the Court.
Sununu left his White House chief of staff role on December 4, 1991. He then served as a special advisor to the President until March 1, 1992.
USS Liberty Veterans Meeting
In 1991, about 50 survivors of the USS Liberty incident visited the White House. They hoped to meet with President George H.W. Bush. Instead, Sununu and National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft greeted them. Rear Admiral Thomas A. Brooks gave them a Presidential Unit Citation. This award had been signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson but never given.
Other Activities
Sununu was a co-host for CNN's nightly show Crossfire. He was on the show from March 1992 to February 1998.
Before his political career, he was president of JHS Engineering Company. He also led Thermal Research Inc. He helped start Astro Dynamics Inc. and worked there as chief engineer.
In 2012, Sununu was a national co-chair for the Mitt Romney presidential campaign. He made some comments about President Barack Obama that caused controversy. He later apologized for calling Obama "un-American." He also suggested that Colin Powell endorsed Obama because they shared the same race. After the election, Sununu said Romney lost because Obama's supporters relied on government programs.
Today, Sununu is president of JHS Associates, Ltd. He is also a partner in Trinity International Partners. This is a private financial company. He is also part of the advisory council for the U.S.-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce.
Awards and Honors
In 1990, Sununu was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. This honor recognized his work in energy systems and engineering education. It also recognized his efforts to connect technology with public policy.
Personal Life
Sununu was married to Nancy Hayes. They had eight children together. Their children include former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu and former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu.
In recent years, he moved to Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. This was to be closer to his family. He and his wife were jokingly elected as the town's honorary "hog reeves" and "poundkeepers." This title is often given to new residents.
Sununu's daughter, Cathy, is the president of the Portsmouth Museum of Art. Sununu can speak Spanish fluently. Nancy Sununu passed away on September 7, 2024, after a long illness.
Political Endorsements
After the first presidential debate in 2016, Sununu supported Donald Trump for President. In early 2024, Sununu endorsed Nikki Haley for the Republican presidential nomination.
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See also
In Spanish: John H. Sununu para niños
