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 was the 75th governor of New Hampshire from 1983 to 1989. He also served as the 14th White House chief of staff for President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1991.
John Sununu was born in Cuba. His father was American, and his mother was from El Salvador. He has Palestinian, 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 and White House chief of staff. His sons, John E. Sununu and Chris Sununu, also became important politicians. John E. Sununu was a U.S. Senator, and Chris Sununu was also governor of New Hampshire. From 2009 to 2011, John H. Sununu was the chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party.
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Early Life and Education
John Sununu was born in Havana, Cuba, during a business trip his parents were on. 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 in the early 1900s. They were Greek Orthodox Christians. His family had Greek and Lebanese roots from Jerusalem and Beirut. His mother's family was also Greek Orthodox Christians. They had Greek and Hispanic roots and settled in Central America around the same time.
Sununu grew up in New York City. He graduated from the La Salle Military Academy on Long Island. He went on to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1961, a Master of Science degree in 1963, and a PhD in 1966. All his degrees were in mechanical engineering.
Political Career Highlights
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 from 1968 to 1973.
As a Republican, Sununu represented the 5th Rockingham district in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1973 to 1975. He ran for other political offices in New Hampshire but did not win those elections.
Governor of New Hampshire
John Sununu became New Hampshire's 75th governor on January 6, 1983. He was re-elected two times, serving three terms in a row. He was the first Arab-American governor of New Hampshire. He also led important groups like the Coalition of Northeastern Governors and 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. The Chief of Staff helps the President manage the White House and their daily schedule.
During his time as Chief of Staff, Sununu was involved in many important decisions. He helped President Bush choose David Souter for the Supreme Court of the United States. Sununu resigned from his White House job on December 4, 1991. He then served as a special advisor to the President until March 1, 1992.
Travel Expenses Discussion
While serving in the White House, Sununu faced questions about his use of government planes for personal trips. He explained that he needed to be near a phone at all times for national security reasons. He later repaid some of the costs for these flights.
Other Activities
After leaving the White House, Sununu co-hosted a TV show called Crossfire on CNN from 1992 to 1998.
He also worked in engineering and business. He was President of JHS Engineering Company and Thermal Research Inc. He also helped start and worked as chief engineer for Astro Dynamics Inc.
In 2012, Sununu was a national co-chair for the Mitt Romney presidential campaign. He made some comments that caused discussion, and he later apologized for them.
Today, Sununu is President of JHS Associates, Ltd. He is also a partner in Trinity International Partners, a financial firm.
Awards and Honors
In 1990, John Sununu was chosen as a member of the National Academy of Engineering. This honor recognized his important work in developing energy systems, in engineering education, and in connecting technology with public policy.
Personal Life
John Sununu was married to Nancy Hayes. They had eight children together. Two of their children, John E. Sununu and Chris Sununu, followed in their father's footsteps and became politicians. John E. Sununu was a U.S. Senator, and Chris Sununu was governor of New Hampshire.
In recent years, John Sununu moved to Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, to be closer to his family. He and his wife were jokingly named the town's honorary "hog reeves" and "poundkeepers." This title is often given to new people in town.
Sununu's daughter, Cathy, is the president of the Portsmouth Museum of Art in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. John Sununu can speak Spanish fluently.
Nancy Sununu, his wife, 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 of the United States.
In early January 2024, Sununu supported Nikki Haley for the Republican presidential nomination.
See also
In Spanish: John H. Sununu para niños
- List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States
- List of U.S. state governors born outside the United States
