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John W. Snow
John W. Snow.jpg
Official portrait, 2005
73rd United States Secretary of the Treasury
In office
February 3, 2003 – June 28, 2006
President George W. Bush
Deputy Kenneth W. Dam
Samuel Bodman
Robert M. Kimmitt
Preceded by Paul H. O'Neill
Succeeded by Henry Paulson
Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
In office
1976–1977
President Gerald Ford
Preceded by James B. Gregory
Succeeded by Joan Claybrook
Personal details
Born
John William Snow

(1939-08-02) August 2, 1939 (age 85)
Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse Carolyn Snow
Children 3
Education University of Toledo (BA)
University of Virginia (MA, PhD)
George Washington University (JD)
Signature

John William Snow (born August 2, 1939) is an American economist, lawyer, and business leader. He was the head of a big railroad company called CSX Corporation. Later, he became the 73rd Secretary of the Treasury for U.S. President George W. Bush.

He started this important job on February 3, 2003. He left the role on June 28, 2006. After leaving government, Snow became the chairman of a company called Cerberus Capital Management.

Early Life and Education

John Snow was born in Toledo, Ohio, on August 2, 1939. His mother, Catherine, was a teacher. His father, William Dean Snow, was a lawyer who specialized in taxes.

John went to high school at Gilmour Academy in Ohio. He studied at Kenyon College and the University of Toledo. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962. He then studied economics at the University of Virginia, getting his PhD in 1965. He also earned a law degree from George Washington University Law School in 1967. After law school, he worked at a law firm in Washington, D.C.

Career Highlights

From 1965 to 1968, John Snow taught economics at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Working in Government

In 1972, Snow began working for the U.S. government. He joined the Department of Transportation. He held several important roles there. He helped with legal matters and policy plans.

In 1976, he became the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This agency helps keep roads and cars safe. He left public service in 1977 when a new president was elected.

Leading Railroad Companies

After his time in government, Snow used his transportation experience in the railroad industry. In 1977, he joined Chessie System. This company owned several railroads, like the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

In 1980, Chessie System merged with another company to form CSX Corporation. Snow became a senior leader at CSX. He helped manage the company's growth. In 1985, he became the president and CEO of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. He helped merge it with another railroad to create CSX Transportation.

By 1988, Snow was the President and Chief Operating Officer of CSX Corporation. He later became its chairman and CEO. He held these top positions until 2003.

Public Service While in Business

Even while working in the private sector, John Snow continued to serve the public. He advised Ronald Reagan on policy during his 1980 presidential campaign.

Snow also served on many important groups. These included commissions on financial reform and economic growth. He was co-chairman of the Business Roundtable from 1994 to 1996. This group includes leaders from America's largest companies. He helped support the North American Free Trade Agreement.

He also served on the boards of many large companies. These included Verizon Communications and Textron Inc.. He was a founding chairman of the Center for Energy and Economic Development.

John Snow, 2004
John W. Snow at the 2004 IMF/World Bank Annual Meeting

Secretary of the Treasury

On January 13, 2003, President George W. Bush chose John Snow to be the Secretary of the Treasury. The U.S. Senate approved his nomination.

As Treasury Secretary, Snow was in charge of the nation's money and finances. He worked on economic policies for the country. In 2003, he traveled across the country with other cabinet members. They promoted the Bush Administration's tax cuts.

In May 2004, it was found that some of Snow's investments were in companies that the Treasury Department oversees. He said he did not know about these investments. He quickly sold them when he found out. An ethics lawyer said it was not a conflict of interest at the time.

On May 26, 2006, Snow announced he would resign from his position. He officially left the job on June 28, 2006. Henry Paulson took over as the new Secretary of the Treasury.

Current Activities

John Snow is currently on the board of IAG. This is a large airline group that includes British Airways.

In 2016, he joined seven other former Treasury secretaries. They asked the United Kingdom to stay in the European Union.

Personal Life

John Snow lives in Richmond, Virginia. He was married to Carolyn Kalk, who passed away in June 2024. They have three children: Ian, Bradley, and Christopher. He also has twelve grandchildren.

His college, Kenyon College, gave him an honorary law degree in 1993. He has also received awards for his achievements in transportation.

See also

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