Jon Huntsman facts for kids
Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. (born March 26, 1960) is an American businessman, diplomat, and politician. He was born in Palo Alto, California. He grew up and went to school in Salt Lake City, Utah. Interestingly, he left high school early to play in a rock band. Later, he earned his G.E.D. (which is like a high school diploma). He then attended college at the University of Utah and the University of Pennsylvania.
Contents
Early Career and Diplomacy
After living in Taipei for a year, Jon Huntsman began his career in government. He worked for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. When he was only 32 years old, he became the U.S. Ambassador to Singapore. This is a very important job, representing the United States in another country.
Working in Business
During Bill Clinton's presidency, Huntsman took a break from government work. He helped run his family's large chemical company. This company was worth many millions of dollars. He gained valuable experience in the business world.
Return to Public Service
Later, Jon Huntsman returned to public service. He served as George W. Bush's Ambassador to Indonesia. He also worked as the Deputy Trade Representative for the United States. In this role, he helped manage trade deals with other countries.
Governor of Utah
In 2004, Jon Huntsman was elected Governor of Utah. As governor, he made some big changes. One of his main actions was cutting taxes for people and businesses in Utah.
Popularity and Re-election
While he was governor, most people in Utah approved of his work. He was quite popular. Because of this, he was re-elected for a second term in 2008.
Ambassador to China
However, Huntsman did not finish his second term as governor. He resigned in 2009 to become Barack Obama's Ambassador to China. He served in this important role from 2009 to 2011. While in China, he observed some public protests. This led to his name being temporarily blocked on Google in China.
Presidential Campaign
In 2012, Jon Huntsman decided to run for President of the United States. He was one of the candidates in the Republican Party's primary elections.
A Moderate Voice
Huntsman was known as one of the more moderate candidates in the race. This means his political views were often less extreme than some other candidates. He focused his campaign on his strong record as governor.
Job Creation in Utah
While he was governor, Utah had the highest job creation rate in America. This was a key point he used to show his leadership skills. Even though he had a strong showing in New Hampshire, he generally polled lower than other candidates. He eventually lost the primary election to Mitt Romney.
Personal Life
Jon Huntsman is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormon. He even went on a Mormon mission in Asia when he was younger. He has also explored other faiths.
Family and Hobbies
Huntsman is also an Eagle Scout, which is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts. He has seven children. Two of his children were adopted, showing his commitment to family.
