Kent Conrad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kent Conrad
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Official portrait, c. 1990s
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| United States Senator from North Dakota |
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| In office December 14, 1992 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Jocelyn Burdick |
| Succeeded by | Heidi Heitkamp |
| In office January 3, 1987 – December 14, 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Andrews |
| Succeeded by | Byron Dorgan |
| Chair of the Senate Budget Committee | |
| In office January 4, 2007 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Judd Gregg |
| Succeeded by | Patty Murray |
| In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Pete Domenici |
| Succeeded by | Don Nickles |
| 19th Tax Commissioner of North Dakota | |
| In office January 6, 1981 – December 2, 1986 |
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| Governor | Allen Olson George Sinner |
| Preceded by | Byron Dorgan |
| Succeeded by | Heidi Heitkamp |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gaylord Kent Conrad
March 12, 1948 Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Pam Schafer (divorced) Lucy Calautti (1987–present) |
| Children | Jessamyn Conrad |
| Education | Stanford University (BA) George Washington University (MBA) |
| Signature |  |
Gaylord Kent Conrad (born March 12, 1948) is a former American politician. He served as a United States Senator for North Dakota from 1987 to 2013. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Kent Conrad was first elected to the Senate in 1986. He was known for his work on the Senate Budget Committee. He served as its chairman or a leading member for 12 years.
In 2011, Conrad announced he would retire from politics. He chose not to run for re-election in 2012. He wanted to focus on helping solve the nation's budget problems. After his retirement, Heidi Heitkamp, another Democrat, took his place.
Today, Conrad helps lead the Bipartisan Policy Center's group on retirement savings. He is also part of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One. He serves on the board of directors for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kent Conrad was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, on March 12, 1948. He became an orphan at a young age. His grandparents in Bismarck raised him.
He went to schools in Bismarck and even attended high school in Tripoli, Libya. He later graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy. Conrad then studied at Stanford. He earned a business degree (M.B.A.) from The George Washington University.
Family Life
Kent Conrad has been married twice. His first wife, Pam, is the sister of former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer. They have a daughter named Jessamyn. Jessamyn Conrad wrote a book about politics that was praised by Barack Obama and Bob Dole.
On February 14, 1987, Conrad married Lucy Calautti. She was his campaign manager for his 1986 Senate race. Lucy Calautti now works as a lobbyist for Major League Baseball.
Starting in Politics
After college, Conrad worked for the government. He was an assistant to the North Dakota State Tax Commissioner, Byron Dorgan. Dorgan later became his fellow senator.
Conrad first tried to enter politics in 1976. He ran for the North Dakota Auditor's office but did not win. In 1980, he became the state Tax Commissioner, taking over from Byron Dorgan. He held this job until 1986, when he decided to run for the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Senate Career
Kent Conrad served in the U.S. Senate for many years. He was known for his focus on economic issues and the national budget.
Important Committees
During his time in the Senate, Conrad was part of several important committees:
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: This committee deals with farming, food, and forests.
- Committee on the Budget: He was the chairman of this committee. It focuses on the government's spending and financial plans.
- Committee on Finance: This committee handles taxes, trade, and social security.
- Committee on Indian Affairs: This committee works on issues related to Native American tribes.
- Joint Committee on Taxation: This committee advises Congress on tax policy.
Political Views and Actions
In 2006, Time magazine named Kent Conrad one of "America's 10 Best Senators." He was also praised for his strong understanding of economic topics.
Conrad was part of a group called the "Gang of 10." This group supported more offshore drilling for oil and gas. He was also known for using charts and graphs when he spoke in the Senate. This earned him the nickname "Godfather of Charts."
Healthcare Discussions
In 2009, when the U.S. was discussing healthcare reform, Conrad had specific views. He did not support a "public option," which would have created a government-run health insurance plan.
Social Issues
Kent Conrad's views were often more conservative than many other Democrats. For example, he personally did not support gay marriage. However, he voted against a proposed constitutional ban on it. He also supported laws that prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation. In 2006, he voted to confirm Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.
Money and the Economy
Conrad was known for understanding money matters and the national budget very well. He called himself a "deficit hawk." This means he strongly believed in having a balanced federal budget. He also supported government help for family farmers.
He often spoke out against the spending policies of the George W. Bush administration. Conrad believed that these policies made the national debt worse. He generally opposed most free-trade agreements.
Foreign Policy and National Security
In 1991, Conrad voted against using military force in Iraq. He was one of only 23 senators who voted against the war resolution of 2002. He initially voted for the USA PATRIOT Act. However, he later opposed warrantless wiretapping and the continued use of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
Elections and Re-elections
In the 1986 election, Kent Conrad won against the Republican senator, Mark Andrews. Andrews had been a federal representative for North Dakota since 1963.
During that campaign, Conrad promised that he would not run for re-election if the federal budget deficit had not decreased a lot by the end of his term. By 1992, it was clear the deficit had not fallen. Even though people would have understood if he broke his promise, Conrad felt he had to keep his word. So, he did not run for re-election to his original seat.
However, a special opportunity came up. North Dakota's other senator, Quentin Burdick, passed away in September 1992. His wife, Jocelyn Burdick, was appointed to the seat temporarily. A special election was needed to fill the rest of the term. Conrad saw this as a different situation from running for re-election to his old seat. He ran for and won this special election. He was sworn in on December 14, 1992.
Even though North Dakota often votes Republican, Conrad was re-elected easily in 1994. This was a year when many Republicans won seats in Congress across the country. He was also re-elected in 2000 and 2006.
See also
In Spanish: Kent Conrad para niños
