Mitch Daniels facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mitch Daniels
Daniels in 2009
12th President of the Purdue University System
In office January 14, 2013 – December 31, 2022
Preceded by	France Cordova Timothy Sands (acting)
Succeeded by	Mung Chiang
49th Governor of Indiana
In office January 10, 2005 – January 14, 2013
Lieutenant	Becky Skillman
Preceded by	Joe Kernan
Succeeded by	Mike Pence
33rd Director of the Office of Management and Budget
In office January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2003
President	George W. Bush
Deputy	Sean O'Keefe Nancy P. Dorn
Preceded by	Jack Lew
Succeeded by	Joshua Bolten
White House Director of Political and Intergovernmental Affairs
In office October 1, 1985 – March 1, 1987
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Ed Rollins
Succeeded by	Frank Donatelli
Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
In office March 26, 1985 – October 1, 1985
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Lee Verstandig
Succeeded by	Deborah Steelman
Personal details
Born	Mitchell Elias Daniels Jr (1949-04-07) April 7, 1949 (age 76) Monongahela, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Cheri Herman ​ ​ (m. 1978; div. 1993)​ ​ ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	4
Education	Princeton University (BA) Georgetown University (JD)
Signature

Mitchell Elias Daniels Jr. (born April 7, 1949) is an American academic leader, businessman, author, and retired politician. He served as the 49th governor of Indiana from 2005 to 2013. A member of the Republican Party, he later became the president of Purdue University from 2013 until the end of 2022.

Daniels started his career helping Senator Richard Lugar. He worked as his chief of staff in the Senate from 1977 to 1982. He also served as a top political advisor to President Ronald Reagan in 1985. Later, he joined Eli Lilly and Company, a big pharmaceutical company. In 2001, President George W. Bush chose Daniels to lead the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, where he worked until 2003.

After leaving the Bush administration, Daniels ran for governor of Indiana in 2004. He won the election and was reelected in 2008. As governor, he focused on cutting government spending and balancing the state budget. He also worked on property tax reform and improving Indiana's highways. After his time as governor, Daniels became the president of Purdue University, a major university in Indiana. He retired from this role in 2023.

Early Life and Education

Family Background

Mitchell Elias Daniels Jr. was born on April 7, 1949, in Monongahela, Pennsylvania. His parents were Dorothy Mae and Mitchell Elias Daniels. His father's parents were immigrants from Syria. Daniels has been recognized for his public service by the Arab-American Institute. His mother's family mostly came from England. Daniels spent his early childhood in different states like Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Georgia.

In 1959, when Daniels was 10, his family moved to Indiana. His father got a job at a pharmaceutical company in Indianapolis. Daniels first attended elementary and junior high schools in Indiana. In high school, he was elected student body president. After graduating in 1967, he was named one of Indiana's top high school graduates by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

College and Law School

In 1971, Daniels earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton University. His senior project was about how cities and counties in Indianapolis joined together. While at Princeton, he was part of a debate society. He started studying law in Indianapolis. But after getting a job with Senator Richard Lugar, he moved to Washington, D.C. He then finished his law degree at Georgetown University Law Center.

Early Career in Politics and Business

Working with Senator Lugar

The Daniels family with President Ronald Reagan in 1987

Daniels first got involved in politics as a teenager in 1968. He worked on a campaign for William Ruckelshaus, who was running for the U.S. Senate. After that, he had an internship with Indianapolis mayor Richard Lugar. Daniels helped Lugar with his campaigns and later became his main assistant. When Lugar was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1976, Daniels moved to Washington, D.C., to be his Chief of Staff.

During his time as Chief of Staff (1977–1982), Daniels met Cheri Herman. She worked for the National Park Service. They got married in 1978 and had four daughters. They divorced in 1993 but later remarried in 1997.

In 1983, Daniels became the executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. This group helps Republican senators get elected. He played a big part in keeping the Republican Party in control of the Senate. He also managed three successful reelection campaigns for Senator Lugar.

In 1985, Daniels became a chief political advisor to President Ronald Reagan. He helped connect the President with state and local governments.

Return to Indiana and Eli Lilly

In 1987, Daniels moved back to Indiana. He became the president and CEO of the Hudson Institute, a research group. In 1988, he was offered a vacant Senate seat by Indiana Governor Robert D. Orr. But Daniels turned it down because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

In 1990, Daniels joined Eli Lilly and Company, a large pharmaceutical company in Indiana. He became President of North American Operations in 1993 and later Senior Vice President for Corporate Strategy and Policy in 1997. During his time there, Eli Lilly grew a lot. The company's assets and revenue doubled. Daniels later brought many of his former Lilly colleagues to work with him when he became governor.

Leading the Office of Management and Budget

Daniels with President George W. Bush and other advisers in the Roosevelt Room in 2001

On December 22, 2000, President-elect George W. Bush announced that he would nominate Daniels to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This office helps the President manage the federal budget. The United States Senate approved his nomination in January 2001. In this role, he was also part of the National Security Council.

As OMB director, Daniels tried to limit government spending. He believed Congress should spend less. During his 29 months in this job, the projected federal budget surplus turned into a deficit. This was due to a recession, tax cuts, and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021).

On May 7, 2003, Daniels announced he would leave his OMB role. He planned to run for governor of Indiana.

Governor of Indiana (2005-2013)

First Election Campaign

Mitch Daniels 2004 campaign sign

Daniels's decision to run for Governor of Indiana led many other Republican candidates to drop out. His main focus was cutting the state budget and making government agencies more efficient. He won the Republican primary with 67% of the vote.

During the general election, Daniels traveled a lot, visiting all 92 counties in Indiana multiple times. He used a donated RV nicknamed "RV-1." His campaign slogan was "My Man Mitch," a phrase President George W. Bush used for him. Bush even campaigned with Daniels. Daniels often said, "every garden needs weeding every sixteen years or so," meaning it was time for a change after 16 years without a Republican governor.

His opponent was the current governor, Joe Kernan. The election was very expensive. Daniels won with about 53% of the vote. Kernan was the first sitting governor in Indiana to lose an election since 1892.

First Term as Governor

Mitch Daniels visiting Camp Arifjan in Kuwait

On his first day, Daniels created Indiana's first Office of Management and Budget. This office looked for ways to save money in state government. He also ended the requirement for state employees to pay union dues.

Budget Improvements

In 2005, Indiana faced a projected budget deficit. Daniels proposed strict controls on spending. The General Assembly approved $250 million in spending cuts. Daniels also renegotiated state contracts, saving $190 million. These changes, along with increased revenues, led to a budget surplus. Indiana's constitution does not allow the state to take loans. The state had previously used money meant for local governments and schools to cover deficits. Daniels gradually returned these funds, and the state's reserve fund grew to $1.3 billion.

Daniels also approved taxes on liquor and rental cars. These taxes helped fund the construction of Lucas Oil Stadium and expand the Indiana Convention Center.

In 2006, Daniels signed a bill to privatize the enrollment service for state welfare programs. Call centers run by IBM replaced Indiana's welfare enrollment facilities. However, due to complaints about poor service, Daniels canceled the contract in 2009 and returned the service to the public sector.

Daylight Saving Time

One of Daniels's most debated changes was making Indiana observe Daylight Saving Time. He argued it was needed to end confusion and align Indiana with the rest of the country. Before this, some counties in Indiana observed it, and some did not. After a long discussion, the General Assembly adopted Eastern Daylight Saving Time in April 2005. Most of the state now follows the Eastern Time Zone.

Highway Improvements

In 2006, Daniels introduced a plan to improve the state's highways. This plan, called "Major Moves," involved leasing the Indiana Toll Road. The road was leased to a company for 75 years. In return, the state received $3.85 billion and a promise for $4.4 billion in road upgrades.

Many people opposed this plan, saying Daniels was selling the road to foreign companies. Daniels defended the lease, saying the road was not making money for the state. He said the deal was excellent for Indiana.

Initially, Daniels's approval rating dropped because of this plan. But in the following months, his reforms seemed to work well, and his approval ratings went back up. The money from the lease was used to fund many transportation projects. It also created a $500 million fund to maintain the highway system. Over ten years, Indiana added or expanded major roads and repaired many bridges without using tax dollars or taking on new debt.

Healthy Indiana Plan

In 2007, Daniels signed the Healthy Indiana Plan. This program helped 132,000 uninsured Indiana workers get health coverage. The program helps people buy private health insurance with state support. It also encourages health screenings and prevention. The plan was funded by an increase in the state's cigarette tax and federal Medicaid funds.

Property Tax Reform

In 2008, Daniels proposed a limit on property taxes. The plan set a one percent cap on residential properties, two percent for rental properties, and three percent for businesses. The Indiana General Assembly approved this plan. In 2008, Indiana homeowners saw an average property tax cut of over 30 percent. To make up for lost local government revenue, the state raised the sales tax from 6% to 7%.

Daniels also pushed for an amendment to add these tax limits to the state constitution. Voters approved this amendment in November 2010.

Daniels's success in balancing the state budget earned him national recognition. He was named one of the "Public Officials of the Year" in 2008 by Governing Magazine.

Voter ID Law

In 2005, Daniels and Republicans passed a law requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID to vote. This was the first law of its kind in the U.S. Some groups opposed it, saying it would make it harder for minorities, the poor, and the elderly to vote. To address this, the state offered free photo ID cards.

The law was challenged in court. However, the United States Supreme Court upheld the law in 2008. This decision set a legal example for other states.

Second Term as Governor

Mitch Daniels (left) talking to members of the Indiana National Guard.

Daniels won reelection in 2008 with 57.8% of the votes. His campaign focused on the state's lower unemployment rate, property tax reform, and balancing the state budget. He won with more votes than any candidate in Indiana's history.

In 2010, Daniels helped announce that IndyCar Series car manufacturing would return to Indiana. This created new jobs and technology centers in the state.

Daniels is known for his focus on careful spending. A poll in November 2010 showed he had a 75% approval rate.

2011 Legislative Walkout

In 2010, Republicans gained full control of the Indiana General Assembly. In 2011, they tried to pass a "right to work" bill. This bill would make it illegal to require employees to join a union. Democrats opposed this and left the state to prevent the bill from passing. This meant the legislature could not vote because they didn't have enough members present.

Daniels supported the idea but felt the Republicans should drop the bill for more public discussion. Republicans did drop the bill, but Democrats still refused to return. They wanted other bills dropped, including one for a statewide school voucher program. Eventually, some bills were dropped, and the Democrats returned.

Education Reforms

After the walkouts, the assembly passed many new laws, and Daniels signed them. These laws made big changes to public schools. A statewide school voucher program was created. This allowed children from lower-income families to get money to attend private schools.

Other changes included creating and expanding charter schools and college scholarships. The law also created a system to give better-performing teachers higher pay. It gave school leaders more power to fire teachers and limited teachers' collective bargaining rights.

Daniels also created WGU Indiana in 2010. This was a partnership with Western Governors University to help more Indiana residents get higher education.

Debate over a History Textbook

In 2013, emails showed Daniels had concerns about a history textbook called The People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn. He asked if it was used in Indiana schools and how to remove it. Daniels believed the book was "anti-American" and "misstates American history."

Later, Daniels clarified that he would defend a professor's right to free speech, even if he disagreed with their views. He said his emails didn't limit academic freedom or propose censorship.

Economy and Immigration

Daniels focused on raising incomes in Indiana. While some critics point to a drop in Indiana's per capita income ranking, supporters argue that Indiana recovered from the Great Recession faster than other states.

On May 10, 2011, Daniels signed two immigration bills. One denied in-state college tuition to undocumented immigrants. The other fined employers who hired undocumented immigrants. Some protestors were arrested for protesting these laws at the statehouse.

Budget Cuts and Right to Work

In 2010, the state faced another large budget shortfall. Daniels proposed a plan with many budget cuts, including employee furloughs, spending reductions, and freezing state hiring and wages. By 2011, Indiana had the fewest state employees per capita of any state.

Indiana became the first state in a decade to pass a Right to Work law. This law makes it illegal to require workers to join a union. Daniels signed the law on February 1, 2012. Many manufacturing companies said this law was important in their decision to move to Indiana.

President of Purdue University

Purdue University President Mitch Daniels talking with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in 2014

After leaving the governor's office, Daniels became the 12th president of Purdue University in 2013.

Student Focus

Daniels often said that students were his top priority. He worked out at the student gym and ate meals with students in dining halls. At Purdue football games, there was a segment called "Where's Mitch?" where he would be found sitting among the fans. He even used a T-shirt gun to shoot shirts into the student section at basketball games.

In 2021, Daniels rode into the football stadium for graduation in a "couch car" designed by Purdue students.

Purdue Polytechnic Indianapolis High School

In 2015, Daniels announced plans for the Purdue Polytechnic Indianapolis high school. This school was designed to help inner-city students prepare for and get into Purdue University. Purdue now runs three such high schools.

Tuition Freezes and Cost Savings

Before Daniels, tuition at Purdue had increased every year since 1976. Two months after he became president, Purdue froze tuition for two years. This freeze was later extended for ten years, through 2023. This means many students graduated without ever seeing a tuition increase. Student borrowing also decreased. The university estimates that students and families saved over a billion dollars.

Daniels also lowered meal plan rates by 10 percent and froze housing costs. This made Purdue's room and board costs among the most affordable in the Big Ten conference. In 2014, Daniels also made a deal with Amazon to help students save money on textbooks.

Purdue Moves Initiatives

In 2013, Daniels announced "Purdue Moves." This plan focused on keeping college affordable. It also included hiring new professors in science and technology fields. The plan aimed to expand online learning and invest in research. Under Daniels, Purdue greatly increased the number of new companies started from university research.

Acquisition of Kaplan University

In 2017, Daniels and the Purdue Board of Trustees decided to buy Kaplan University. They planned to turn it into an online university called Purdue University Global. This move received both praise and criticism. Some faculty members at Purdue were concerned about the deal.

Purdue Global aims to provide online education. In its first few years, Purdue Global invested a lot in marketing. However, its enrollment has grown since 2018.

End of Presidency

Daniels was replaced by Dr. Mung Chiang as President of Purdue University on January 1, 2023.

After leaving Purdue, Daniels thought about running for the U.S. Senate but decided not to. He said it wasn't the right job or lifestyle for him. One month after he left, Purdue's business school was named the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business. A major campus road he helped renovate was also named Mitch Daniels Boulevard.

Board Service

Daniels has served on several boards. In 2013, he co-chaired a committee to review the future of the U.S. human spaceflight program. He also co-chairs a group focused on non-communicable diseases. In 2015, he joined the board of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. In 2016, he was elected to the board of directors for Norfolk Southern Corporation, a railway company.

Electoral History

Honors

• Woodrow Wilson Award, Princeton University (2013)
• Bradley Prize, Bradley Foundation, (2013)
• Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class, Gold and Silver Star (2017)
• World's Greatest Leaders, No. 41 Fortune Magazine (2015)
• Gerald R. Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation (2024)
• Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal, Theodore Roosevelt Association (2024)

See also

• List of governors of Indiana