Richard Cordray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Cordray
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Cordray in 2021
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| Chief Operating Officer of Federal Student Aid | |
| In office May 3, 2021 – July 2024 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Mark Brown |
| Succeeded by | Denise Carter (acting) |
| 1st Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | |
| In office January 4, 2012 – November 24, 2017 |
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| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Steve Antonakes Meredith Fuchs (acting) David Silberman (acting) Leandra English |
| Preceded by | Raj Date (special advisor) |
| Succeeded by | Kathy Kraninger |
| 49th Attorney General of Ohio | |
| In office January 8, 2009 – January 10, 2011 |
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| Governor | Ted Strickland |
| Preceded by | Nancy H. Rogers |
| Succeeded by | Mike DeWine |
| 46th Treasurer of Ohio | |
| In office January 8, 2007 – January 7, 2009 |
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| Governor | Ted Strickland |
| Preceded by | Jennette Bradley |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Boyce |
| Treasurer of Franklin County | |
| In office December 9, 2002 – January 8, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Wade Steen |
| Succeeded by | Ed Leonard |
| 1st Solicitor General of Ohio | |
| In office September 19, 1993 – January 6, 1995 |
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| Governor | George Voinovich |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Jeffrey Sutton |
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 33rd district |
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| In office January 7, 1991 – December 31, 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Don Gilmore |
| Succeeded by | Priscilla Mead |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Richard Adams Cordray
May 3, 1959 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Peggy Cordray
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Michigan State University (BA) Brasenose College, Oxford (MA) University of Chicago (JD) |
Richard Cordray (born May 3, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician. From 2021 to 2024, he worked as the Chief Operating Officer for Federal Student Aid. This agency helps students get money for college. Before that, he was the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) from 2012 to 2017.
Cordray also held several important jobs in Ohio. He was Ohio's top lawyer (Attorney General), its chief legal officer (Solicitor General), and managed its money (Treasurer). In 2018, he ran for governor of Ohio. He left his role at Federal Student Aid in 2024.
Cordray grew up near Columbus, Ohio. He went to Michigan State University and then studied at Brasenose College, Oxford in England. He also attended the University of Chicago Law School. In 1987, he became a five-time champion on the TV game show Jeopardy!.
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Early Life and Education
Cordray was born in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in Grove City, Ohio. He went to public schools there. At Grove City High School, he was a champion on a high school quiz show. He also worked at McDonald's.
He graduated from high school in 1977 as a top student. He interned for Senator John Glenn while at Michigan State University. Cordray earned high honors and graduated in 1981. He then studied at Brasenose College, Oxford as a Marshall Scholar. He played on the Oxford University Men's Basketball Team. He later earned his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School in 1986.
Early Career in Law and Politics
After law school, Cordray worked as a law clerk for judges, including two Supreme Court of the United States Justices. This means he helped judges with their legal research and writing. He then worked at a law firm called Jones Day.
From 1989 to 2000, Cordray also taught law at Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and Georgetown University.
Ohio House of Representatives
In 1990, Cordray was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. He represented the 33rd district in Franklin County. He won against a long-time Republican lawmaker.
Ohio Solicitor General
In 1993, Ohio created a new job called the state solicitor general. This person handles the state's important legal cases, especially those going to the Ohio Supreme Court or the Supreme Court of the United States. Richard Cordray was the very first person appointed to this role.
During his time as Solicitor General, Cordray argued six cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. One famous case involved whether media could ride along with police during searches. He left this job in 1994. After that, he sometimes represented the federal government in Supreme Court cases.
Franklin County Treasurer
In 2002, Cordray was elected as the treasurer for Franklin County, Ohio. This job involves managing the county's money. He was the first Democrat to hold this position since 1977. He was reelected in 2004.
As county treasurer, Cordray focused on collecting unpaid taxes and teaching people about personal finance. He managed a large amount of money for the county. In 2005, he was named the national County Leader of the Year by a magazine.
State-Level Leadership
Ohio Treasurer
In 2006, Cordray was elected as the Treasurer of Ohio. This is a statewide position where he managed the state's finances. He won with 58% of the vote. He took office when Ohio was working to rebuild public trust in its government.
Ohio Attorney General
In 2008, Cordray ran for Ohio state attorney general. This is the state's top lawyer, responsible for enforcing laws. He won the election with 57% of the vote.
During his time as Attorney General, Cordray took on important cases. He filed a lawsuit against Bank of America Corporation on behalf of Ohio's public employee pension funds. The lawsuit claimed the bank misled investors about its finances during a big merger. He also reached a large settlement with American International Group (AIG) in a case about business practices.
In 2010, Cordray ran for reelection but lost to Mike DeWine.
National Roles
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2012–2017)
In 2010, Richard Cordray was chosen to help lead the new United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This agency was created to protect consumers in the financial world. It makes sure banks and other financial companies follow the rules.
In 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Cordray to be the head of the entire CFPB. After some debate in the Senate, Cordray was confirmed as the first director in 2013.
As director, Cordray helped the CFPB grow into a large agency. It created new rules for home loans and credit cards to protect people. The CFPB also fined banks for unfair fees. During his time, the agency helped return nearly $12 billion to 29 million consumers. Cordray resigned from the CFPB in 2017.
Federal Student Aid
On May 3, 2021, Cordray was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of Federal Student Aid. This agency is part of the Department of Education. It is the largest provider of financial aid for students in the United States.
Federal Student Aid helps over 10 million students each year with grants, loans, and work-study money. It also manages a huge amount of student loan debt. Under Cordray, the agency improved loan forgiveness programs. This led to $127 billion in student loan debt being canceled for 3.6 million families. The agency also worked to stop schools that cheat students.
Personal Life
Richard Cordray is married to Peggy Cordray, who is a law professor. They have twins, a daughter and a son, and live near Grove City, Ohio. His mother was a social worker who started Ohio's first foster grandparent program for people with disabilities.
In 1996, Richard Cordray carried the Olympic Flame through Findlay, Ohio. This was part of the torch relay for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2020, Cordray wrote a book called Watchdog, about his time leading the CFPB.
Appearances on Jeopardy!
Cordray is famous for being an undefeated five-time champion on the TV game show Jeopardy! He won $45,303 from the show in 1987. He used the money to pay off his law school debt, pay taxes, and buy a used car. He also competed in the Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades tournament in 2014.
Images for kids
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Cordray's first official portrait at CFPB
