Samuel K. Skinner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel K. Skinner
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Official portrait
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| 15th White House Chief of Staff | |
| In office December 16, 1991 – August 23, 1992 |
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| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Deputy | Andrew Card Henson Moore |
| Preceded by | John H. Sununu |
| Succeeded by | James Baker |
| 10th United States Secretary of Transportation | |
| In office February 6, 1989 – December 15, 1991 |
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| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Deputy | Elaine Chao |
| Preceded by | James Burnley |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Card |
| United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois | |
| In office 1975–1977 |
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| President | Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | James R. Thompson |
| Succeeded by | Thomas P. Sullivan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Samuel Knox Skinner
June 10, 1938 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Honey Jacobs |
| Children | 5 (including Jane) |
| Education | University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (BS) DePaul University (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1960–1961 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
Samuel Knox Skinner (born June 10, 1938) is an American politician, lawyer, and businessman. He held important roles in the United States government. Skinner served as the Secretary of Transportation and the White House Chief of Staff for President George H. W. Bush. Before working for President Bush, he was a United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. He was appointed to this role by President Gerald R. Ford in 1975.
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Early Life and Education
Samuel Skinner was born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 10, 1938. He grew up in Springfield, Illinois and Wheaton, Illinois. He finished high school in Wheaton in 1956.
He went to the University of Illinois and earned a degree in accounting in 1960. After college, he served in the United States Army as a lieutenant from 1960 to 1961. He then went to DePaul University Law School and graduated in 1966.
Skinner was an Eagle Scout when he was young. As an adult, he received special awards from the Boy Scouts of America.
Before his public service, Skinner worked for IBM from 1960 to 1968. He was recognized as an outstanding salesman. Even though he was offered a high position at IBM, he chose to work for the government instead.
Law Career
From 1968 to 1975, Skinner worked as an assistant United States Attorney. In 1975, President Gerald Ford appointed him as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. He was 37 years old at the time.
As a prosecutor, Skinner worked to fight against organized crime and dishonest government officials. In 1974, he helped successfully prosecute a federal judge. This was the first time a sitting federal appeals judge was found guilty of a federal crime.
After his time as U.S. Attorney, Skinner worked as a senior partner at a law firm in Chicago from 1977 to 1989. During this time, he also led the regional transportation authority for northeastern Illinois. This is the second-largest public transportation system in the country. President Reagan also appointed him to a commission that studied organized crime.
Working for President George H. W. Bush
Skinner became very active in Republican politics in Illinois. He helped George H. W. Bush in his presidential campaigns.
In December 1988, President Bush chose Skinner to be the Secretary of Transportation. The United States Senate approved his appointment, and he started the job in February 1989.
Secretary of Transportation
As Secretary of Transportation, Skinner was in charge of a large government department. It had a budget of over $30 billion and 105,000 employees. He helped create a national transportation plan for the President. He also helped pass important laws about air and ground transportation.
Skinner made rules that required buses to have wheelchair lifts. He also helped develop a law that improved transportation systems across the country. He created an "open skies" policy, which made it easier for international flights to come to and from the U.S.
He also helped the President during many emergencies. These included a major airline strike, a large oil spill, an earthquake, and a hurricane. Because of his work during these crises, people sometimes called him "the Master of Disaster."
White House Chief of Staff
In December 1991, Skinner became the White House Chief of Staff. This is a very important role, acting as the President's top aide. He helped the President carry out his plans for the country. Skinner served in this position until August 1992. He then left to work full-time on the President's re-election campaign.
After the Bush Administration
After leaving the White House, Skinner returned to Chicago. He became the president of Commonwealth Edison and Unicom Corporation from 1993 to 1998. These are large energy companies.
Later, he became co-chairman of a law firm. In 2000, he became the chairman, president, and CEO of US Freightways, a transportation company. He retired from that role in 2003.
Today, Skinner serves on the boards of several companies. These include Navigant Consulting, Echo Global Logistics, and Virgin America. He is also an advisor to Metalmark Capital. Since 2006, he has worked as a lawyer at the firm Greenberg Traurig.
From 2003 to 2008, Skinner taught management at Northwestern University. He also helps advise the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy. In 2020, Mayor Lori Lightfoot asked Skinner to lead a group helping Chicago recover from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Family Life
Samuel Skinner has five children. His son, Thomas Vernon Skinner, held a high position at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Another son, Steven Knox Skinner, is the CEO of a company that manages golf courses. His daughter, Jane Skinner Goodell, was a news anchor. She is married to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Skinner lives in Winnetka, Illinois, with his wife, Honey Jacobs Skinner. She is a retired lawyer. His niece by marriage is the actress Gillian Jacobs.
Awards and Honors
Skinner has received honorary degrees from George Washington University and Lake Forest College.
In 2017, he received the Order of Lincoln. This is the highest honor given by the state of Illinois. He was recognized for his work in government and law.
