Tony Rodham facts for kids

Anthony Dean Rodham (born August 8, 1954 – died June 7, 2019) was an American businessman and consultant. He was the youngest brother of Hillary Clinton and the brother-in-law of former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Early Life and Education

Anthony Rodham was born on August 8, 1954. He grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois, a suburb, in a United Methodist family. His father, Hugh Ellsworth Rodham, managed a successful textile business. His mother, Dorothy Emma Howell, was a homemaker. Anthony was the younger brother of Hillary and Hugh.

He went to Maine South High School in Park Ridge. Anthony was known as a "fun-loving jock" and was not as focused on academics as his older sister.

After high school, he attended Iowa Wesleyan College and the University of Arkansas. However, he did not complete a degree at either school.

Career Journey

Starting Out in Business

Anthony Rodham helped with Bill Clinton's political campaign for Congress in 1974. Later, he worked in various jobs. He worked at a metal equipment company in Texas and sold insurance in Chicago. He also worked as a repossessor and a prison guard. Bill Clinton helped him get the prison guard job.

In 1983, he moved to South Florida. There, he lived with his brother Hugh. He worked as a process server and a private detective until 1992.

Working with the Democratic Party

In 1992, during Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign, Anthony Rodham started working for the Democratic National Committee. He helped connect the campaign with different groups of people.

In 1993, he and his brother Hugh tried to get companies to donate money for President Clinton's inauguration parties. They stopped after people raised concerns about it.

By 1994, Rodham left his job at the Democratic National Committee. He described himself as a "consultant" who helped people make deals and solve problems in various businesses.

International Business and Concerns

In the late 1990s, Anthony Rodham tried to set up meetings for foreign leaders with President Bill Clinton. He tried to arrange meetings for the President of Paraguay, Juan Carlos Wasmosy, and the mayor of Moscow, Yury Luzhkov. He also visited Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia. Some people worried that he was making it seem like the White House approved of these foreign figures. They also worried he was trying to make money for himself.

In 1999, Anthony and his brother Hugh started a large business project. They planned to grow and export hazelnuts from the country of Georgia. However, U.S. officials became concerned. Their business partner in Georgia was a political opponent of the Georgian President, who was an important U.S. ally. After discussions, the Rodham brothers decided to drop the deal.

These situations led some White House staff to call Anthony and Hugh "the Brothers Rodham." This was a playful way to refer to relatives of presidents who sometimes caused minor issues.

Later Business Ventures

In 2001, it was found that Anthony Rodham had helped a couple get a presidential pardon from Bill Clinton. The couple had been convicted of bank fraud. Anthony said he did not get paid for his help. However, he did have business ties to the couple. This caused some public discussion, especially after his brother Hugh was also involved in similar pardon efforts.

By the early 2010s, Anthony Rodham faced financial difficulties. He had tried several business ideas that didn't work out, including ventures in oil, gas, water, and housing. He mentioned that while the Clintons had helped him in the past, that support had ended.

However, Bill Clinton later helped him get a job with Terry McAuliffe. This job involved finding foreign investors for McAuliffe's company, GreenTech Automotive. Anthony also became president and CEO of Gulf Coast Funds Management, a financing firm, around 2010. This firm helped foreign investors get special visas.

In 2015, a report looked into the GreenTech Automotive matter. It criticized a government official for appearing to show favoritism. However, it did not make specific judgments about Anthony Rodham or Terry McAuliffe. Anthony also worked for another investment fund, Global City Regional Center. He helped them find foreign investors for a project in Philadelphia Chinatown.

After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Anthony Rodham and some partners suggested a plan to rebuild homes in Haiti. They hoped to get funding from the Clinton Foundation. This deal did not go forward. In 2013, he joined the advisory board of VCS Mining, a company planning a gold mine in Haiti. The project became controversial due to environmental concerns. Anthony stated that he earned his position through his own skills, not just because of his family. He resigned from the board in 2016.

During Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, Anthony and Hugh appeared with her at a rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He generally kept a low profile during the campaign.

In 2017, McAuliffe and Rodham faced a lawsuit from Chinese investors in GreenTech Automotive. The investors claimed fraud. However, in 2018, a judge dismissed the case against both McAuliffe and Rodham. An appeals court upheld this decision in 2019.

Personal Life and Passing

Anthony Rodham met Nicole Boxer at a party in East Hampton, New York in 1992. They started dating and married on May 28, 1994, at the White House. About 250 guests attended the wedding. They had one son, Zachary, born in 1995. Anthony and Nicole separated around 2000 and divorced in 2001. Despite the divorce, both families continued to be involved in Zachary's life.

In the summer of 2005, Anthony Rodham married Megan Madden in Vienna, Virginia. They had two children, Simon and Fiona. The family settled in Vienna, Virginia.

Anthony Rodham passed away on June 7, 2019, at the age of 64. His sister, Hillary Clinton, announced his death on social media the next day. The cause of his death was not publicly shared.