Lamar Alexander

Announced the end of his presidential campaign on August 16, 1999, a day and a half after finishing sixth in the Iowa Straw Poll.

PROFILE

**Lamar Alexander, Republican, of Nashville, Tennessee**.
Current	Formally announced his candidacy on March 9, 1999 in Nashville, Tennessee. Co-director of Empower America.
Career	Post-1996 Campaign Chairman of Campaign for a New American Century, a federal/state PAC. CNAC funded Alexander's activities in 1997-98; it was formerly known as the Republican Fund for the Nineties. Chairman of We the Parents, a Virginia PAC formed in August 1998. Honorary chair of Republican Eagles, the RNC's $15-20,000 club, during the 1998 election cycle. Vice chairman of CorporateFamily Solutions, Inc. through mid-1998, when the company merged with Bright Horizons. (Alexander co-founded the company in 1987; by 1998 it managed worksite child-development centers and schools in 27 states). Chaired the National Commission on Philanthropy and Civic Renewal, Sept. 1996-June 1997. Through the 1996 Campaign Sought the 1996 Republican nomination for president--finished third in Iowa and in NH and withdrew from the race on March 6. From 1993-95 laid the groundwork for presidential bid (Republican Neighborhood Meeting) while at the law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman & Caldwell. Secretary of Education in the Bush administration, 1991-92. President of the University of Tennessee, 1988-91. Governor of Tennessee for two terms, 1979-86. Republican nominee for governor of Tennessee in 1974; lost to Democrat Ray Blanton. Founding partner in a law firm, 1970-76. Campaign manager for Gov. Winfield Dunn's 1970 campaign. Executive assistant in the White House Congressional Liaison Office, 1969-70. Legislative assistant to Sen. Baker, 1967-68. Helped run Howard Baker's 1966 campaign for U.S. Senate. Law clerk for Judge John Minor Wisdom.
Activities	Country and classical pianist. Has written, co-authored and edited seven books. Lamar Alexander's Little Plaid Book (1998); We Know What to Do (1995); The New Promise of American Life (co-edited with Chester Finn, 1995); Six Months Off (1988); Friends: Japanese and Tennesseans (with Robin Hood, 1986); Steps Along the Way (1986); and The Tennesseans (with Robin Hood and Barry Parker, 1981).
Education	Vanderbilt University, B.A. 1962. New York University, J.D. 1965.
Family	Wife Honey. Four children: Andrew, Leslee, Kathryn, William.
Religion	Presbyterian.
Age	59 years old. Born July 3, 1940 in Maryville, Tennessee.

Speeches

Press Conference announcing end of campaign at the Tennessee State Capitol, Nashville, TN--Aug. 16, 1999. >

"I seem to be attracting more attention getting out than I did getting in."

Iowa Straw Poll at Ames, IA--August 14, 1999. >

Alexander, speaking ninth of nine Republican candidates, delivered one of his best speeches of the campaign. However he withdrew less than two days later.

"First-in-the-Nation Primary Kick Off Dinner" at the Center of New Hampshire in Manchester, NH--May 2, 1999. >

This event drew eight of the Republican prospects; each delivered a seven minute speech.

Announcement Speech in the Old Supreme Court Chamber at the Tennessee State Capitol, Nashville, TN--March 9, 1999. >

Alexander outlined three goals: to fix public education; to improve family incomes by lowering taxes and securing Social Security; to Strengthen our national defense.

"Incentives Matter: A Supply-Side Argument for a Family Friendly Tax Code" at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, MA--September 8,1998. >

Alexander argued that rather than a flat tax or a national sales tax, what is needed is "a new, simpler code with two low rates that puts a higher value on the work of parents raising children."

Readings
Tom Dunkel. "Lamar?" George. August 1999.

Lamar Alexander. "Created Equal: The principles of racial reconciliation." Policy Review, November-December 1998. >

Books by Lamar Alexander
Lamar Alexander's Little Plaid Book--Rutledge Hill Press (Nashville, Tenn.), May 1998.

We Know What to Do: A Political Maverick Talks With America--William Morrow & Company, Oct. 1995.

The New Promise of American Life--co-edited with Chester Finn--Hudson Institute, June 1995.

Six Months Off: An American Family's Australian Adventure (1988).

Friends: Japanese and Tennesseans (with Robin Hood, 1986).

Steps Along the Way: A Governor's Scrapbook (1986).

The Tennesseans (with Robin Hood and Barry Parker, 1981).