Don Sundquist
Encyclopedia
Donald Kenneth Sundquist (born March 15, 1936) is a former governor and congressman from Tennessee. A Republican
, he served as the 47th Governor of Tennessee from 1995 to 2003. Prior to that, he represented Tennessee's 7th congressional district
in the United States House of Representatives
from 1983 to 1995.
descent, was born in Moline, Illinois
, graduated from Moline High School
in 1953 and attended Augustana College
in Rock Island, Illinois
. In his early career, he sold class ring
s for Jostens
. He served in the United States Navy
from 1957 to 1963. Moving to Memphis, Tennessee
, he became very active in the Republican Party
. He chaired the Young Republican National Federation from 1971 to 1973 http://www.yrnf.com/index.cfm?&fuseaction=AboutUs.Main.
(1975–1977) http://www.shelbygop.org/history/. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
in 1976 and 1980. When 6th District Congressman Robin Beard
ran for the Senate
against incumbent Jim Sasser
in 1982, Sundquist ran for the Republican nomination to succeed Beard in the district, which had been renumbered the 7th in redistricting. He succeeded in winning the nomination in August, 1982, and then defeated Democrat
Bob Clement
, son of former governor Frank G. Clement
, in the November, 1982 general election by seven points. It was the first (and , only) time a Democrat had come within 10 points in the 7th District since it fell into Republican hands in 1972. (Clement later won election to the Nashville
-based 5th District in a 1988 special election and served there until 2003). He was unopposed for reelection in 1984 and was reelected four more times by landslide margins in what had become a solidly Republican district. While in Congress, Sundquist established a very conservative voting record in Congress, and was a darling of conservative-oriented groups such as the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the American Conservative Union
.
was prevented from seeking a third term in 1994 by term limit
s, Sundquist seemed like the logical choice for the GOP nomination and easily won it in August 1994. He faced Phil Bredesen
, the Democratic mayor of Nashville in November, and won by almost 10 points. The margin surprised many pundits who expected this to be one of the more competitive races of the 1994 cycle. It was a big night for Tennessee Republicans, who also captured both Senate seats. They also won a majority of the state's congressional delegation for only the second time since Reconstruction.
Sundquist's first term was highlighted by cleaning up a deficit budget inherited from his predecessor and for implementing one of the nation's first welfare reform efforts, moving tens of thousands of Tennesseans off welfare rolls. He attracted no serious opposition within his party for renomination in 1998. His Democratic opponent, Nashville attorney and entrepreneur John Jay Hooker
, was regarded at this stage in his career as a perennial candidate
and gadfly
rather than a serious contender, and Sundquist won reelection with almost 69% of the vote.
Immediately upon his reinauguration, Sundquist set out to raise more revenue for the state, which had traditionally been one of the lowest-tax jurisdictions in the country. His tax reform plan included a state income tax
, previously regarded as political suicide in Tennessee. He quickly offended most of his grassroots
base, and his popularity plummeted. Only certain elements in the business community supported him from the Republican Party, and many Tennessee Democrats, especially conservative rural ones, had no interest in either alienating their constituents or helping a Republican. The income tax issue dominated Sundquist's second term, but was never passed. Sundquist became very isolated politically, with many of his Democratic supporters doing so only because they wished to see the income tax implemented in a way in that the Republicans could be blamed for it. Several of his original conservative supporters, such as State Senator Marsha Blackburn
, led street demonstrations against him. Many leading figures in his own party publicly disavowed him.
Sundquist's tenure was known for its stellar economic development accomplishments, breaking nearly every economic development record of job creation and new capital investment in the state of Tennessee. .
Sundquist, like McWherter before him, was barred from running for a third term in 2002 by the state constitution. Unlike McWherter, however, he was so unpopular at the end of his term that it is highly unlikely he would have even won the Republican nomination, let alone reelection, had it been possible for him to run again. In an interesting twist, many Sundquist allies supported democratic candidate Phil Bredesen and this support is considered a major factor in Congressman Van Hilleary
's narrow loss to Bredesen in 2002.
In July 2005 Sundquist was named head of a national panel on improving Medicaid
. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Royal Confraternity of Sao Teotonio.
Sundquist is a lobbyist and works for the firm he co-founded, Sundquist Anthony. He also served as state co-chair of the John McCain
presidential campaign team. http://mediamatters.org/items/200802280001
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he served as the 47th Governor of Tennessee from 1995 to 2003. Prior to that, he represented Tennessee's 7th congressional district
Tennessee's 7th congressional district
The 7th Congressional District of Tennessee is a congressional district located in the middle and southwestern parts of the state, connecting suburbs of Memphis and Nashville. It is the state's wealthiest district in terms of per capita income, as well as the third largest in area.Cities in the...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1983 to 1995.
Early life
Sundquist, who is of SwedishSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
descent, was born in Moline, Illinois
Moline, Illinois
Moline is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States, with a population of 45,792 in 2010. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois and the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. The Quad Cities has a population of...
, graduated from Moline High School
Moline High School
Moline High School, or Moline, is a public four-year high school located in Moline, Illinois, a city in Rock Island County, in the United States...
in 1953 and attended Augustana College
Augustana College (Illinois)
Augustana College is a private liberal arts college located in Rock Island, Illinois, United States. The college enrolls approximately 2,500 students. Covering of hilly, wooded land, Augustana is adjacent to the Mississippi River...
in Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
. In his early career, he sold class ring
Class ring
A class ring is a ring worn by students and alumni in the United States and Canada to commemorate their graduation, generally for a high school, college, or university.-History:...
s for Jostens
Jostens
Jostens is an American company providing yearbooks and class rings for various high schools and colleges as well as championship rings for sports, including the Super Bowl rings....
. He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1957 to 1963. Moving to Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, he became very active in the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He chaired the Young Republican National Federation from 1971 to 1973 http://www.yrnf.com/index.cfm?&fuseaction=AboutUs.Main.
Career in Congress
Sundquist first attracted political attention when he served as chairman of the Shelby County Republican PartyShelby County Republican Party
The Shelby County Republican Party is the Republican political organization for Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. It has a long history of impacting politics in Shelby County long before the Republican Party was popular in the south....
(1975–1977) http://www.shelbygop.org/history/. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in 1976 and 1980. When 6th District Congressman Robin Beard
Robin Beard
Robin Leo Beard, Jr. was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee who served from 1973 to 1983.-Early life:...
ran for the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
against incumbent Jim Sasser
Jim Sasser
James Ralph "Jim" Sasser is an American politician and attorney. A Democrat, Sasser served three terms as a United States Senator from Tennessee and was Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee...
in 1982, Sundquist ran for the Republican nomination to succeed Beard in the district, which had been renumbered the 7th in redistricting. He succeeded in winning the nomination in August, 1982, and then defeated Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Bob Clement
Bob Clement
Robert Nelson "Bob" Clement is a Tennessee politician and a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life:Clement is the son of former Governor Frank G. Clement...
, son of former governor Frank G. Clement
Frank G. Clement
Frank Goad Clement served as Governor of Tennessee from 1953 to 1959, and again from 1963 to 1967.-Early life:...
, in the November, 1982 general election by seven points. It was the first (and , only) time a Democrat had come within 10 points in the 7th District since it fell into Republican hands in 1972. (Clement later won election to the Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
-based 5th District in a 1988 special election and served there until 2003). He was unopposed for reelection in 1984 and was reelected four more times by landslide margins in what had become a solidly Republican district. While in Congress, Sundquist established a very conservative voting record in Congress, and was a darling of conservative-oriented groups such as the National Federation of Independent Businesses and the American Conservative Union
American Conservative Union
The American Conservative Union is an American political organization advocating conservative policies, and is the oldest such conservative lobbying organization in the country.-Organization:...
.
Governor of Tennessee
When popular Democratic governor Ned McWherterNed McWherter
Ned Ray McWherter was an American politician who served as the 46th Governor of Tennessee from 1987 to 1995. He was a Democrat.McWherter was born in Palmersville, Weakley County, Tennessee...
was prevented from seeking a third term in 1994 by term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
s, Sundquist seemed like the logical choice for the GOP nomination and easily won it in August 1994. He faced Phil Bredesen
Phil Bredesen
Philip Norman "Phil" Bredesen Jr. was the 48th Governor of Tennessee, serving from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected Governor in 2002, and was re-elected in 2006. He previously served as the fourth mayor of Nashville and Davidson County from 1991 to...
, the Democratic mayor of Nashville in November, and won by almost 10 points. The margin surprised many pundits who expected this to be one of the more competitive races of the 1994 cycle. It was a big night for Tennessee Republicans, who also captured both Senate seats. They also won a majority of the state's congressional delegation for only the second time since Reconstruction.
Sundquist's first term was highlighted by cleaning up a deficit budget inherited from his predecessor and for implementing one of the nation's first welfare reform efforts, moving tens of thousands of Tennesseans off welfare rolls. He attracted no serious opposition within his party for renomination in 1998. His Democratic opponent, Nashville attorney and entrepreneur John Jay Hooker
John Jay Hooker
John Jay Hooker, Jr. is a Nashville, Tennessee attorney, entrepreneur, perennial candidate and political gadfly.- Early life :John Jay Hooker was born to relative wealth and privilege in one of the Nashville area's more prominent families...
, was regarded at this stage in his career as a perennial candidate
Perennial candidate
A perennial candidate is one who frequently runs for public office with a record of success that is infrequent, if existent at all. Perennial candidates are often either members of minority political parties or have political opinions that are not mainstream. They may run without any serious hope...
and gadfly
Gadfly (social)
A gadfly is a person who upsets the status quo by posing upsetting or novel questions, or just being an irritant. The term has been used to describe many politicians and social commentators....
rather than a serious contender, and Sundquist won reelection with almost 69% of the vote.
Immediately upon his reinauguration, Sundquist set out to raise more revenue for the state, which had traditionally been one of the lowest-tax jurisdictions in the country. His tax reform plan included a state income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
, previously regarded as political suicide in Tennessee. He quickly offended most of his grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
base, and his popularity plummeted. Only certain elements in the business community supported him from the Republican Party, and many Tennessee Democrats, especially conservative rural ones, had no interest in either alienating their constituents or helping a Republican. The income tax issue dominated Sundquist's second term, but was never passed. Sundquist became very isolated politically, with many of his Democratic supporters doing so only because they wished to see the income tax implemented in a way in that the Republicans could be blamed for it. Several of his original conservative supporters, such as State Senator Marsha Blackburn
Marsha Blackburn
Marsha Wedgeworth Blackburn is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. She is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches from the suburbs of Nashville to the suburbs of Memphis.-Early life, education and career:...
, led street demonstrations against him. Many leading figures in his own party publicly disavowed him.
Sundquist's tenure was known for its stellar economic development accomplishments, breaking nearly every economic development record of job creation and new capital investment in the state of Tennessee. .
Sundquist, like McWherter before him, was barred from running for a third term in 2002 by the state constitution. Unlike McWherter, however, he was so unpopular at the end of his term that it is highly unlikely he would have even won the Republican nomination, let alone reelection, had it been possible for him to run again. In an interesting twist, many Sundquist allies supported democratic candidate Phil Bredesen and this support is considered a major factor in Congressman Van Hilleary
Van Hilleary
William Vanderpool Hilleary, usually known as Van Hilleary is a Republican politician from Tennessee.-Early life and career:...
's narrow loss to Bredesen in 2002.
Post-Governorship
In retirement, rumor and innuendo swirled around his administration for several years. They intensified with the conviction of a former low-level member of his administration in May, 2004 for illegally routing a "no-bid" contract for job training for the unemployed to a close personal friend of his. On November 4, 2004, another friend of his was indicted, charged with false statements allegedly made in conjunction with another no-bid contract. This friend was ultimately sentenced for tax evasion. Another friend was indicted, but after five years of investigation, all charges were ultimately dropped and settled as a misdemeanor. In July 2005 a federal judge said Sundquist was the "impetus" for the investigation, although he was never implicated in any wrong doing nor were any senior members of his administration. It is generally believed that these allegations and innuendos stemmed from political enemies of the governor.In July 2005 Sundquist was named head of a national panel on improving Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the Royal Confraternity of Sao Teotonio.
Sundquist is a lobbyist and works for the firm he co-founded, Sundquist Anthony. He also served as state co-chair of the John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
presidential campaign team. http://mediamatters.org/items/200802280001