Edward T. Schafer
Encyclopedia
Edward Thomas "Ed" Schafer (born August 8, 1946) served as the 29th United States Secretary of Agriculture
from 2008 to 2009. He also served as the 30th Governor of North Dakota
from 1992 to 2000.
, and is the son of businessman Harold Schafer
. His sister, Pam Schafer, was the first wife of Democratic-NPL U.S. Senator Kent Conrad
.
His educational background includes a bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota
, where he was a member of Sigma Nu
fraternity, and an M.B.A.
from the University of Denver
. Following graduation, he went to work at the Gold Seal Company, a North Dakota
-based manufacturing company owned by his father, eventually serving as company president from 1978 to 1985.
He is married to the former Nancy Jones and has two children: Tom Schafer and Ellie Schafer; and two stepchildren: Eric Jones and Kari Jones. He is the first North Dakota Governor to be married while in office. Schafer has also played an active role in the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation an organization which preserves the landmarks and legacy of the time that US 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt
spent in and around Medora, North Dakota
, between 1883 to 1889.
Ed was the captain of the "High Flyers" on the Discovery Channel
TV show Junkyard Wars. Schafer was on during the fifth season of the show and won 2nd Place when the team lost to the "Jet Doctors" in the Season Five finale.
's reelection bid capturing 35% of the vote, to Dorgan's 65%. He was elected as North Dakota's 30th Governor in 1992, and subsequently won reelection in 1996. He did not seek reelection in 2000. During his final year in office, he served as Chairman of the Republican Governors Association
.
In 1995 Schafer served as the Chairman of the Midwestern Governors Association
.
In 2004, he declined to run for United States Senate against Dem-NPLer Byron Dorgan
despite calls from national Republican leaders including then-President George W. Bush
.
In 2002, Schafer was appointed as Civilian Aide to the United States Secretary of the Army
. He also appeared in 2003 with his team, The High Flyers, as a contestant in the American TV Series Junkyard Wars. Schafer was formerly the CEO of Extend America, a start-up wireless communications company. He was a frequent guest host of the "Hot Talk" program on WDAY-AM
in Fargo, North Dakota
. Prior to his appointment to the cabinet, Schafer also served as an advisor and sometimes spokesperson for the North Dakota chapter of Americans for Prosperity
, a nationwide limited-government/pro-growth organization.
Since Americans for Prosperity pulled out of North Dakota, Schafer has been supporting the North Dakota Taxpayers' Association as an advisor and keynote speaker.
so that Schafer could attend the State of the Union address
as a cabinet member. The hearing was held on January 24; it was friendly, with Senators asking Gov. Schafer questions on various topics such as US beef exports to Japan
and South Korea
, the Department of Agriculture's ability to deliver on programs passed by Congress, policy on sugar, and cotton prices. On January 28, he was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Schafer was in office just several days when a major scandal concerning cruelty and unsafe food erupted in the wake of an investigation of the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company
by the Humane Society of the United States
. In late February, in testimony before a subcommittee of the Senate Agriculture Committee, he took the position that there was no need for a ban on downed cattle
in the food supply.
United States Secretary of Agriculture
The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
from 2008 to 2009. He also served as the 30th Governor of North Dakota
Governor of North Dakota
The Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the right to sign and laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly, into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The...
from 1992 to 2000.
Early life, career, and family
Schafer was born and raised in Bismarck, North DakotaBismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
, and is the son of businessman Harold Schafer
Harold Schafer
Harold Schafer was a North Dakota businessman who founded the Gold Seal Company, the original maker of Mr. Bubble bubble bath...
. His sister, Pam Schafer, was the first wife of Democratic-NPL U.S. Senator Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party...
.
His educational background includes a bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
, where he was a member of Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
fraternity, and an M.B.A.
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
. Following graduation, he went to work at the Gold Seal Company, a North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
-based manufacturing company owned by his father, eventually serving as company president from 1978 to 1985.
He is married to the former Nancy Jones and has two children: Tom Schafer and Ellie Schafer; and two stepchildren: Eric Jones and Kari Jones. He is the first North Dakota Governor to be married while in office. Schafer has also played an active role in the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation an organization which preserves the landmarks and legacy of the time that US 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
spent in and around Medora, North Dakota
Medora, North Dakota
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males...
, between 1883 to 1889.
Ed was the captain of the "High Flyers" on the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
TV show Junkyard Wars. Schafer was on during the fifth season of the show and won 2nd Place when the team lost to the "Jet Doctors" in the Season Five finale.
Governor of North Dakota
In 1990, Schafer unsuccessfully challenged then-U.S. Congressman Byron DorganByron Dorgan
Byron Leslie Dorgan is a former United States Senator from North Dakota and is now a senior policy advisor for a Washington, DC law firm. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party. In the Senate, he was Chairman of the Democratic...
's reelection bid capturing 35% of the vote, to Dorgan's 65%. He was elected as North Dakota's 30th Governor in 1992, and subsequently won reelection in 1996. He did not seek reelection in 2000. During his final year in office, he served as Chairman of the Republican Governors Association
Republican Governors Association
The Republican Governors Association is a Washington, D.C.-based 527 organization founded in 1963, consisting of U.S. state and territorial governors affiliated with the Republican Party.Its Democratic Party counterpart is the Democratic Governors Association...
.
In 1995 Schafer served as the Chairman of the Midwestern Governors Association
Midwestern Governors Association
The Midwestern Governors Association is a 501 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings together the Midwestern governors of states to work cooperatively on public policy issues of significance to the region. The MGA was created in December 1962 in Chicago, when articles of organization were...
.
In 2004, he declined to run for United States Senate against Dem-NPLer Byron Dorgan
Byron Dorgan
Byron Leslie Dorgan is a former United States Senator from North Dakota and is now a senior policy advisor for a Washington, DC law firm. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party. In the Senate, he was Chairman of the Democratic...
despite calls from national Republican leaders including then-President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
In 2002, Schafer was appointed as Civilian Aide to the United States Secretary of the Army
United States Secretary of the Army
The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official within the Department of Defense of the United States of America with statutory responsibility for all matters relating to the United States Army: manpower, personnel, reserve affairs, installations, environmental issues, weapons systems and...
. He also appeared in 2003 with his team, The High Flyers, as a contestant in the American TV Series Junkyard Wars. Schafer was formerly the CEO of Extend America, a start-up wireless communications company. He was a frequent guest host of the "Hot Talk" program on WDAY-AM
WDAY-AM
WDAY is North Dakota's first and oldest radio station, having signed on in 1922. It is an affiliate of the ABC Radio Network. Its parent company, Forum Communications, also owns ABC affiliate WDAY-TV 6 and The Forum newspaper in Fargo...
in Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
. Prior to his appointment to the cabinet, Schafer also served as an advisor and sometimes spokesperson for the North Dakota chapter of Americans for Prosperity
Americans for Prosperity
Americans for Prosperity is a Washington, D.C.–based political advocacy group. According to their literature, they promote economic policy that supports business, and restrains regulation by government...
, a nationwide limited-government/pro-growth organization.
Since Americans for Prosperity pulled out of North Dakota, Schafer has been supporting the North Dakota Taxpayers' Association as an advisor and keynote speaker.
Secretary of Agriculture
On October 31, 2007 Schafer was nominated by then-President George W. Bush to be the next Secretary of Agriculture. His hearing was originally scheduled for January 30, 2008, but was moved to January 24 on the request of North Dakota Sen. Kent ConradKent Conrad
Kent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party...
so that Schafer could attend the State of the Union address
State of the Union Address
The State of the Union is an annual address presented by the President of the United States to the United States Congress. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the president to outline his legislative agenda and his national priorities.The practice arises...
as a cabinet member. The hearing was held on January 24; it was friendly, with Senators asking Gov. Schafer questions on various topics such as US beef exports to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, the Department of Agriculture's ability to deliver on programs passed by Congress, policy on sugar, and cotton prices. On January 28, he was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Schafer was in office just several days when a major scandal concerning cruelty and unsafe food erupted in the wake of an investigation of the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company
Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company
Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company was a California-based meat packaging company. It was forced into bankruptcy due to costs from a meat recall and ensuing litigation.-2008 recall:...
by the Humane Society of the United States
Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States , based in Washington, D.C., is the largest animal advocacy organization in the world. In 2009, HSUS reported assets of over US$160 million....
. In late February, in testimony before a subcommittee of the Senate Agriculture Committee, he took the position that there was no need for a ban on downed cattle
Downer cow
A downer is an animal, usually livestock, that cannot stand on its own and therefore is to be killed. A downed animal, one that is unable to stand, is not necessarily a downer.The animal's inability to stand may be caused by illness or injury...
in the food supply.
Electoral history
- 1996 Race for Governor
- Ed Schafer (R) (inc.), 66%
- Lee Kaldor (D), 34%
- 1992 Race for Governor
- Ed Schafer (R), 58%
- Nick SpaethNicholas SpaethNicholas J. Spaeth was the 27th Attorney General of North Dakota, serving from 1985 to 1992. He lost the 1992 North Dakota governor's race to Republican Ed Schafer 58% to 41%. He is the only statewide, elected official not to be endorsed by the National Rifle Association in the history of the state...
(D), 41%
- 1990 Race for U.S. House of Representatives - At Large
- Byron DorganByron DorganByron Leslie Dorgan is a former United States Senator from North Dakota and is now a senior policy advisor for a Washington, DC law firm. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party. In the Senate, he was Chairman of the Democratic...
(D) (inc.), 65% - Ed Schafer (R), 35%
- Byron Dorgan