Tom Schweich
Encyclopedia
Thomas A. "Tom" Schweich is an American
politician
and lawyer
who has served as Coordinator for Counternarcotics and Justice Reform in Afghanistan
. While in that position, he was given the rank of Ambassador
by U.S. President George W. Bush
. In the 2010 election
in Missouri
, Schweich won the race for State Auditor
. He is also the author of Protect Yourself From Business Lawsuits (…and lawyers like me), Crashproof Your Life: A Comprehensive Three-Part Plan for Avoiding Financial Disasters, and Staying Power.
, and he obtained his law degree
from Harvard Law School
. After law school he joined the oldest law firm in Missouri, Bryan Cave
. As a partner at Bryan Cave, Schweich specialized in corporate compliance, which means that he helped to manage internal audits and investigations for large companies.
He wrote his first book, Protect Yourself From Business Lawsuits (…and lawyers like me), in 1998, and it became the best selling business law book on Amazon.com
. He wrote his second book, Crashproof Your Life: A Comprehensive Three-Part Plan for Avoiding Financial Disasters, and a follow up CD series, Protect Your Wealth, in 2002. He wrote his third book, Staying Power, in 2003. In the book, Schweich interviews forty very successful people in order to help people learn from their success. Before becoming state auditor, Scheich was a member of the Washington University faculty, where he taught law and foreign policy.
's investigation of the Waco incident. Danforth noticed Schweich because of his first book and because they were both lawyers at Bryan Cave. John Danforth later appointed him to be his chief of staff when he was the United States Ambassador to the United Nations
. Schweich also served as chief of staff to the next two ambassadors to the United Nations, Anne W. Patterson
and John R. Bolton
.
officer in the U.S. State Department. He directed four-thousand people, who were located in more than eighty countries, and he was given a budget of more than 2.5 billion dollars. From there he was appointed Coordinator for Counternarcotics and Justice Reform in Afghanistan. In this position, he was in charge of the effort to stop the illegal drug trade in Afghanistan. President George W. Bush gave him the rank of ambassador while he was in that position.
Allen Icet
. Prior to the primary results, Schweich was supported by Lieutenant Governor of Missouri Peter Kinder
, former Governor of Missouri John Ashcroft
, former Governor of Massachusetts
Mitt Romney
, four Missouri state senators, and two former United States ambassadors. Schweich was able to win the primary with 58.6% of the vote. He faced incumbent
and Democratic nominee Susan Montee
in the general election. Schweich defeated Montee on November 2, 2010, with a 51% to 46% margin of victory. He is the first man to head the Missouri State Auditor's office since James Antonio
in 1984.
, decided to run for reelection as Lieutenant Governor of Missouri instead.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who has served as Coordinator for Counternarcotics and Justice Reform in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. While in that position, he was given the rank of Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
by U.S. 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 the 2010 election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Schweich won the race for State Auditor
State auditor
State auditors are executive officers of U.S. states who serve as auditors and comptrollers for state funds....
. He is also the author of Protect Yourself From Business Lawsuits (…and lawyers like me), Crashproof Your Life: A Comprehensive Three-Part Plan for Avoiding Financial Disasters, and Staying Power.
Early life, education, and legal career
Tom Schweich is a fifth generation Missourian and a graduate of Missouri's public school system. Schweich earned his undergraduate degree from Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, and he obtained his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. After law school he joined the oldest law firm in Missouri, Bryan Cave
Bryan Cave
Bryan Cave LLP is an international law firm with twenty-one offices worldwide, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.- Overview :The international law firm Bryan Cave LLP dates back to 1873 in St. Louis. Founded in 1873 in St. Louis as King, Phillips and Stewart, the firm became Stewart, Bryan,...
. As a partner at Bryan Cave, Schweich specialized in corporate compliance, which means that he helped to manage internal audits and investigations for large companies.
He wrote his first book, Protect Yourself From Business Lawsuits (…and lawyers like me), in 1998, and it became the best selling business law book on Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
. He wrote his second book, Crashproof Your Life: A Comprehensive Three-Part Plan for Avoiding Financial Disasters, and a follow up CD series, Protect Your Wealth, in 2002. He wrote his third book, Staying Power, in 2003. In the book, Schweich interviews forty very successful people in order to help people learn from their success. Before becoming state auditor, Scheich was a member of the Washington University faculty, where he taught law and foreign policy.
Chief of Staff
Tom Schweich started his civil service career in 1999, when he was named chief of staff of former U.S. Senator John DanforthJohn Danforth
John Claggett "Jack" Danforth is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former Republican United States Senator from Missouri. He is an ordained Episcopal priest. Danforth is married to Sally D. Danforth and has five adult children.-Education and early career:Danforth was born...
's investigation of the Waco incident. Danforth noticed Schweich because of his first book and because they were both lawyers at Bryan Cave. John Danforth later appointed him to be his chief of staff when he was the United States Ambassador to the United Nations
United States Ambassador to the United Nations
The United States Ambassador to the United Nations is the leader of the U.S. delegation, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. The position is more formally known as the "Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador...
. Schweich also served as chief of staff to the next two ambassadors to the United Nations, Anne W. Patterson
Anne W. Patterson
Anne Woods Patterson is an American diplomat and career Foreign Service Officer. She currently serves as the United States Ambassador to Egypt. She previously served as acting United States Ambassador to the United Nations in 2005 and as United States Ambassador to Pakistan from July 2007 to...
and John R. Bolton
John R. Bolton
John Robert Bolton is an American lawyer and diplomat who has served in several Republican presidential administrations. He served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations from August 2005 until December 2006 on a recess appointment...
.
Bush administration
In 2005, Schweich became the second highest ranking international law enforcementInternational law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
officer in the U.S. State Department. He directed four-thousand people, who were located in more than eighty countries, and he was given a budget of more than 2.5 billion dollars. From there he was appointed Coordinator for Counternarcotics and Justice Reform in Afghanistan. In this position, he was in charge of the effort to stop the illegal drug trade in Afghanistan. President George W. Bush gave him the rank of ambassador while he was in that position.
Missouri Auditor
In 2010, Schweich sought and won the Republican nomination for Missouri State Auditor. He faced a tough primary battle against Missouri State RepresentativeMissouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
Allen Icet
Allen Icet
Allen Icet is a Republican that represents Missouri's 84th district, a portion of Saint Louis County, in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to the House in November 2002. Icet has served as Missouri House budget chair since 2005.-Education:Icet received a Bachelor’s of Science...
. Prior to the primary results, Schweich was supported by Lieutenant Governor of Missouri Peter Kinder
Peter Kinder
Peter D. Kinder is an American politician from the U.S. state of Missouri. He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Missouri in 2004 as Matt Blunt was elected Governor. Kinder was reelected in 2008 at the same time Jay Nixon was elected Governor. Kinder is a member of the Republican Party...
, former Governor of Missouri John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
, former Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
, four Missouri state senators, and two former United States ambassadors. Schweich was able to win the primary with 58.6% of the vote. He faced incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
and Democratic nominee Susan Montee
Susan Montee
Susan Montee is an American politician from the U.S. state of Missouri who served as the State Auditor of Missouri. She won the election in November 2006 and was sworn into her position on January 4, 2007. She is the third woman in succession to serve as State Auditor of Missouri. She succeeded...
in the general election. Schweich defeated Montee on November 2, 2010, with a 51% to 46% margin of victory. He is the first man to head the Missouri State Auditor's office since James Antonio
James Antonio
James F. Antonio served as state auditor of the U.S. state of Missouri. A Republican from Cole County, he served from 1978 until his resignation in mid-1984.-References:...
in 1984.
Potential Gubernatorial Bid
In November 2011 Schweich began to consider a bid for Governor of Missouri after the front runner, Peter KinderPeter Kinder
Peter D. Kinder is an American politician from the U.S. state of Missouri. He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Missouri in 2004 as Matt Blunt was elected Governor. Kinder was reelected in 2008 at the same time Jay Nixon was elected Governor. Kinder is a member of the Republican Party...
, decided to run for reelection as Lieutenant Governor of Missouri instead.