Tom Vilsack Fast Facts
CNN Editorial Research
(CNN) — Here’s a look at the life of US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
Personal
Birth date: December 13, 1950
Birth place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Full name: Thomas James Vilsack
Father: Bud Vilsack
Mother: Dolly Vilsack
Marriage: Christie (Bell) Vilsack (1973-present)
Children: Jess and Doug
Education: Hamilton College, B.A., 1972; Albany Law School J.D., 1975
Other Facts
Was mentioned as a possible running mate for John Kerry during the 2004 presidential election process.
Adopted as an infant from an orphanage.
Ran for mayor of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, after his predecessor was shot and killed at a city council meeting.
Timeline
1975-1998 – Practices law.
1987-1992 – Mayor of Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
1992 – Elected to the Iowa Senate.
1994 – Wins reelection to the Iowa Senate.
1998 – Becomes the first Democrat elected governor of Iowa in more than 30 years.
January 15, 1999-January 12, 2007 – Governor of Iowa.
2004 – Chair of the Democratic Governors’ Association.
November 9, 2006 – Vilsack files a statement of candidacy to run for the White House in 2008.
February 23, 2007 – Drops out of the 2008 presidential race.
March 26, 2007 – Endorses Hillary Clinton and becomes co-chairman of her national campaign.
April 2007 – Joins Minneapolis-based international law firm Dorsey and Whitney as a managing partner.
December 17, 2008 – Is nominated by President-elect Barack Obama to be agriculture secretary.
January 21, 2009 – Is sworn in as the 30th secretary of the Department of Agriculture after a unanimous US Senate confirmation.
July 19, 2010 – Calls for the resignation of USDA official Shirley Sherrod after an excerpted video clip of Sherrod is posted online, in which Sherrod discusses an incident involving a White farmer. Vilsack contends that he made the decision without conferring with the White House.
July 21, 2010 – Vilsack apologizes to Sherrod after video of the full speech shows that her remarks from the clip were taken out of context. Vilsack offers Sherrod another job with the Department of Agriculture, which she later declines.
January 15, 2016 – President Obama names Vilsack his Cabinet-level point person to address the problem of heroin and other opiate use in rural communities.
January 13, 2017 – Vilsack steps down as agriculture secretary one week early.
February 1, 2017 – Becomes the president and CEO of the US Dairy Export Council.
April 10, 2017 – Colorado State University announces that Vilsack and his wife, Christie Vilsack, will join the university as advisers.
February 10, 2020 – Vilsack comes forward to claim the $150,000 Powerball prize he won on January 22 in the Iowa Lottery.
February 23, 2021 – The US Senate confirms Vilsack for a second stint as agriculture secretary by a vote of 92-7. Vilsack is sworn in on February 24.
April 9, 2022 – Vilsack, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, announces he has tested positive for Covid-19 and has “mild” symptoms.
April 24, 2024 – Vilsack announces new school food guidelines, including limits on added sugars.
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