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• Former Iowa Democratic Governor Tom Vilsack was chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to be the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Obama made the announcement that Vilsack was his nominee for the Cabinet position on the morning of December 17, 2008.CNN: Obama picks ex-Iowa governor, Colorado senator for Cabinet Vilsack had been a rumored contender for the post since early October 2008.Newsmax: An Obama Cabinet? Here's a Picture (September 29, 2008) The senate confirmed Vilsack's appointment only hours after the inauguration on January 20, 2009.FOX News: Senate Confirms Obama Cabinet Secretaries (January 20, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Full Name: Thomas James Vilsack
  2. Born: December 13, 1950
  3. Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  4. Was orphaned at birth and adopted while still an infantWonkette: Meet America’s Next President: Guy From Iowa! (November 9, 2006)
  5. Political affiliation: Democratic Party
  6. Elected Mayor of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 1987, after his predecessor was murderedWonkette: Meet America’s Next President: Guy From Iowa! (November 9, 2006)
  7. Alma mater: Hamilton College (1972), Albany Law School (1975)
  8. Chosen as the Secretary of Agriculture for the Obama administrationCNN: Obama picks ex-Iowa governor, Colorado senator for Cabinet
  9. • 1999-2007
     : Governor of Iowa
  10. • 1992-1998
      : Iowa State SenatorCNN.com: Tom Vilsack
  11. • 1987-1992
      : Mayor of Mount Pleasant, IowaCNN.com: Tom Vilsack

• Background

  Tom Vilsack is the former two-term governor of Iowa. He was the first Democrat to announce a bid for the 2008 presidential nomination, in late 2006.FOX News: Tom Vilsack Announces 2008 Presidential Bid (November 30, 2006) The centerpiece of his brief campaign was a plan for the development of alternative energy sources.FOX News: Tom Vilsack Announces 2008 Presidential Bid (November 30, 2006) Vilsack dropped out of the race in February 2007, endorsing Hillary Clinton.Reuters: Iowa's Vilsack endorses Hillary Clinton (March 26, 2007)

• Quote

  "If we truly want this country to be strong and secure we need to be less reliant on foreign energy and regimes that want to do us harm. We need to create whole new industries, a whole new economy around energy security and we also have the opportunity to reclaim the moral high ground on issues of climate change and global warming and climate security which we clearly lost when we walked away from Kyoto."—Tom VilsackRolling Stone: I'm Tom Vilsack! Who the Hell Are You? (December 21, 2006)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Obama Cabinet | Iowa | Democratic Party | Obama Administration | USDA | Agriculture | Barack Obama | Hillary Rodham Clinton | Ann Veneman | Ken Salazar | Jackie Norris

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