Lieutenant Bob Peeler Name David Beasley Nationality American Role Political figure | Spouse(s) Mary Wood Payne Succeeded by Jim Hodges Profession Politician | |
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Full Name David Muldrow Beasley Born February 26, 1957 (age 67)
Darlington, South Carolina ( 1957-02-26 ) Children Mary Hunter
Sarah Catherine
David, Jr.,
Samuel Ross Alma mater University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina School of Law Residence Society Hill, South Carolina, United States Education University of South Carolina, Clemson University, University of South Carolina School of Law Political party Republican Party, Democratic Party Similar People Jim Hodges, Carroll A Campbell - Jr, Ernest Hollings, Nikki Haley, Nick Theodore | ||
Preceded by Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. | ||
Civil rights ride 2013 david beasley former governor of south carolina
David Muldrow Beasley (born February 26, 1957) is an American politician who is the Executive Director of the U.N. World Food Programme. Beasley served one term as the 113th Governor of South Carolina from 1995 until 1999, as a member of the Republican Party.
Contents
- Civil rights ride 2013 david beasley former governor of south carolina
- Full speech by wfp executive director david beasley at prayer breakfast
- Early political career
- Governor
- Post Governor
- Personal life
- References
Beasley, a native of Lamar, South Carolina, began his political career as a member of the Democratic Party, but switched to the Republican Party in September 1991, three years before his election as governor. His first run for public office came in 1978, when, as a 21-year-old junior attending Clemson University, he unexpectedly won a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He later graduated from the University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Full speech by wfp executive director david beasley at prayer breakfast
Early political career
Beasley served as a member of the House from 1979 until 1995, rising through the party ranks to become Majority Whip. He served as the youngest Speaker pro tempore and Majority Leader in the nation, being elected to the position from 1987–1989. It was during the 1991–92 legislative session that Beasley switched to the Republican Party. During the 1994 election for governor, both Beasley and his Democratic opponent Lieutenant Governor Nick Theodore had tough primary fights within their own respective parties. Beasley, however, beat his toughest competitor, former Congressman and State Senator Arthur Ravenel, Jr., in both the primary and run-off, and went on to win the general election by a narrow margin of 50%–48%.
Governor
During his term as governor, Beasley was known for injecting his Christian faith into the public discourse.
In 1998, Beasley was defeated in his bid for re-election by Democrat Jim Hodges, 53-45 percent. There are several reasons for Beasley's surprising loss in a state that has since become heavily Republican.
First, owners of video poker machines, which were legal in South Carolina at the time, poured millions of dollars into advertisements attacking Beasley for trying to ban video poker. Second, Beasley changed his position on keeping the Confederate flag on top of the Capitol. He ordered it moved to a place nearby on the capitol grounds. Many descendents of those who fought in the Confederate Army remembered this supposed "flip-flop" on Election Day, and simply stayed home. Third, Beasley opposed a proposal for the state to support all-day kindergarten, a decision which cost him Democratic votes
Post Governor
Following his term as governor, Beasley was invited as a fellow at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2003, Beasley was awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award by U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) for his controversial request to the South Carolina legislature to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina state house dome.
In 2004, the former governor unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate. Beasley lost the Republican nomination to Congressman Jim DeMint of Greenville, South Carolina.
In April 2005, Governor Beasley, along with his administration's former Chief Legal Counsel, Henry Deneen, incorporated the Center for Global Strategies, Ltd (CGS). CGS focuses on developmental initiatives in the non-integrated world. Governor Beasley serves as the Chairman of the Board.
In 2007, Beasley endorsed Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries.
In 2010, Beasley endorsed Henry McMaster in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primaries.
In 2011, Beasley became a member of the board of the Peace Research Endowment.
In February 2017, United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley nominated Beasley to be the next Executive Director of the World Food Programme. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization José Graziano da Silva appointed Beasley to the post in March 2017, saying the former governor brought "extensive experience with key governmental and business leaders and stakeholders around the world, with very strong resource mobilisation skills."
Personal life
Beasley is married to the former Mary Wood Payne and is the father of four children. Beasley currently resides in Society Hill, South Carolina, located in Darlington County.