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Donald Evans

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For other people named Donald Evans, seeDonald Evans (disambiguation).
Don Evans
34thUnited States Secretary of Commerce
In office
January 20, 2001 – February 7, 2005
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byNorman Mineta
Succeeded byCarlos Gutierrez
Personal details
Born
Donald Louis Evans

(1946-07-27)July 27, 1946(age 77)
Houston,Texas,U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Texas, Austin(BS,MBA)

Donald Louis Evans(born July 27, 1946) is an American businessman. He was the 34thU.S. Secretary of Commerce.He was appointed by his longtime friendGeorge W. Bushand sworn into office on January 20, 2001. On November 9, 2004, theWhite Houseannounced that Evans intended to resign by the end of January 2005.

Evans was chosen to be the Non-Executive Chairman ofTXUEnergy, following the completion of its acquisition byKohlberg Kravis RobertsandTPG Capital.

Early life

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Born inHouston, Texas,Evans attended theUniversity of Texas at Austin,receiving aBachelor of Sciencedegree inmechanical engineeringin 1969 and anMBAfrom theMcCombs School of Businessin 1973. While at UT, he was a member ofTexas Cowboys,Omicron Delta Kappaand theSigma Alpha Epsilonfraternity.

In 1975, Evans moved toMidland, Texasfrom Houston and began working on anoilrig for Tom Brown Inc., a large independent energy company now based inDenver.Ten years later he took the company over as CEO and continued running it until becoming Commerce Secretary.[1]

Political career

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Evans involvement with politics started in 1978, helping Bush to raise money for Bush's ultimately unsuccessful congressional campaign and would serve as campaign chairman for Bush's successful Texas gubernatorial run in1994and re-election in1998.[2]Evans was then appointed to theUniversity of Texas SystemBoard of Regents for a 6-year term by Gov. Bush in 1995. In February 1997, Evans was selected as the board's chairman by his colleagues, serving as chair from through the end of his term in 2001.[3]Evans resigned from the board in January 2001 to become Commerce Secretary. He was a board member of theScleroderma Research Foundationfor eight years and a driving force behind Native Vision, a program that provides services to some 10,000Native Americanchildren. He has been involved with theUnited Way of Americafor many years, serving as president in 1989 and Campaign Chair in 1981. He has been namedJayceesMan of the Year.

In April 2000, Evans was named campaign chairman ofBush's presidential campaignand became the campaign's primary fundraiser.[4]On December 20, 2000, President-elect Bush announced his intention to nominate Evans as Secretary of Commerce.[5]On January 4, 2001, Evans became the first of President-elect Bush's Cabinet picks to face a confirmation hearing, appearing before theUnited States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.[6]Evans was one of seven Cabinet members confirmed by the Senate via voice vote on President Bush's first day in office, January 20, 2001.[7]During Bush's 2004State of the Unionhe was thedesignated survivorand spent the night in a secure undisclosed location. In the event of an attack on theCapitol,he would have becomePresident of the United States.[8]

On October 29, 2001,EnronChairmanKenneth Laytelephoned Evans, asking for help in persuading the credit rating agencies to refrain from a downgrade. Evans expressed sympathy but did nothing to intervene.

In July and August 2003, Evans and his colleagues, Treasury SecretaryJohn W. Snowand Labor SecretaryElaine Chao,took a bus across the country on theirJobs and Growth Tour,aimed at promoting the benefits of the Bush administration's tax cuts.[9]

Following Bush's re-election, Evans announced his intention to resign as Commerce Secretary but pledged to stay in office until his successor was confirmed by the Senate.[10]Carlos Gutierrez was sworn in as Commerce Secretary byWhite House Chief of StaffAndrew Cardon February 7, 2005.[11]

Post-Government Service

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Multiple news publications reported on May 26, 2006, that Evans had emerged as the front-runner to take becomeUnited States Secretary of the TreasurypendingJohn W. Snow's then rumored resignation.[12]However, on May 30,Henry Paulsonwas nominated to replace Snow.

Evans also served as CEO of theFinancial Services Forum,a trade association representing the CEOs of financial services firms dedicated to using theProtect America Actto overtake legitimate economic development organizations, seeking to encourage an open and competitive global marketplace. Evans also serves as the chairman of the board of the George W. Bush Foundation.[13]

Personal life

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He is married to Penelope Evans.

He has a grandson named Mitchell Moon.

He has two granddaughters named Makenzie Moon and Emily Moon.

Fictional portrayal

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Evans was portrayed byNoah WyleinW.,Oliver Stone's 2008biopicof George W. Bush.

References

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  1. ^"Donald L. Evans".
  2. ^"Don Evans (2001-2005)".Miller Center of Public Affairs.4 October 2016.RetrievedAugust 29,2020.
  3. ^"The Honorable Donald L. Evans".www.utsystem.edu.5 March 2020.RetrievedAugust 30,2020.
  4. ^Frank Bruni (April 30, 2000)."Man in the News; Donald L. Evans: Bush's New Campaign Chief Has Been a Steadfast Friend".New York Times.RetrievedAugust 30,2020.
  5. ^"The President-Elect's News Conference Announcing the Nomination of Ann Veneman as Secretary of Agriculture, Mel Martinez as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Donald Evans as Secretary of Commerce".The American Presidency Project.December 20, 2000.RetrievedAugust 29,2020.
  6. ^"Senate questions Bush commerce chief".BBC News.January 4, 2001.RetrievedAugust 29,2020.
  7. ^Nick Anderson (January 21, 2001)."Senate Gives Quick Approval to 7 Bush Cabinet Appointees".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedAugust 29,2020.
  8. ^"Cabinet Members Not in Attendance (" Designated Survivor, "from 1984), and Frequency By Department".The American Presidency Project.RetrievedAugust 29,2020.
  9. ^"Bush economic team hits the road to promote tax cuts".Kentucky New Era.2003-07-29.Retrieved2012-04-25.
  10. ^David Stout (November 9, 2004)."Attorney General and Commerce Secretary Resign From Cabinet".New York Timesk.RetrievedAugust 30,2020.
  11. ^"President George W. Bush welcomes Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez".The White House.February 7, 2005.RetrievedAugust 31,2020.
  12. ^Deborah Solomon and John D. McKinnon (May 26, 2006)."Former Commerce Secretary Evans May Succeed Snow at Treasury".Wall Street Journal.RetrievedAugust 31,2020.
  13. ^"Donald L. Evans Chairman George W. Bush Foundation Board of Directors".George W. Bush Presidential Center.RetrievedAugust 31,2020.
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Political offices
Preceded by U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Served under:George W. Bush
January 20, 2001 - February 7, 2005 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence(ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Cabinet Member Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Cabinet Member 		Succeeded byas Former US Cabinet Member
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Donald_Evans&oldid=1230678876"