David Beasley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 13th Executive Director of theWorld Food Programme | |
| In office April 4, 2017 – April 5, 2023 | |
| Secretary General | António Guterres |
| Preceded by | Ertharin Cousin |
| Succeeded by | Cindy McCain |
| 113thGovernor of South Carolina | |
| In office January 11, 1995 – January 13, 1999 | |
| Lieutenant | Bob Peeler |
| Preceded by | Carroll Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Jim Hodges |
| Member of theSouth Carolina House of Representatives from the 56th district | |
| In office January 9, 1981 – January 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Gary Byrd |
| Succeeded by | Denny Neilson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Muldrow Beasley (1957-02-26)February 26, 1957 (age 68) Lamar, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 1991) Republican (1991–present) |
| Spouse | Mary Wood Payne |
| Education | Clemson University (attended) University of South Carolina (BA,JD) |
David Muldrow Beasley (born February 26, 1957) is an American politician, law professor, and the former executive director of theUnited NationsWorld Food Programme.[1] A member of theRepublican Party, he served one term as the113th Governor of South Carolina from 1995 until 1999 before losing reelection toDemocratJim Hodges. He also served as astate representative from 1981 until 1995.
Beasley was born inLamar, South Carolina. He is the son of Richard Lee Beasley and Jacqueline (Blackwell) Beasley. He graduated from Lamar High School in 1975, then attended the Capitol Page School in Washington, DC while serving as apage in the U.S. Congress.[2]
Elected to theSouth Carolina House of Representatives at age 20, Beasley transferred from Clemson University to the University of South Carolina where he received a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies in 1979 and a J.D. from the School of Law in 1983.[3] Beasley was a member of the South Carolina House representing theSociety Hill area from 1979 until 1995, serving as majority whip from 1985 to 1986 and the majority leader from 1987 to 1989.[4] He served as the youngest Speakerpro tempore and majority leader in the nation.[5]
During the 1991–92 legislative session Beasley switched to the Republican Party.[6]
In the1994 gubernatorial election, both Beasley and his Democratic opponentLieutenant GovernorNick Theodore faced toughprimary opposition within their respective parties. Beasley defeated his toughest competitor, former congressman and state senatorArthur Ravenel Jr., in both the primary and run-off, and went on to win the general election by a narrow margin of 50% to 48%.[6]
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South Carolina had a strong economy while Beasley was governor, with unemployment at a record-low 3.5% in 1998.[7] Beasley often made known his Christ-centered beliefs and conservatism in a state known for its strong ties to Christianity and conservative politics.[8]
Beasley strongly opposed gambling, which was legal in South Carolina until 2002.[9] At the time, many gas stations, convenience stores, and poker "casinos" were established across the state, and as Beasley supported legislation that would outlaw gambling, the video poker industry generated "Ban Beasley" billboards and radio ads.[10]
Until 2000, theConfederate flag flew atop theSouth Carolina State House. It had been raised over the Capitol dome in celebration of the Civil War centennial. This celebration started in 1961 with the raising of the Army of Tennessee Battle Flag over the State House Dome. The Army of Tennessee Battle Flags were also displayed in the inner chambers of the SC Senate and SC House of Representatives.
Beasley initially supported the flag's presence but announced on statewide television in 1996 that he had reversed his decision and believed the flag should be relocated to a monument elsewhere on the grounds. He lost bid for re-election in the1998 gubernatorial election.[11] The flag was removed from the capitol dome in 2000 after Beasley left office. It was displayed on a pole in front of the statehouse until it was removed from the grounds in 2015 after theEmanuel Nine shooting.[12]
Beasley also faced allegations of having an affair with his former press secretary, Ginny Wolfe. Beasley refuted the claims, saying, "[My wife and I] both have been faithful to one another 100 percent."[13]
In the1998 South Carolina gubernatorial election, Beasley lost re-election to Democratic former state representativeJim Hodges by a large margin of 53% to 45%. Hodges took advantage of controversy and missteps made by Beasley, namely Beasley's indecisiveness on allowing the Confederate flag to fly at the state capitol and call to eliminate video poker while also blaming Beasley for the poor SAT scores and the low achievement levels by the students of the state. Donations from video gambling interests helped Hodges narrow a near million-dollar fundraising gap with Beasley.[8]
In 2000, after leaving office as governor, Beasley supported George W. Bush in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary.[14] He introduced Bush during a campaign speech at Bob Jones University, which drew controversy because of the fundamentalist school's anti-Catholic teaching and strict policy against interracial dating. Referring to Bush's anti-abortion stance, Beasley said Bush "shares our values."[15]
After his term as governor, Beasley was a fellow atHarvard Kennedy School. In 2003, he received theJohn F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award fromU.S. senatorTed Kennedy for his controversial request to the South Carolina legislature to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse dome.[16]
In 2004, Beasleyunsuccessfully ran for theUnited States Senate to replace retiring DemocratFritz Hollings. He lost the Republican nomination toCongressmanJim DeMint ofGreenville, South Carolina.[17] In April 2005, 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. Beasley is chairman of the board.[18]
In 2007, Beasley endorsedMike Huckabee in the2008 Republican presidential primaries.[19] In 2010, he endorsedHenry McMaster in the South Carolina Republican gubernatorial primaries.[20][21]
In January 2024, Beasley was made a Distinguished Professor of Practice and Public Service in the Department of Legal Studies at theUniversity of South Carolina'sJoseph F. Rice School of Law.[22]
In February 2017, United States Ambassador to theUnited NationsNikki Haley (also a former South Carolina governor) nominated Beasley to be the next executive director of theWorld Food Programme (WFP).[a][23]United Nations Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres and U.N.Food and Agriculture OrganizationJosé Graziano da Silva officially appointed Beasley to the post in March 2017, saying he brought "extensive experience with key governmental and business leaders and stakeholders around the world, with very strong resource mobilisation skills."[24] Guterres also said Beasley had been among 23 applications/nominations for the position.[25]
In his capacity as executive director of WFP, Beasley served at the level ofUnder-Secretary-General of the United Nations and was a member of the organization's Senior Management Group (SMG) under Guterres.[26] Since 2019, he has been a member of theWorld Economic Forum High-Level Group on Humanitarian Investing, co-chaired byBørge Brende,Kristalina Georgieva andPeter Maurer.[27]
In December 2020, Beasley accepted theNobel Peace Prize on behalf of the WFP for its efforts to combat world hunger.[3]
As the term of the director of theWorld Food Programme is five years, Beasley's term was originally set to expire in April 2022. However, United Nations Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres extended Beasley's term, citing the current food crisis of theRusso-Ukrainian War[28] and theCOVID-19 pandemic.[29] PresidentBiden initially opposed extending Beasley's term, but bipartisan support in Congress encouraged Biden to support the extension.[30] Beasley's term as executive director expired in April 2023.[29]
In 2023, he was made a Grand officer of theOrder of the Two Niles by the Sudanesehead of state GeneralAbdel Fattah al-Burhan.[31][32]
Beasley is married to Mary Wood Beasley.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of South Carolina 1994,1998 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theRepublican Governors Association 1997–1998 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of South Carolina 1995–1999 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | Executive Director of theWorld Food Programme 2017–2023 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Senator | Order of precedence of the United States Within South Carolina | Succeeded byas Former Governor |
| Preceded byas Former Governor | Order of precedence of the United States Outside South Carolina | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
