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Jim Nicholson | |
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 Official portrait,c. 2005 | |
| 5thUnited States Secretary of Veterans Affairs | |
| In office January 26, 2005 – October 1, 2007 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Anthony Principi |
| Succeeded by | James Peake |
| United States Ambassador to the Holy See | |
| In office September 13, 2001 – January 26, 2005 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Lindy Boggs |
| Succeeded by | Francis Rooney |
| Chair of theRepublican National Committee | |
| In office January 17, 1997 – January 18, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Haley Barbour |
| Succeeded by | Jim Gilmore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert James Nicholson (1938-02-04)February 4, 1938 (age 87) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Suzanne Ferrell |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | United States Military Academy (BS) Columbia University (MPP) University of Denver (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1961–1991 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Bronze Star Combat Infantryman Badge Meritorious Service Medal Vietnam Gallantry Cross Air Medal (2) |
Robert James Nicholson (born February 4, 1938[1]) is an American attorney, politician,real estate developer, diplomat, and formerArmy officer who served as the fifthsecretary of veterans affairs from 2005 to 2007. A member of theRepublican Party, he served asU.S. Ambassador to the Holy See from 2001 to 2005, and wasChairman of theRepublican National Committee (RNC) from 1997 to 2001.[2]
Nicholson was born on a farm nearStruble, Iowa. Nicholson has characterized his childhood as "growing up dirt poor in a tenant house without plumbing and sometimes without food".[3] He is the brother of retired Army GeneralJohn W. Nicholson.
Nicholson has aMaster's degree in Public Policy fromColumbia University. He received aJ.D. degree from theUniversity of Denver College of Law in 1972.[4]
Nicholson is married to the former Suzanne Marie Ferrell ofHighland Falls, New York, who is an accomplished artist. They are the parents of three children.[5]
He is a 1961 graduate of theUnited States Military Academy atWest Point, New York, and served eight years in active duty in theUnited States Army. He was aparatrooper andRanger-qualified Army officer. He fought in theVietnam War, where he earned theBronze Star,Combat Infantryman Badge, theMeritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster,Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and twoAir Medals. After serving eight years on active duty, he served 22 years in theUnited States Army Reserve, He retired in 1991 with the rank ofcolonel.
In 2005, he was awarded the Distinguished Graduate Award by the USMA.
Nicholson practiced law inDenver, Colorado, specializing in real estate, municipal finance andzoning law. In 1978 he founded Nicholson Enterprises, Inc., a developer of planned residential communities, and in 1987 he bought Renaissance Homes, a custom-home builder. Nicholson is senior counsel withBrownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP.[6] His practice includes public policy, health care, state and federal regulatory law, international relations, real estate, oil and gas, and alternative energy.
Nicholson is the chairman ofDaniels Fund, a private foundation valued at $1.5B. He was chairman of the Federal Interagency Council on Homelessness, chairman of the Board of Open World Foundation, chairman of Volunteers of America of Colorado, and co-chairman of the Advisory Board of the Catholic Leadership Institute. He served as a director of New Day USA Residential Mortgage, LLC; Federated Mutual Funds; theHoratio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans; St. Mary Land and Exploration Company; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Colorado; Community Corrections Corporation; ITN Energy Systems, Inc.; and Lerch, Bates and Associates, Inc. He was a fellow of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.[citation needed]
Nicholson has been honored with Honorary Doctorate of Public Service fromRegis University; theUniversity of Dallas, TX;John Cabot University, Rome;Ave Maria School of Law, Ann Arbor, MI;King's College, Wilkes Barre, PA;University of Denver College of Law; and theUniversity of Rome, Italy. He gave the Commencement Address for the universities listed above, as well as theUS Merchant Marine Academy. Additionally, he was recognized for by the Volunteers of America Ballington and Maude Booth Award for Public Service; President's Medal for Public Service,Georgetown University; Builder Hall of Fame by theNational Association of Homebuilders; the Beckett Fund "Canterbury Medal"; Annual "Top Irish American Award" by Irish American Magazine; and Military Chaplains Association 2007 Citizenship Award.[citation needed]
Nicholson has never held elected office, but has long been active in the Republican Party. In January 1986, he was elected committeeman fromColorado for theRepublican National Committee (RNC). In 1993, he was elected Vice-Chairman of the RNC, and was the "surprise pick"[7] for GOP national chairman in January 1997. He served in that role through the2000 presidential election.
Between 2001 and 2005, Nicholson served asUnited States Ambassador to the Holy See (the Vatican). In 2003,Pope John Paul II knighted him with the Grand Cross for his leadership on human rights issues and standing for religious freedom.Order of Pius IX.[citation needed]
In 2016, according to aForeign Agents Registration Act (FARA) Short Form Registration Statement[8] dated October 21, 2016, Nicholson began working as "Senior Counsel" for theMinistry of Foreign Affairs for theKingdom of Saudi Arabia. Working with otherforeign agents hired by the lobbying firm ofBrownstein, Hyatt, Farber, & Schreck, Nicholson's primary duties include facilitating & attending meetings with U.S. federal government officials on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chair of theRepublican National Committee 1997–2001 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to the Holy See 2001–2005 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs 2005–2007 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Cabinet Member | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Cabinet Member | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Cabinet Member |
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| National | |
| Other | |
