Chuck Hagel | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2013 | |
| 24thUnited States Secretary of Defense | |
| In office February 27, 2013 – February 17, 2015 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Ash Carter Christine Fox (acting) Robert O. Work |
| Preceded by | Leon Panetta |
| Succeeded by | Ash Carter |
| Chair of thePresident's Intelligence Advisory Board | |
| In office October 28, 2009 – February 27, 2013 Served withDavid Boren | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Steve Friedman |
| Succeeded by | Shirley Ann Jackson Jami Miscik (2014) |
| Chair of theIntelligence Oversight Board | |
| In office October 28, 2009 – February 27, 2013 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Steve Friedman |
| Succeeded by | Dan Meltzer |
| United States Senator fromNebraska | |
| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | J. James Exon |
| Succeeded by | Mike Johanns |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Timothy Hagel (1946-10-04)October 4, 1946 (age 79) North Platte, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Brown College University of Nebraska, Omaha (BGS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1967–1968 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment 9th Infantry Division[1] |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War (WIA) |
| Awards | Purple Heart (2) Army Commendation Medal Vietnam Gallantry Cross Combat Infantryman Badge |
Hagel at aSenate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on theAUMF against Syria. Recorded September 3, 2013 | |
Charles Timothy Hagel (/ˈheɪɡəl/HAY-gəl;[2] born October 4, 1946)[3] is an American politician andArmy veteran who served as the 24thUnited States secretary of defense from 2013 to 2015 in theadministration ofBarack Obama. He previously served as chairman of thepresident's Intelligence Advisory Board from 2009 to 2013 and as aUnited States senator representingNebraska from 1997 to 2009.[4]
A recipient of twoPurple Hearts while an infantry squad leader in theVietnam War, Hagel returned home to start careers in business and politics. He co-foundedVanguard Cellular, the primary source of his personal wealth, and served as president of the McCarthy Group, aninvestment banking firm, and CEO ofAmerican Information Systems Inc., a computerized voting machine manufacturer. A member of theRepublican Party, Hagel was first elected to theUnited States Senate in1996. He was reelected in2002, but did not run in2008.
On January 7, 2013, PresidentBarack Obama nominated Hagel to serve as Secretary of Defense. On February 12, 2013, theSenate Armed Services Committee approved Hagel's nomination by a vote of 14–11.[5] On February 14, 2013, Senate Republicans did not vote with Democrats so there were not 60 votes needed to end the debate on Hagel's nomination and proceed to a final vote, citing the need for further review. It was the first time that a nominee for Secretary of Defense wasfilibustered,[6] although candidates for other cabinet offices had been filibustered before.[7] On February 26, 2013, the Senate voted forcloture on Hagel's nomination and confirmed him by a vote of 58–41.[8][9] He took office on February 27, 2013, as his predecessor,Leon Panetta, stepped down.[10]
Hagel previously served as a professor at theEdmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service atGeorgetown University, chairman of theAtlantic Council, and co-chairman of thePresident's Intelligence Advisory Board. Before his appointment as Secretary of Defense, Hagel served on a number of boards of directors, including that ofChevron Corporation.
On November 24, 2014, it was announced that Hagel would resign following conflicts within the administration, particularly relating to issues concerningISIL.[11]
Hagel was born inNorth Platte, Nebraska, a son of Charles Dean Hagel, and his wife Elizabeth (Betty) Dunn. His father was ofGerman heritage, while his mother was ofIrish andPolish ancestry.[12][13] Growing up, Hagel lived across Nebraska; inAinsworth,Rushville,Scottsbluff,Terrytown,York andColumbus.[14] Hagel was the oldest of four brothers.[15] His father, a veteran ofWorld War II, died suddenly on Christmas morning, 1962, at the age of 39, when Hagel was 16.[16] He graduated from St. Bonaventure High School (nowScotus Central Catholic High School) inColumbus, Nebraska, in 1964, attendedBrown Institute for radio and TV through 1966, and earned aBGS degree with a concentration inhistory from theUniversity of Nebraska Omaha in 1971.[3][failed verification][17][failed verification]
Hagel volunteered to be drafted into theUnited States Army during theVietnam War, rejecting adraft board recommendation that he go to college instead.[18] He served in the United States Army infantry in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. As asergeant (E-5), he served as an infantry squad leader in the9th Infantry Division.[19] Hagel served in the same infantry squad as his younger brother Tom, and they are thought to be the only American brothers to have done so during the war.[20] They also saved each other's lives on separate occasions.[20] Hagel received theVietnamese Cross of Gallantry, twoPurple Hearts, theArmy Commendation Medal, and theCombat Infantryman Badge.[21]
After his discharge, he worked as a radio newscaster and talk show host in Omaha from 1969 to 1971[22] while finishing college onVeterans Administration (VA) assistance under theGI Bill.[23]
In 1971, Hagel was hired as a staffer for CongressmanJohn Y. McCollister (R-NE), serving until 1977. For the next four years, he worked as alobbyist forFirestone Tire and Rubber Company,[24] and in 1980, he served as an organizer for the successfulpresidential campaign of former California GovernorRonald Reagan.[24]
After Reagan's inauguration as president, Hagel was named deputy administrator of theVeterans Administration. In 1982, however, he resigned over a disagreement with VA AdministratorRobert P. Nimmo, who was intent on cutting funding for VA programs. Nimmo had referred to veterans groups as "greedy", and toAgent Orange as not much worse than a "little teenage acne."[25]
After leaving government employment, Hagel co-foundedVanguard Cellular, amobile phone service carrier that made him a multi-millionaire.[26] While working with Vanguard, he served as president andchief executive officer of theUnited Service Organizations and the Private Sector Council, as deputy director andchief operating officer of the 1990G7 Summit, and on theboard of directors or advisory committee of theAmerican Red Cross, theEisenhower World Affairs Institute,Bread for the World, and theRipon Society. He also served as Chairman of theAgent Orange Settlement Fund and is a member of theCouncil on Foreign Relations.[27]
Although he was pressured by some to run forGovernor of Virginia, where he had lived for 20 years, in 1992 Hagel moved back to Nebraska to become president of theMcCarthy Group, LLC, aninvestment banking firm.[28] He also served as a chairman and was CEO of American Information Systems Inc. (AIS), later known asElection Systems & Software, a computerizedvoting machine manufacturer jointly owned by McCarthy Group, LLC and theOmaha World-Herald company.[27][29] On March 15, 1995, Hagel resigned from the board of AIS as he intended to run for office.[30]Michael McCarthy, the parent company's founder, was Hagel's campaign treasurer.[31] Until at least 2003, he retained between $1 million and $5 million in stock in Election Systems & Software's parent company, the McCarthy Group.[32]
In 1996, Hagel ran for the open US Senate seat created by the retirement of DemocratJ. James Exon. Hagel's opponent wasBen Nelson, then the sittinggovernor of Nebraska. Hagel won and became the first Republican in 24 years to win a Senate seat in Nebraska. Six years later, in2002, Hagel overwhelmingly won re-election with over 83% of the vote, the largest margin of victory in any statewide race in Nebraska history.
According toDavid Boaz, of theCato Institute, during the Bush administration, Hagel maintained a "traditionally Republican" voting record, receiving "a lifetime rating of 84 percent from theAmerican Conservative Union and consistent A and B grades from theNational Taxpayers Union."[33]On the Issues describes Hagel as a "libertarian-leaning conservative."[34] According to Boaz, among his most notable votes, Hagel:
- Voted for thePatriot Act;[35]
- Voted for the2001 and2003tax cuts;[36][37]
- Voted againstNo Child Left Behind;[38]
- Voted against theMedicare prescription drug bill;[39]
- Voted againstMcCain-Feingold.[40]
Hagel co-sponsored the failedKosovo Resolution, authorizing the use of U.S. military force against theFederal Republic of Yugoslavia.[41]
After the9/11 terrorist attacks, Hagel voted in favor ofSenate Joint Resolution 23, authorizing "necessary and appropriate U.S. Military force" inAfghanistan against those who planned or aided the September 11 attacks.[42] During his tenure in the Senate, Hagel continued his support forNATO involvement, and funding in theWar in Afghanistan.[43] In a 2009The Washington Post op-ed after being nominated as Chairman of President Obama's Intelligence advisory board, Hagel said that "We cannot view U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan through a lens that sees only 'winning' or 'losing,' Iraq and Afghanistan are not America's to win or lose." And that "We can help them buy time or develop, but we cannot control their fates."[44] In 2011, after he left office, Hagel stated that President Obama needs to start "looking for the exit in Afghanistan", and that "We need to start winding this down."[45]
On October 11, 2002, Hagel, along with 76 other senators, voted in favor of theIraq Resolution.[46] Hagel, a later critic of the war, commented on his vote authorizing the use of force against Iraq saying,
How many of us really know and understand much aboutIraq, the country, the history, the people, the role in the Arab world? I approach the issue of post-Saddam Iraq and the future of democracy and stability in theMiddle East with more caution, realism, and a bit more humility.[47]
In July 2007, Hagel was one of three Republican senators who supported Democratic-proposed legislation requiring a troop withdrawal from Iraq to begin within 120 days. He toldRobert D. Novak "This thing is really coming undone quickly, and [Prime Minister] Maliki's government is weaker by the day. The police are corrupt, top to bottom. The oil problem is a huge problem. They still can't get anything through the parliament—no hydrocarbon law, no de-Baathification law, no provincial elections."[48] In 2008, along with then-Senator (and presumptive Democratic nominee for president) Barack Obama, and SenatorJack Reed (D-RI), Hagel visited Iraq in a congressional delegation trip, meeting with U.S. service members, GeneralDavid Petraeus, and thePrime Minister of IraqNouri al-Maliki.[49] While talking to reporters in Iraq, Hagel said, "Each one of us who has a responsibility of helping lead this country needs to reflect on what we think is in the interests of our country, not the interest of our party or our president."[50]
In his first term in the Senate, Hagel voted in favor of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Reduction Act, establishing criminal penalties for possession ofChemical orBiological weapons, and he cosponsored the American Missile Protection Act, deploying an effective National Missile Defense system capable of defending the U.S. against limited ballistic missile attacks.[51][52] Hagel voted to establish theUnited States Department of Homeland Security, and supported increasing Defense Department spending, voting in favor of theNational Defense Authorization Act every year he served in the Senate.[43][53] Hagel voted for spending increases in preventingHIV/AIDS,tuberculosis, andmalaria funding, and voting against caps on theU.S.'s foreign aid budget.[54][55]
In 2007, Hagel introduced Senate Amendment 2032, amending the Defense Authorization bill limiting the deployment of U.S. service members serving in Iraq to 12 months. The amendment needed 60 votes in the Senate to pass, and was ultimately defeated in a 52–45 vote.[56] In 2008, Hagel was a principal co-sponsor with two other veterans in the Senate of SenatorJim Webb's "21st Century GI Bill" which passed Congress as thePost-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, expanding education assistance to veterans who served after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.[57][58] During his tenure in the Senate, Hagel supported the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy, barring openlyLGBT members of the armed forces from serving, but was later described as "pro-ending don't ask, don't tell."[59]
In 2001, Hagel voted in favor of thePatriot Act.[60] Although Hagel originally indicated a "nay" vote in reauthorizing expiring provisions of the Patriot Act in 2006,[61] Hagel voted in favor of reauthorization.[62] After calls from the Bush administration for the House and Senate to reformFISA, the House introduced theProtect America Act of 2007, expanding provisions allowing electronic surveillance of foreigners outside of the U.S. with a warrant. In a 68–29 vote, the Protect America Act of 2007 passed the Senate, with Hagel voting to expand FISA's provisions on warrantless surveillance.[63]
Hagel voted in favor of Senate Amendment 2022, restoringhabeas corpus, the right todue process, to American citizens detained atGuantanamo Bay detention camp, but voted against a similar resolution restoring it to all prisoners detained at Guantanamo.[64][65] In response to the Bush administration's intentions to keep Guantanamo Bay open permanently, Hagel said the military prison is why the U.S. is "losing the image war around the world," and that "It's identifiable with, for right or wrong, a part of America that people in the world believe is a power, an empire that pushes people around, we do it our way, we don't live up to our commitments to multilateral institutions."[66]
Hagel co-sponsored theComprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006.[67] He supported theComprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 and, with SenatorBob Menendez proposed an amendment to allow immigration authorities to consider family-unification petitions submitted by people for an additional two years, which would have allowed approximately estimated 833,000 additional individuals to seek permanent residency. The proposal received 51 votes but was defeated by a procedural maneuver.[68] The bill failed to pass.[69] Hagel voted in favor of theSecure Fence Act of 2006, which aimed to build a 700-mile (1,100 km) double fence along theMexico–United States border and appropriated $1.2 billion for the fence and a systematic surveillance system.[70]
On August 18, 2005, Hagel compared theIraq War toVietnam, and openly mocked Vice PresidentDick Cheney's assertion that theIraqi insurgency was in its "last throes."[71] In November 2005, Hagel defended his criticism of the Iraq war, stating "To question your government is not unpatriotic — to not question your government is unpatriotic."[72] In December 2005, in reference to Bush, theRepublican Party, and the Patriot Act, Hagel stated "I took an oath of office to theConstitution, I didn't take an oath of office to my party or my president."[73]
In January 2006, Hagel took issue withKarl Rove's statement that the Republican and Democratic worldviews were "post-9/11" and "pre-9/11", respectively. Hagel stated, "I didn't like what Mr. Rove said, because it frames terrorism and the issue of terrorism and everything that goes with it, whether it's the renewal of the Patriot Act or theNSA wiretapping, in a political context."[74]
In July 2006, Hagel criticized the Bush administration on its handling of the2006 Lebanon War, saying "The sickening slaughter on both sides must end and it must end now. President Bush must call for an immediate cease-fire. This madness must stop." He also said "Our relationship with Israel is special and historic... But it need not and cannot be at the expense of our Arab and Muslim relationships. That is an irresponsible and dangerous false choice."[75]
Following heavy Republican losses in the2006 midterm election, Hagel penned an editorial inThe Washington Post highly critical of military strategies both employed and proposed for Iraq. He wrote that "There will be no victory or defeat for the United States in Iraq," and called for a "phased troop withdrawal."[76] According to aSurveyUSA poll, in August 2006 Hagel had a 10% higher approval rating among Nebraska Democrats than Republicans.[77][78]
In January 2007, Hagel openly criticized President Bush's plan to send an additional 20,000 troops to Iraq. He called it "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam, if it's carried out."[79] Together with DemocratsJoe Biden andCarl Levin, he proposed a non-binding resolution to the Democratic-controlled Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which rejected Bush's policy as "not in the national interest" in a 12–9 vote.[80] After an April 2007 visit to Iraq with U.S. congressmanJoe Sestak (D-PA), Hagel stated his belief that the occupation of Iraq should not continue indefinitely and expressed his intention to cooperate with Senate Democrats in voting for a bill that would set a timeline to get out of Iraq.[81]
In November 2007, he rated the Bush administration "the lowest in capacity, in capability, in policy, in consensus—almost every area" of any presidency in the last forty years.[82]
In the2008 presidential election, Hagel was seen as a likely choice to hold a topcabinet position in a futureJohn McCain orBarack Obama administration. In 2006, McCain toldThe New York Times that he would be "honored to have Chuck with me in any capacity. He'd make a greatSecretary of State."[83][84][85]
Hagel was rumored to be a possible running mate for vice president for then Senator Barack Obama, in his2008 presidential campaign.[86][87] On June 20, 2008, Hagel said he would consider running with Obama if offered the VP spot, though he added that he did not believe that Obama would pick him for the position.[88][89] At the time he also was mentioned as a potential United States Secretary of Defense to succeed incumbentRobert Gates in theObama administration.[90][91] Hagel said that he would consider serving if asked.[92]
Hagel and Senator John McCain were close friends until 2007 when they diverged regarding Iraq policy; Hagel did not endorse McCain for President in the2008 Republican primaries or in the general election.[93][94] Explaining his reason for not endorsing John McCain in the 2008 election, Hagel toldThe New Yorker, "In good conscience, I could not enthusiastically—honestly—go out and endorse him, when we so fundamentally disagree on the future course of our foreign policy and our role in the world."[93][95] In August 2008, Hagel indicated that he would not endorse either candidate or get involved in their campaigns.[96]
During his first campaign, Hagel indicated that, were he to be elected, he would retire in 2008 after two terms in the Senate.[97] In August 2004 Hagel acknowledged that he was considering a presidential campaign in 2008.[98] In 2006 he cooperated with Charlyne Berens who wrote a biography titledChuck Hagel: Moving Forward.[99] On September 10, 2007, Hagel announced that he would retire and not seek a third term. Hagel also remains the last person to serve two full terms in Nebraska's Class 2 Senate seat. He also declined to run for president in 2008. He decided to go into academia.[100][101][102]
In Hagel's 2008 book,America: Our Next Chapter: Tough Questions, Straight Answers (with Peter Kaminsky), he suggests that the United States should adopt independent leadership and possibly another political party. He also believes that theIraq War is one of the five biggest blunders in U.S. history. Hagel is critical ofGeorge W. Bush's foreign policy, calling it "reckless." He has been a major critic of the war since it started, and has stated that the United States should learn from its mistakes in theVietnam War. He considered Bush's foreign policy a "ping pong game with American lives."[103]
Following Hagel's retirement from the Senate, in February 2009 he accepted a position as Distinguished Professor in National Governance at theEdmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service atGeorgetown University inWashington, D.C.[104] He was chairman of theAtlantic Council, a foreign policy think tank; co-chairman ofPresident Obama's Intelligence Advisory Board; a member of the Defense Department'sDefense Policy Board Advisory Committee and the Energy Departments Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future; a member ofThe Washington Center's board of directors; and a member of thePublic Broadcasting Service's board of directors. In the private sector, he served on the board of directors ofChevron Corporation,Deutsche Bank's Americas Advisory Board, and the advisory board of Corsair Capital, and was a director of theZurich Holding Company of America and a senior advisor to McCarthy Capital Corporation.[105] In October 2012, Defense SecretaryLeon Panetta asked Hagel to chair an advisory committee for the Vietnam War 50th anniversary commemoration. While a Senator, Hagel co-sponsored the bill creating the commemoration committee.[58]
Hagel identifies with Ronald Reagan'snuclear disarmament policies and was an initial signatory to theGlobal Zero campaign which advocates the international elimination of nuclear weaponry.[106][107] He also served on the board of the Ploughshares Fund, which pursues the elimination of weapons of mass destruction and seeks to prevent their use.[108]
In 2010, Hagel endorsed Democratic Pennsylvania congressmanJoe Sestak in his run for the United States Senate.[109] In 2012 he endorsed DemocratBob Kerrey in the race for an open U.S. Senate seat in Nebraska.[110][111]
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President Obama nominated Hagel to succeed Leon Panetta and serve as his second term Secretary of Defense on January 7, 2013.[112] Hagel, who became, upon confirmation, the first former enlisted combat soldier to hold the office of Secretary of Defense, was interviewed by theSenate Armed Services Committee during a seven-and-a-half-hour hearing on January 31, 2013.[113]
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According to Jon Swaine writing inThe Daily Telegraph, Hagel has been accused of having "views [that] verged on anti-Semitic" due to his stating in a 2006 interview withAaron David Miller that "[t]heJewish lobby intimidates a lot of people [onCapitol Hill]",[114] and "I'm not an Israeli senator. I'm a United States senator."[115] Hagel later clarified these remarks saying he was referring to theIsrael lobby.[116] Hagel also has been criticized by theAmerican Jewish Committee for an incident in 1999 where he was the only senator not to sign an open letter to Russian PresidentBoris Yeltsin threatening to cut aid to Russia if it did not take action against rising anti-Semitism in the country.[117] However, Hagel's refusal to sign the letter was consistent with his policy of never signing letters to foreign heads of state. Hagel, instead, wrote toBill Clinton on this issue, saying "Anti-Semitism or any form of religious persecution should never be tolerated."[118]
Hagel was criticized byThe Christian Science Monitor and many Republicans, including senator John McCain, for opposing some sanctions against Iran, and for calling for dialogue with Iran andHamas.[119][120][121][122]
Some of Hagel's policy positions became the subject of heated debate in the Senate, including support of defense cuts, opposition to preemptive action against Iran, and support of talks with Hamas and Hezbollah. However,U.S. News & World Report cited public opinion polls and foreign policy experts to suggest that Hagel's views were within the mainstream of American foreign policy thought.[123] Opponents also complained of Hagel's 2011 call to have the Pentagon "pared down", saying that "[t]he Defense Department, I think in many ways, has been bloated."[124]
TheHuman Rights Campaign criticized Hagel for having a "consistent anti-LGBT" voting record in the Senate and for opposing PresidentBill Clinton's nomination ofJames Hormel as the U.S. Ambassador toLuxembourg, stating that Hormel was "openly, aggressively gay." The group demanded that Hagel apologize for this 1998 remark.[125] TheLog Cabin Republicans ran full-page newspaper ads opposing Hagel's nomination.[126][127] Hagel apologized to Hormel in December 2012.[128] On January 24, 2013, SenatorJeanne Shaheen stated that Hagel will oppose restrictions on LGBT military family benefits.[129][130] Shortly thereafter, on February 13, 2013, the Senate's first openly LGBT member,Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) stated that after meeting with Hagel, she would support his nomination.[131]
Republican SenatorLindsey Graham of South Carolina predicted that Hagel would be "the most antagonistic Secretary of Defense toward the State of Israel in our nation's history" and called it an "in-your-face nomination."[119]
The New York Times reported that the media campaign opposing Hagel's appointment was financed by new groups including a conservative group, Americans for a Strong Defense and a gay rights group, Use Your Mandate. The donors of these groups were mostly anonymous and running advertisements on issues raised by critics. TheTimes described the campaign as "unmatched in the annals of modern presidential cabinet appointments".[132]
In December 2012, nine formerUnited States ambassadors, including fiveformer ambassadors to Israel, wrote a letter in support of nominating Hagel.[133][134]Brent Scowcroft,Anthony Zinni and nine other retired senior military officers signed a separate letter of support.[135]Robert Gates andColin Powell also endorsed Hagel for the nomination, with Powell calling him "that kind of independent and bold leader who thinks in and out of the box" who can "deal with the strategic and resource challenges [the Department of Defense] will be facing over the next several years."[136] Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, the senior rabbi at Temple Israel in Omaha, Nebraska since 1988, wrote in a CNN article that "[Hagel's] record shows strong support for Israel" and that Hagel understands "the Israeli people and their desire to live in peace and security." He added that "Recent efforts to smear Chuck ... ultimately that hurts the long-term security of the state of Israel."[137]
Defenses of Hagel have included opinion pieces by writersAmy Davidson,[138]Thomas Friedman,[139] andRobert Wright, with Wright objecting to what he called "McCarthyite" smears against Hagel.[140]Jeremy Ben-Ami, President of the liberal lobby groupJ Street, said: "The notion that Chuck Hagel is anti-Israel is ludicrous. The notion that he is anti-Semitic is slanderous."[120]Harvard University ProfessorStephen Walt, co-author of a2007 book critical of the Israeli lobby wrote inForeign Policy that "The real meaning of the Hagel affair is what it says about the climate inside Washington. Simply put, the question is whether supine and reflexive support for all things Israeli remains a prerequisite for important policy positions here in the Land of the Free."[141]
Commentators atThe American Conservative[142][143][144] andPat Buchanan[145] endorsed Hagel. Hagel's nomination received support fromAntiwar.com founderJustin Raimondo and thelibertarianthink tankCato Institute;[146] Justin Logan, director of foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, expressed the hope that Hagel's confirmation might "loosen theneoconservative stranglehold on theGOP."[147]
During his Senate hearing opening statement Hagel said that he endorsed use of American military power, supported Israel and supported usingspecial operations forces andunmanned combat aerial vehicles ("drones") on terrorist groups inYemen,Somalia andNorth Africa. He stated "I believe, and always have, that America must engage—not retreat—in the world". During the hearing he explained his 2001 and 2002 votes against unilateral American sanctions on Iran as being for strategic reasons. He said he supported President Obama's drawing down troops in Afghanistan and said he would do "everything possible under current law" to support gay and women service members equal benefits and combat roles.[113][148]
Hagel faced sharp questioning from Republicans. SenatorJohn McCain berated him for refusing to give a yes or no answer to the question of whether theIraq War troop surge of 2007 was a success. SenatorLindsey Graham demanded he "name one dumb thing we've been goaded into doing because of the pressure from the Israeli or Jewish lobby."[113] Hagel stated "I've already said I regret referencing the Jewish lobby, I should have said, 'pro-Israel lobby. ... The use of 'intimidation'—I should have used 'influence.' I think that would have been more appropriate. I should not have said 'dumb' or 'stupid,' because I understand or appreciate there are other views on these things.".[149] SenatorTed Cruz played video excerpts from a 2009Al Jazeera interview and asserted that Hagel had agreed with a caller who suggested that Israel had committed war crimes. Hagel denied he agreed with that view.[113] After the hearing, Cruz organized a letter from 25 Republican senators saying they would not vote until Hagel gave them copies of speeches given to organizations and told them the amount he was paid and whether the organizations received money from foreign sources. Lindsey Graham said they wanted to know if he spoke for any "anti-Israel" groups. Senate Committee chairCarl Levin said the demands were unprecedented, asking "for information no prior nominee has been asked for," and expressed confidence Hagel would be approved by the Senate.[150][151]
Despite the committee's February 12, 2013, 14-to-11 vote to approve Hagel, committee memberJames Inhofe vowed to use procedural tactics to delay a full Senate confirmation vote.[152] Inhofe told theNational Review "Each day that goes by will make it more difficult for Democrats who say they are pro-Israel to hold out."[153] On February 14 Republicans refused to close debate on Hagel's nomination, which would require 60 votes, even though the nomination was assured the simple majority of votes needed to pass. Reasons given included a demand for more White House information about the2012 Benghazi attack, remaining questions about Hagel's views on Iran and Israel, and assertions two weeks after the hearings was insufficient time. Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid said the Republicans were politically motivated[154] and that the vote would proceed after the recess.[155]
Senate Republicans successfully filibustered his nomination after a cloture vote failed 58–40 with one present and one not voting. This filibuster marked the first time a nominee for Secretary of Defense was successfully filibustered.[156]
The Senate voted 71-27 forcloture on Hagel's nomination on February 26, 2013.[157][158] Later that day the Senate voted to make Hagel the Secretary of Defense by a vote of 58–41.[9][159][160]
The hearings were criticized in the media. InTime magazineBrandon Friedman presented a chart showing thatIsrael was mentioned 106 times while Afghanistan was mentioned only 24 times; nuclear-armedPakistan was barely mentioned. Friedman asked if the Senate committee was more concerned with Hagel's "relationship with Israel than with the future ofAfghanistan,Pakistan, and the fate of U.S. troops engaged in both locations."[161] A Michael McGough Op-Ed in theLos Angeles Times was titled "Hagel hearings: Is Israel more important than Afghanistan?"[162]Gene Healy inReason called the hearings "farcical" and wrote there was "plenty of bloviating, grandstanding and browbeating—but, apparently, not enough time for serious deliberation over key policy questions facing any new Pentagon chief."[163]
Mark Mardell, theBBC News North America editor, criticized the "whole process, which has been used not to examine a candidate's fitness for high office, but to underline the rather obvious fact that theObama administration does not share the world view of Republican senators, and they don't like their former colleague joining it."[164] Mardell noted the senators repeatedly "insisted he gave a simple 'yes' or 'no' to complex questions. These are old men who hold themselves in high regard, but seem to see serious examination of difficult problems as a personal affront. They desperately want to play 'gotcha', but haven't the self-restraint to design effective questions." Mardell called Senator Hagel "equally unimpressive, almost unprepared, for a level of hostility that had been signalled long in advance. Neither smart, nor humble, his tactic seemed to be a kind of bumbling blandness." According to Mardell, only Cruz was effective and well-prepared, as "he ripped into the nominee with all the skill honed as a Texas solicitor general."[164]
Hagel was sworn in on February 27, 2013, taking over fromLeon Panetta.
In May 2013, during a visit to Asian countries whose "main doubt" was American staying power in the region, Hagel called the decline of American military power a "good thing", because it forced American allies to share responsibilities.[165][166]
On July 31, 2013, Hagel announced the results of his Strategic Choices and Management Review, undertaken in response to thebudget sequestration in 2013.[167] One of the options he highlighted was to reduce the navy'saircraft carrier groups down from 11 to as little as eight.[168]
On August 27, 2013, Hagel told the BBC that the United States was ready to launch a strike againstSyria if given the orders.[169]
Hagel has pushedNational Guard leadership to provide benefits forsame-sex domestic partnerships, as directed by the Department of Defense.[170]
Speaking at theHalifax International Security Forum in November 2013,[171] Hagel announced the Pentagon'snew Arctic strategy[172] emphasizing the commitment of the United States to "detect, deter, prevent and defeat threats to the United States, and continue to exercise USsovereignty in and aroundAlaska".[173] He also called for more international cooperation to protect the Arctic's environment[174] and to keep the region "peaceful, stable and free of conflict".[175]
In December 2013, after the suspension of anAssociation Agreement with the EU by theUkrainian Government of PresidentVictor Yanukovych in November 2013 had led to massive protests, Hagel in a phone call warned theUkrainian Minister of DefensePavlo Lebedyev "not to use the armed forces of Ukraine against the civilian population in any fashion".[176] After Yanukovych's impeachment and the beginning of theCrimean crisis in February 2014, Hagel warned Russia against military maneuvers "that could be misinterpreted, or lead to miscalculation during a very delicate time".[177] In several phone calls with theRussian Minister of DefenseSergey Shoygu[178][179][180] Hagel expressed deep concerns about Russian military activities near the Ukrainian border and called for an end of any "destabilizing influence inside Ukraine". He was assured by Shoygu that theRussian army would not invade Ukraine.[181] Speaking in April 2023, Hagel said that unfortunately in 2014 the Ukrainian armed forces were in no condition to receive advanced weaponry in order to reverse the course of events.[182]
In May 2014, speaking at theWilson Center on the future of NATO, Hagel focused on the alliance's imbalance in defense spending and called for "renewed financial commitments from all NATO members". According to Hagel, the alliance "should expect Russia to test our alliance's purpose, stamina and commitment":[183][184][185]
Since the end of the Cold War, America’s military spending has become increasingly disproportionate within the Alliance. Today, America’s GDP is smaller than the combined GDPs of our 27 NATO Allies, but America’s defense spending is three times our Allies’ combined defense spending. Over time, this lopsided burden threatens NATO’s integrity, cohesion, and capability – and, ultimately, both European and transatlantic security. Many of NATO’s smaller members have pledged to increase their defense investment.. but the Alliance cannot afford for Europe’s larger economies and most militarily capable Allies not to do the same, particularly as transatlantic economies grow stronger. We must see renewed financial commitments from all NATO members.
Hagel was not insensitive to the European dependence on Russian natural gas and consequent exposure to "Russia’s coercive energy policies". In fact he saw even then an opportunity for North American producers. NATO's European allies were "positioned" to reduce their natural gas imports from Russia by more than 25% and the U.S. Department of Energy had conditionally approved export permits for Americanliquefied natural gas that add up to more than half of Europe's gas imports from Russia.[185]
Hagel was instrumental in formulating the2014 NATO Wales summit declaration, in which the Allies agreed to increase (over a period of ten years) their defence expenditures.[186] The target of 2% GDP, formulated as a trial balloon at the2006 NATO Riga summit by then-NATO AmbassadorVictoria Nuland,[187] had been scorned by most in Europe, for example Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. Only three alliance members did so in 2014.[188] In light of theRusso-Ukrainian war, the issue had assumed increased political relevance.[187]
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During his time as Secretary of Defense, he was known for the close relationship he formed with Israeli defense officials, in particularMoshe Ya'alon, who described Hagel as a 'true friend'.[189] Even as his relations with the White House deteriorated, Hagel was positively viewed by Israeli military officials, which was seen as a stark contrast to the way Hagel was perceived by some in Washington prior to his appointment.[189]
On November 24, 2014,The New York Times reported that Hagel would be resigning from his position as Secretary of Defense under pressure from the Obama administration, in particular because of a dispute with NSA AdvisorSusan E. Rice over Syria policy. The administration under Hagel's watch had struggled to articulate a strategy to defeatISIL in both Iraq and Syria.[190] Later that day, President Obama announced Hagel's resignation and thanked him for his service. Hagel said in a statement, "You should know I did not make this decision lightly. But after much discussion, the President and I agreed that now was the right time for new leadership here at the Pentagon."[191][192][193]
Hagel did not deny rumors that Obama asked for his resignation, but he explicitly contended that it was a "mutual decision" between him and President Obama.[194] Senator John McCain offered his own insight: Hagel was frustrated with the White House decision-making process, national security policy, and "excessive micromanagement" within the White House.[195] In December 2015, during an interview withForeign Policy, Hagel stated he was "backstabbed" and accused Obama administration officials of making anonymous comments after his resignation in an effort to destroy his reputation.[196]
Hagel continued in post until the confirmation of his successor,Ash Carter, in February 2015.
In 2019 Hagel funded the annual Hagel Lecture at theUniversity of Chicago Project for Security and Threats,[182] and on 17 October 2019 gave a keynote speech at theInternational Tribunal for the Law of the Sea inHamburg to address: "How healthy is the ocean’s constitution? 25 Years of theUnited Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea".[197]
In 2020, Hagel, along with over 130 other former Republican national security officials, signed a statement that asserted thatPresident Trump was unfit to serve another term, and "To that end, we are firmly convinced that it is in the best interest of our nation that Vice President Joe Biden be elected as the next President of the United States, and we will vote for him."[198]
Hagel, along with more than 100 Republican former national security officials, signed a letter in November 2020 that stated that the delay of thepresidential transition imperiled the security of the nation. The9/11 Commission finding that the shortened transition to theadministration of George W. Bush during thedisputed 2000 presidential election "hampered the new administration in identifying, recruiting, clearing, and obtaining Senate confirmation of key appointees" was mentioned in the statement.[199]
Hagel, along with all other former secretaries of defense, nine in total, published aWashington Post op-ed piece in January 2021 telling President Trump not to involve the military in determining the outcome of the 2020 elections.[200]
In 2001, Hagel was awarded theHoratio Alger Award for Distinguished Americans.[201] He was also granted the title ofNebraska Admiral by Nebraska's governor, an honorary title, considering Nebraska is a landlocked state.
On June 7, 2001, Hagel gave the commencement address forNorth Central College and was given an honoraryL.L.D.[202] He was the keynote speaker at theCollege of William & Mary's Charter Day in 2007, at which he was awarded an honorary degree of Public Service.[203] On March 3, 2008, he led a town meeting on domestic and foreign policy issues at theUniversity of Maryland, at which theCenter for American Politics and Citizenship (CAPC) gave him theMillard Tydings Award for Courage and Leadership in American Politics.[204] Hagel served as the 2010Clifford P. Case Professor of Public Affairs atRutgers University'sEagleton Institute of Politics, speaking at public programs inNew Brunswick andNewark, New Jersey.[205]
Hagel was also the featured speaker at the 2015 Annual Meeting of theAmerican Chemistry Council at Colorado Springs.
Hagel has two younger brothers: Thomas, a professor at theUniversity of Dayton School of Law,[206] and Michael, an artist resident inOmaha, Nebraska.[207] Hagel's third brother, James, died in an automobile accident at the age of 16.[208] Hagel was raised in the Roman Catholic faith, but converted to theEpiscopal Church.[209]
In 1979, Hagel married Patricia Lloyd. The couple separated in 1981 and divorced a year later.[210] He married his second wife, Lilibet Ziller, in April 1985. The couple live with their daughter, Allyn, and son, Ziller, inMcLean, Virginia.[211]
While a Senator, Hagel had a tradition of wearing costumes to work onHalloween, usually masquerading as one of his colleagues or other notable political figures, includingJoe Biden,John McCain,Colin Powell, andPat Roberts in past years.[212] He gave back a portion of his salary for the 2013 fiscal year in solidarity with his department's workers who were facing 14 days of furloughs.[213]
Hagel is a member of the ReFormers Caucus ofIssue One.[214] In October 2022, Hagel joined Issue One's Council for Responsible Social Media project to address the negative mental, civic, and public health impacts ofsocial media in the United States co-chaired by formerHouse Democratic Caucus LeaderDick Gephardt and formerMassachusetts Lieutenant GovernorKerry Healey.[215][216]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chuck Hagel | 112,953 | 62.24 | |
| Republican | Don Stenberg | 67,974 | 37.46 | |
| Republican | Write-ins | 544 | 0.30 | |
| Total votes | 181,471 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chuck Hagel | 379,933 | 56.14% | +15.21% | |
| Democratic | Ben Nelson | 281,904 | 41.65% | −17.25% | |
| Libertarian | John DeCamp | 9,483 | 1.40% | ||
| Natural Law | Bill Dunn | 4,806 | 0.71% | ||
| Write-ins | 663 | 0.10% | |||
| Majority | 98,029 | 14.48% | −3.49% | ||
| Turnout | 676,958 | ||||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chuck Hagel (inc.) | 144,160 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 144,160 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chuck Hagel (inc.) | 397,438 | 82.76% | +25.36% | |
| Democratic | Charlie A. Matulka | 70,290 | 14.64% | −27.96% | |
| Libertarian | John J. Graziano | 7,423 | 1.55% | ||
| Independent | Phil Chase | 5,066 | 1.05% | ||
| Majority | 327,148 | 68.13% | +53.31% | ||
| Turnout | 480,217 | ||||
| Republicanhold | Swing | ||||
Chuck Hagel volunteer immediately.
Chuck Hagel Firestone.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Department of State.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forU.S. Senator fromNebraska (Class 2) 1996,2002 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Nebraska 1997–2009 Served alongside:Bob Kerrey,Ben Nelson | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theJoint China Commission 2005–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Non-profit organization positions | ||
| Preceded by | Chair of theAtlantic Council 2009–2013 | Succeeded by Brent Scowcroft Acting |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chair of thePresident's Intelligence Advisory Board 2009–2013 Served alongside:David Boren | Vacant Title next held by Shirley JacksonJami Miscik |
| Chair of theIntelligence Oversight Board 2009–2013 | Succeeded by | |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | United States Secretary of Defense 2013–2015 | 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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| Class 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
