News & Issues

Profiles of Political Leaders

An ever-expanding list of profiles of notable figures in American politics, both famous and not-so-famous.

Gina McCarthy Bio
Find out more about likely Obama cabinet nominee Gina McCarthy. Learn about Gina McCarthy's political and private-sector careers. Find out why Obama believed she is qualified the head the Environmental Protection Agency.

Why Aren't There Any Bearded Politicians?
Find out why there aren't many bearded politicians in the United States. See why modern politicians don't wear facial hair. Learn about some of the famous bearded politicians in U.S. history.

5 Celebrity Politicians
Read a list of five of the most famous celebrity politicians. See which offices these movie stars held in the federal government. Learn why these TV stars decided to go into politics.

List of Presidents With Beards
Read a complete list of American presidents with beards. Find out which presidents wore beards. See who were the first and most recent presidents to wear beards.

Janet Yellen and the Economy
Learn about Janet Yellen and her work on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Find out whether Janet Yellen will be nominated to replace Ben Bernanke as the Fed chairman. See where Yellen has worked before joining the Federal Reserve Board.

Current Quotations and Quips
An evolving list of quips and quotes from politicians and politicos in the news.

President Obama's Executive Team
The president's cabinet is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the Executive Branch of government. Cabinet officers are nominated by the President and confirmed or rejected by the Senate. A cabinet is authorized in Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution. Cabinet officers are titular heads of the permanent executive agencies of the government.

Players in the US Attorneys Firing Controversy
In late 2006 (most on 7 December), the US Department of Justice fired eight US attorneys, an unprecedented act according to the legal community.

George W. Bush - Biography
An illustrated biography of George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States.

George W. Bush - Official Profile
GeorgeWBush.com provides an official biography as well as information about his wife, Laura Bush.

John Kerry - Official Profile
JohnKerry.com provides an official biography of Senator John Kerry as well as additional information about his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry.

John Kerry - Boston Globe Profile
"John F. Kerry - Candidate in the Making" is a seven-part, in-depth "examination of the life and record of Senator John F. Kerry" published by the Boston Globe in 2003. Subsequently, the Globe expanded the content and published a book.

Richard B. Cheney - Official Profile
The Whitehouse publishes an official biography of Vice President Richard B. Cheney.

Richard B. Cheney - Project Vote Smart
Project Vote Smart provides a detailed bio of Vice Presdient Dick Cheney; categories include campaign finances, interest group ratings, speeches and public statements, campaign schedule and position on issues.

John Edwards - Official Profile
The John Edwards profile published on JohnKerry.com is an expanded version of the bio from his presidential campaign web site.

John Edwards - Senate Bio
The official Senate biography of vice presidential candidate John Edwards reviews his policy positions.

Mitt Romney Biography
Read a biography of Mitt Romney. Find out more about the Republican presidential frontrunner in 2012. Learn about Romney's background in politics and business.

Biographies of American Presidents and First Ladies
About.com Guide to Genealogy provides biographical information about US Presidents and their First Ladies in chronological order.

Ann Romney Bio
Read a biography of Ann Romney. Learn about her marriage to 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Discover why Ann Romney made news during the campaign and learn about the controversy surrounding her decision to be a stay-at-home mom.

Rick Santorum Biography
Read a biography of 2012 Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum. Learn about the candidate's political career and personal life. Learn about the controversies in which Rick Santorum has been involved.

Santorum Senate Loss
Read about Rick Santorum's Senate loss in 2006. Find out why the Republican presidential candidate failed to win re-election in Pennsylvania. Discover the issues and nuances of Santorum's U.S. Senate race.

Julián Castro Bio
Read a biography of Julián Castro. Learn about his political career and why he is a rising star in the Democratic Party. See why he was chosen to speak at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Secretary of State John Kerry
Read about U.S. Sen. John Kerry being chosen as secretary of state. Learn about Kerry's background and why President Barack Obama chose him. Find out why many political observers believed Kerry was a good choice for the position in 2012.

The Political Career of Chris Christie
Read a timeline of Chris Christie's political career. See a list of all the offices held by Chris Christie. Learn about the elections won by Chris Christie.

Chuck Hagel Biography
Read a bio of Chuck Hagel. Learn more about President Barack Obama's nominee for defense secretary.

Jack Lew Bio
Read a biography of Treasury secretary nominee Jack Lew. Learn more about Jack Lew's political career. Find out why President Barack Obama nominated Jack Lew to be his next Treasury secretary.

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