Jim Nicholson

Jim Nicholson
5th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs
In office January 26, 2005 – October 1, 2007
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Anthony J. Principi
Succeeded by	James Peake
United States Ambassador to the Holy See
In office 2001 – 2005
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Lindy Boggs
Succeeded by	Francis Rooney
58th Chairman of the Republican National Committee
In office 1997 – 2001
Preceded by	Haley Barbour
Succeeded by	Jim Gilmore
Born	February 4, 1938 (1938-02-04) (age 71) Struble, Iowa
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	United States Military Academy, Columbia University
Profession	attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic
Military service
Service/branch	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 "Jim" Nicholson (born February 4, 1938^[1]) is an attorney, real estate developer, and a former Republican Party chairman. He was the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs from January 26, 2005 until October 1, 2007.[1]

Political career

Nicholson has never held elected office, but has long been active in the Republican Party. In January 1986, he was elected committeeman from Colorado for the Republican National Committee (RNC). In 1993, he was elected Vice-Chairman of the RNC, and was the "surprise pick"^[2] for GOP national chairman in January 1997. He served in that role through the 2000 presidential election.

Between 2001 and his appointment as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, he served as United States Ambassador to the Holy See (the Vatican).

Legal and business career

Before becoming active in civilian government service, he practiced law in Denver, Colorado, specializing in real estate, municipal finance and zoning law. In 1978 he founded Nicholson Enterprises, Inc., a developer of planned residential communities, and in 1987 he bought Renaissance Homes, a custom-house builder. He now works in the Washington, D.C. office of Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck LLP.

Military service

He is a 1961 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and served eight years in active duty. He was a paratrooper and Ranger-qualified Army officer. He fought in the Vietnam War, where he earned the Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and two Air Medals.

After thirty years of military service he retired in 1991 with the rank of Colonel.

Personal life

Nicholson was born on a farm near Struble, Iowa. Nicholson has characterized his childhood as "growing up dirt poor in a tenant house without plumbing and sometimes without food".^[3]

Nicholson has a Master's degree in Public Policy from Columbia University. He received a law degree from the University of Denver in 1972.^[4] In May 2005, he was recognized with the Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Military Academy Award.

Nicholson is married to the former Suzanne Marie Ferrell of Highland Falls, New York, who is an accomplished artist. They are the parents of three adult children.^[5]

References

External links

• Official biography from the Department of Veterans Affairs website

v • d • e United States Secretaries of Veterans Affairs Derwinski • Brown • West • Gober (acting) • Principi • Nicholson • Peake • Shinseki

v • d • e Cabinet of President George W. Bush (2001–2009)   Cabinet Secretary of State Colin Powell (2001–2005) • Condoleezza Rice (2005–2009) Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill (2001–2002) • John Snow (2003–2006) • Henry Paulson (2006–2009) Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (2001–2006) • Robert Gates (2006–2009) Attorney General John Ashcroft (2001–2005) • Alberto Gonzales (2005–2007) • Michael Mukasey (2007–2009) Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton (2001–2006) • Dirk Kempthorne (2006–2009) Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman (2001–2005) • Mike Johanns (2005–2007) • Ed Schafer (2008–2009) Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans (2001–2005) • Carlos Gutierrez (2005–2009) Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao (2001–2009) Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson (2001–2005) • Mike Leavitt (2005–2009) Secretary of Education Rod Paige (2001–2005) • Margaret Spellings (2005–2009) Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez (2001–2003) • Alphonso Jackson (2003–2008) • Steve Preston (2008–2009) Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta (2001–2006) • Mary Peters (2006–2009) Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham (2001–2005) • Samuel Bodman (2005–2009) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi (2001–2005) • Jim Nicholson (2005–2007) • James Peake (2007–2009) Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge (2003–2005) • Michael Chertoff (2005–2009)   Cabinet-level Vice President Dick Cheney (2001–2009) White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card (2001–2006) • Joshua Bolten (2006–2009) Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Christine Whitman (2001–2003) • Mike Leavitt (2003–2005) • Stephen Johnson (2005–2009) Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mitch Daniels (2001–2003) • Joshua Bolten (2003–2006) • Rob Portman (2006–2007) • Jim Nussle (2007–2009) Director of National Drug Control Policy John Walters (2001–2009) Trade Representative Robert Zoellick (2001–2005) • Rob Portman (2005–2006) • Susan Schwab (2006–2009) Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Joe Allbaugh (2001–2003)

v • d • e United States Ambassadors to the Holy See William A. Wilson 1984-1986 · Frank Shakespeare 1986-1989 · Thomas Patrick Melady 1989-1993 · Raymond Flynn 1993-1997 · Lindy Boggs 1997-2001 · Jim Nicholson 2001-2005 Francis Rooney 2005-2008 · Mary Ann Glendon 2008-2009 · Miguel H. Díaz 2009-Pres.