Robert Foster Bennett
| Bob Bennett | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 5, 1993 Serving with Orrin Hatch |
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| Preceded by | Jake Garn |
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| Succeeded by | Incumbent (2011) |
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| Born | September 18 1933  Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Joyce McKay |
| Alma mater | University of Utah |
| Religion | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Robert Foster "Bob" Bennett (born September 18, 1933) is a Republican United States Senator from Utah.
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bennett is the son of Frances Marion Grant and U.S. Senator Wallace Foster Bennett,[1] as well as the grandson of Heber J. Grant, seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He attended Utah public schools and received a B.S. from the University of Utah in 1957.
In 1962, Bennett married Joyce McKay, granddaughter of David O. McKay, ninth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The couple have six children: Julie, Robert, James, Wendy, Heather, and Heidi.
He was a chaplain in the Army National Guard from 1957 to 1969, when he entered public service as congressional liaision of the United States Department of Transportation, serving from 1969 to 1970. That year he became president of Robert Mullen Associates, a Washington, D.C. public relations firm that occasionally provided cover for Central Intelligence Agency operations. Because his company employed Watergate burglar E. Howard Hunt, he was suspected of being Woodward and Bernstein's source Deep Throat.
In 1974, he became the public relations director for billionaire Howard Hughes's holding company, Summa Corporation, working there until 1978 when he became president of Osmond Communications. In 1979, he went into computers, first as chairman of American Computers Corporation, then as president of Microsonics Corporation from 1981 to 1984. In 1984, he was named CEO of Franklin Quest, the maker of organizers and appointment books.
A Senate seat opened up in 1992, when Jake Garn, who hated Washington and made no secret of it, refused to run for a fourth term. Bennett narrowly won the Republican primary (51%) in 1992, his opponent being another millionaire with famous forebears, and then went on to defeat his Democratic opponent, Congressman Wayne Owens, in the general election. He was re-elected in 1998 and 2004. His Democratic opponent in 2004 was Paul Van Dam and Bennett won by a vote of 68%-29%. Bennett currently serves as the Deputy Republican Whip.
On June 27, 2006, Bennett was one of only three Republicans to vote against the defeated Flag Desecration Amendment. The amendment's chief sponsor was Bennett's fellow Utah Republican senator, Orrin Hatch.
Electoral history
- 2004 Race for U.S. Senate
- Bob Bennett (R) (inc.), 69%
- Paul Van Dam (D), 28%
- 1998 Race for U.S. Senate
- Bob Bennett (R) (inc.), 64%
- Scott Leckman (D), 33%
- 1992 Race for U.S. Senate
- Bob Bennett (R), 55%
- Wayne Owens (D), 40%
- 1992 Race for U.S. Senate — Republican Primary
- Bob Bennett (R), 51%
- Joseph Cannon (R), 49%
See also
Footnotes
External links
- United States Senator Robert F Bennett official Senate site
- Robert Foster Bennett at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Federal Election Commission — Robert F Bennett campaign finance reports and data
- mormoncentury.org — Why Bennett supported stem cell research
- New York Times — Robert F. Bennett News collected news and commentary
- On the Issues — Robert Bennett issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org — Robert F. Bennett campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart — Senator Robert Bennett (UT) profile
- Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Robert Bennett voting record
| Preceded by Jake Garn |
United
States Senator (Class 3) from Utah 1993–Present Served alongside: Orrin Hatch |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Utah's current delegation to the United States Congress | |
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| Senators | Orrin Hatch (R), Robert Bennett (R) |
| Representative(s) | Rob Bishop (R), Jim Matheson (D), Chris Cannon (R) |
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