Who Is He?:
(Update: Thompson withdraw from the race in August of 2007.) Tommy Thompson was born November 19, 1941 in Elroy, Wisconsin. He graduated from the
University of Wisconsin Law School in 1966 and was shortly elected to the Wisconsin state legislature. He began his 14 year term as
governor of Wisconsin in 1987. In 2001, he was named
secretary of health and human services by President George W. Bush. He left that office in January of 2005.
International Experience:
As
secretary of heath and human services, Thompson represented the United States in a number of international capacities. He interacted regularly with the
World Health Organization and served as chair of the
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Foreign Policy Positions:
Thompson is a supporter of free trade and "
fast track" authority for the president to negotiate free trade agreements. In 2005, Thompson taught a course at Harvard's
Kennedy School of Government on "
medical diplomacy," where he advocated using our medical expertise to "win the hearts and minds" of people in the developing world. He is seen as a
strong supporter of Israel.
Tommy Thompson's Foreign Policy Statements:
Campaign Links:
The Competition:
Explore the foreign policy background of all major 2008 presidential candidates.
