Work : New Career 1978 (Politics/state House of Representatives)
Work : Gain social status 1984 (Elected to Congress)
Death:Death of Father 14 December 1988 at 03:17 AM chart Placidus Equal_H.
Work : Gain social status 1994 (Elected House Whip)
Work : Gain social status 2002 (Elected House Majority Leader)
Work : Fired/Laid off/Quit 2006 (Gave up his Congressional Seat)
American politician, member of the Republican Party, a conservative in the House of Representatives. Particularly noted for his tenacity and for his heavy-handed, arm-twisting approach in politics, DeLay is nicknamed "The Hammer." After he became House Whip, he explained, "Im a hard-working, aggressive, persistent whip. Thats why Im whip. I worked harder than anyone else. I raised more money than anyone else. I was smarter than anybody else in the race. I won because I worked hard and I dont give up." The second of four children of Charlie DeLay and Maxine Wimbush, young Tom came from blue-collar stock, hard workers who managed to get through the depression by the sweat of their brow, their emphasis on family, and their Southern Baptist faith. Times at home continued to be rough even after World War II. Tom’s father, learning of opportunities in the oil and gas industry, bundled up his family and followed other wild-catters to Venezuela, where they lived near the oil fields. During the familys residence there, Venezuela underwent three revolutions, two of them violent, and DeLay has cited these upheavals as formative, giving him a "passion for freedom." DeLay’s father meanwhile rejected his own upbringing as a teetotaler and became, according to Tom, “… a boisterous, domineering alcoholic” who frequently used the belt when he had to discipline the children. Knowing hard times and hard labor, DeLay’s parents pushed their sons to get an education, and Tom was sent to Baylor University where drinking and partying were prohibited. Nevertheless, he became an active participant in off-campus activities, and his party-loving behavior elicited encouragement from school officials to transfer to another school. He switched to the University of Houston from which he graduated in 1970 with a degree in biology. Carrying his propensity for having a good time into his early years in Congress, he earned the nickname “Hot Tub Tom,” according to his biographers, Lou Dubose and Jan Reid. Their sometimes unflattering book, entitled The Hammer: Tom DeLay: God, Money, and the Rise of the Republican Congress, was released in October 2004. After college, DeLay became an entrepreneur, operating his own pest control business in Houston. As a business owner he resented government interference in the form of environmental, safety or other regulation that affected the way he could run his operation. In order to influence government regulatory efforts, he made a successful run in 1978 for a Texas State House seat on the Republican ticket. Six years later in 1984, he was again successful in his bid for a Congressional seat, the first Republican ever elected from his district. Since then he has been continually re-elected, becoming the House whip in 1994. DeLay’s social life took a turn in the mid-1980s when Frank Wolf, a Republican from Virginia took Tom under his wing. Wolf gave DeLay advice, lectures and an emotionally potent video about being a Christian father. Chastened and remorseful, DeLay gave up drinking hard liquor and partying and went back to church. He applied his abundant energy toward expanding the influence of the Republican Party. But while he endeared himself to his conservative colleagues, he engendered many hard feelings as he climbed to the powerful position he ultimately filled. In September 1996, the Congressional Accountability Project, founded by Ralph Nader, filed charges against DeLay, claiming DeLay had made ethical vioRead less
Tom DeLay is a former American politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1985 to 2006. He rose to prominence within the Republican Party, eventually becoming House Majority Leader. His political career was marked by both significant legislative achievements and controversy, culminating in his resignation from Congress following an indictment on campaign finance charges. While he was initially convicted, the conviction was later overturned on appeal.
Information regarding Tom DeLay's current activities and public appearances is limited. Media coverage has significantly decreased since his departure from Congress. There are no readily available news articles detailing recent public engagements or statements.
Tom DeLay maintains a limited social media presence. Confirmed social media accounts are difficult to locate, suggesting he prefers a lower online profile.
Following his departure from politics, DeLay has largely remained out of the public eye. Information regarding his current professional endeavors or projects is scarce. He has made occasional appearances on conservative media outlets but has not undertaken any major public roles.
Tom DeLay's legacy is complex and debated. Supporters point to his effectiveness in advancing conservative legislation and his role in the Republican Party's rise to power in the 1990s. Critics, however, highlight the ethical controversies surrounding his career and the aggressive partisan tactics he employed. His involvement in the K Street Project, aimed at increasing the influence of Republican lobbyists, remains a subject of scrutiny. His political style and the events leading to his resignation continue to be discussed within the context of broader debates about political ethics and campaign finance reform.
Due to the limited public information available, researching archival news sources and political databases may be necessary for a more comprehensive understanding of Tom DeLay's career and current status. Books and articles focusing on the Republican Party during the 1990s and 2000s may also provide additional context.
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