Jack Lew
Jacob Joseph "Jack" Lew was the U.S. Ambassador to Israel from 2023 to 2025. He was confirmed by the Senate in a 53-43 vote on October 31, 2023.[1]
He formerly served as the secretary of the treasury under the Obama administration. Lew succeeded Timothy Geithner.
The Senate voted to confirm Lew by a vote of 71-26, with 25 of the dissenting votes cast by Republicans and one from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).[2] Lew was sworn into office by former Vice President Joe Biden (D) on February 28, 2013.[3]
Lew began his political career as a legislative aide in 1973. He served in the Office of Management and Budget, State Department, and on the White House staff.[4]
Biography
Lew grew up in Queens, New York, and attended Forest Hills High School. He attended Carleton College for a year until he transferred to and graduated from Harvard University. Lew then received a law degree from Georgetown University.[5][6]
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Lew's academic, professional, and political career:[4][5][7][8][9][10]
- 2023-2025: U.S. Ambassador to Israel
- 2017-2023: Managing partner, Lindsay Goldberg
- 2017-2023: Visiting professor, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
- 2013-2017: United States Secretary of the Treasury
- 2012-2013: White House Chief of Staff
- 2010-2012: Director of the Office of Management and Budget
- 2008-2010: Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources
- 2006-2008: Chief Operating officer of Citi Alternative Investments
- 2001-2006: Executive Vice President of New York University
- 1998-2001: Director of the Office of Management and Budget
- 1995-1998: Deputy Director for the U.S. Office of Management and Budget
- 1994-1995: Executive Associate Director and Associate Director for Legislative Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget
- 1993-1994: Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton
- 1992-1993: Executive Director for Center for Middle East Research
- 1987-1991: Partner at law firm of Van Ness, Feldman & Curtis
- 1979-1987: Principal Domestic Policy Advisor to House Speaker Thomas O'Neill
- 1983: Earned law degree from Georgetown University Law Center
- 1978: Graduated from Harvard University
- 1974-1975: Aide to Representative Joe Moakley
Secretary of the Treasury (2013-2017)
Confirmation vote
The U.S. Senate confirmed Lew as the secretary of the treasury on February 27, 2013, by a vote of 71-26. Twenty-five Republicans, along with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), voted against his nomination.[11] He succeeded Timothy Geithner.
| Jack Lew confirmation vote, February 27, 2013 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes for  |
Votes against  |
Total votes |
 Democrats |
50 | 0 | 50 |
 Republicans |
20 | 25 | 45 |
 Independents |
1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Votes | 71 | 26 | 97 |
Secretary of the Treasury term initiatives
 |
Debt limit
- See also: United States budget debate, 2013
On September 26, 2013, Lew said in a letter to former House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) that the debt limit would need to be raised by October 16, or the government would enter into default on its obligations. If an agreement was not made by October 1, the government would shut down. When the issue arose in 2011, President Obama agreed to a $900 billion spending cut and sequestration, but he did not intend to accept a similar deal.[12]
Iran sanctions
See also: Iran nuclear agreement: An overview
Lew and Secretary of State John Kerry scheduled a briefing with the Senate Banking Committee on October 25, 2013, over nuclear talks with Iran, as the Senate considered new sanctions. Kerry and Lew arranged to testify on behalf of the Obama administration in order to push for the ability to waive sanctions depending on nuclear talks. The House passed a version of the bill with stronger sanctions in July.[13]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Lew is married with two grown children.[5]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Jack + Lew + Treasury + Secretary
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Politico, "Senate confirms Jack Lew as ambassador to Israel, over Republican pushback," October 31, 2023
- ↑ Politico, "Senate confirms Jack Lew as treasury secretary with little fanfare," accessed February 27, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Department of Treasury, "Jacob J. Lew Sworn in as Treasury Secretary," March 20, 2013
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 U.S. Department of Treasury, "Secretary of the Treasury," accessed June 5, 2013
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Washington Post, "Who is Jack Lew?" January 9, 2013
- ↑ The Atlantic, "Who is Jack Lew, Obama's Nominee for Treasury Secretary?" January 9, 2013
- ↑ Wall Street Journal, "Biographical information on Jack Lew," January 9, 2012
- ↑ The Hill, "Incoming White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew like Rahm sans %@#!" January 12, 2012
- ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, "Thompson Schedules Nomination Hearing on Jacob J. Lew," May 28, 1998
- ↑ New York Times, "Jacob J. Lew," November 15, 2008
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 United States Senate, "Roll Call votes," accessed June 5, 2013
- ↑ MSNBC, "US has three weeks to raise debt limit–or risk default," September 26, 2013
- ↑ Reuters, "Kerry, Lew to brief U.S. senators on Iran nuclear talks," October 25, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Timothy Geithner |
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury 2013-2017 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by William Daley |
White House Chief of Staff 2012-2013 |
Succeeded by Denis McDonough |
| Preceded by Peter Orszag |
Director of the Office of Management and Budget 2010-2012 |
Succeeded by Sylvia Mathews Burwell |
| Preceded by Franklin D. Raines |
Director of the Office of Management and Budget 1998-2001 |
Succeeded by Mitch Daniels |
