Lamar Alexander Open Collection Budget Message: MPA-304 [MS-1061] (Finding Aid not online)

Lamar Alexander (1940- ) was a Republican governor of Tennessee who served unprecedented consecutive four-year terms in office from 1979 to 1987. He was born in Maryville, Tennessee to parents who were both teachers. Alexander graduated from Vanderbilt University and later earned a law degree at New York University. He entered politics as a legislative aide to Senator Howard Baker Jr., followed by his service in the office of the White House congressional liaison and then as the campaign manager of Winfield Dunn’s successful campaign for governor in 1970. Alexander lost his first campaign for the governor’s office in 1974 but won his second campaign in 1978, which was memorable for his walk across Tennessee clad in a red and black plaid shirt. During his terms in office Tennessee experienced economic development, while Alexander also instituted programs to improve public and higher education. Alexander continued his interest in education following his tenure as governor, including his service as president of the University of Tennessee and in his appointment in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush as Secretary of Education. He currently represents Tennessee as the senior U.S. Senator, a position to which he was elected in 2002.