Bill Hagerty (politician)

William Francis Hagerty IV (born August 14, 1959) is an American businessman, politician, and diplomat who served as the 30th United States Ambassador to Japan from 2017 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Hagerty is the party's nominee to succeed Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee in the United States Senate, and was the national finance Chair for Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign.

Bill Hagerty
30th United States Ambassador to Japan
In office
August 31, 2017 – July 22, 2019
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byCaroline Kennedy
Succeeded byJoseph M. Young (acting)
Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
In office
February 14, 2011 – June 6, 2014
GovernorBill Haslam
Preceded byMatt Kisber
Succeeded byRandy Boyd
Personal details
Born
William Francis Hagerty IV

(1959-08-14) August 14, 1959
Gallatin, Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Chrissy Hagerty
(
m. 2001)
Children4
EducationVanderbilt University (BA, JD)

In the 2016 presidential election, Hagerty initially supported former Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, before supporting Donald Trump after Bush suspended his campaign. After Trump won the election and became President, on March 27, 2017, President Trump nominated Hagerty to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, succeeding Caroline Kennedy. He was previously the managing director and co-founder of Hagerty Peterson & Company, a private equity investment firm.[1]

Hagerty became the 30th United States Ambassador to Japan on July 27, 2017, after Vice President Mike Pence administered the oath of office.[2] Hagerty is currently running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Lamar Alexander in the 2020 election, having announced his campaign in September 2019.[3] He won the Republican primary and will face Democratic nominee Marquita Bradshaw in the general election.[4]

Early life and education

Hagerty is a native of Gallatin, in Sumner County, Tennessee. He became an Eagle Scout, and was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 2017.[5] He is a 1977 graduate of Madisonville North Hopkins High School in Kentucky.[6] He earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1981 from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt Law School in 1984.[7][8]

Career

He began his career at Boston Consulting Group, culminating in a three-year assignment to Tokyo.[7] Hagerty served as an economic advisor and White House Fellow under President George H. W. Bush,[9] and then began a career in private equity, initially at Trident Capital in Silicon Valley. He served as a national finance chairman in the Mitt Romney 2008 presidential campaign.[10]

From 2011 to 2014, Hagerty served as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development in the cabinet of Governor Bill Haslam, where he played a role in investments by Bridgestone, Calsonic Kansei, and Nissan in Tennessee.[11]

Hagerty has served on the board of CyMed, NEW Customer Services, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Ryman Hospitality, Pinnacle Financial Partners, and R.J. O'Brien.[12]

Major League Soccer Steering Committee

Prior to his confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Hagerty founded and led the Nashville MLS Steering Committee, a coalition seeking to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to Nashville, Tennessee. That effort was successful, with Nashville being officially selected and named the first of two new MLS expansion markets on December 20, 2017.[13][14][15][16]

2016 presidential election

During the early stages of the 2016 presidential election, Hagerty was nominated to serve on the ballot as a delegate for Jeb Bush. Bush dropped out of the race before the Tennessee primary on March 1, 2016. [17] Following the Tennessee primary, Hagerty served as Trump Victory Chair for Tennessee. After Donald Trump became the Republican nominee, he was selected in August of 2016 as director of appointments for Trump's presidential transition team.[18][19]

United States Ambassador to Japan

Hagerty was nominated to be the United States Ambassador to Japan by President Donald Trump on March 27, 2017. He was confirmed on July 13, 2017 by the United States Senate in an 86–12 vote.[20][21] He was sworn in as the 30th U.S. Ambassador on July 27, 2017.[22][23]

Prior to his confirmation, Hagerty was reportedly also under consideration for the post of United States Trade Representative, based on his prior international trade and U.S. foreign investment experience.[24][25] The job eventually went to Robert Lighthizer, an attorney and former Reagan Administration official.

On July 16, 2019, Hagerty announced he would resign as Ambassador to Japan with President Donald J. Trump's endorsement of his 2020 Senate campaign.[26]

Hagerty and family with Donald and Melania Trump in the ambassadorial residence in 2019

2020 U.S. Senate campaign
Main article: 2020 United States Senate election in Tennessee

On July 12, 2019 President Trump announced that Hagerty would resign as Ambassador to Japan, so that he could run in the U.S. Senate election in Tennessee in 2020, also in the tweet, Trump endorsed his run for Senate.[27][28][29]

At the same time, amid reports that Mike Pompeo was considering a run for an open US Senate seat in Kansas, some considered Hagerty to be a possible contender to replace him as Secretary of State, according to a CNN source familiar with the situation.[30]

Hagerty officially launched his Senate campaign on September 9, 2019.[3] By September 30, Hagerty had raised $1.9 million for his campaign.[31] By April 6, Hagerty had raised more than $7 million for the campaign in seven months, with $1.2 million raised in the first quarter of 2020.[32]

In a poll by Vanderbilt University, released on December 17, 2019, Bill Hagerty held a clear name ID advantage at 41% followed by potential primary opponents James Mackler at 9% and Manny Sethi at 6%.[33]

On January 28, 2020 Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle spoke at a fundraiser for Bill Hagerty's U.S. Senate campaign in Gallatin, Tennessee. Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle endorsed Bill Hagerty and spoke of President Donald Trump's endorsement for Hagerty's campaign.[34]

On February 18, Nikki Haley spoke at a fundraiser for Bill Hagerty's U.S. Senate campaign in Nashville, Tennessee. Haley endorsed Bill Hagerty's campaign. [35]

On April 14, 2020, President Donald Trump appointed Bill Hagerty to the Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups as a thought leader. [36]

Beginning in late May of 2020, news outlets began circulating an article, originally published by Roger Sollenberger in Salon, discussing allegations of campaign finance misconduct by Hagerty.[37] The article focuses largely on an loan given to the Hagerty Campaign by Pinnacle Financial Partners almost immediately following the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.[38]

On August 6, 2020, Hagerty won the Republican primary.[39] He will face Democrat nominee Marquita Bradshaw in the November general election.[40]

Political views

Hagerty is a self-described conservative.[41] His views have been characterized as more populist and in line with the views of Donald Trump, and less in line with the Republican establishment and moderates.[42] He often expresses criticism of moderate Republicans, such as Mitt Romney.[42][43]

Hagerty supports the death penalty for people convicted of engaging in human trafficking acts.[44] He is strongly opposed to illegal immigration and supports Trump's proposed expansion of the Mexico–United States barrier.[45] He is also opposed to amnesty for illegal immigrants and sanctuary cities, and believes that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) should be repealed and that undocumented immigrants who commit crimes should be deported.[45] He also supports reforming U.S. immigration policies into a merit-based system.[45] Hagerty believes that Sharia Law is a national security threat to the United States and believes that the United States should continue to support Israel.[46][45]

He supports free trade, and believes that a better trade deal should be negotiated between the US and China.[47] He supports rolling back regulations that he believes are unnecessary and believes that doing so would return jobs to the U.S. that have been outsourced.[47] Hagerty supports Second Amendment rights, and is opposed to a national gun registry, universal background checks, and red flag laws.[45] Hagerty is opposed to abortion rights and self-identifies as pro-life.[48] Hagerty supports reducing taxes and supports enacting a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.[46] He opposes raising the federal minimum wage.[49] Hagerty is opposed to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and believes that the federal government should reduce its involvement in healthcare.[43] He supports efforts to prevent the closure of rural hospitals.[49] He is opposed to the Common Core State Standards Initiative and the No Child Left Behind Act, and supports reallocating funding from the United States Department of Education to the states.[45] Hagerty supports increased investment and development of fossil fuels, and supports repealing renewable energy and energy efficiency standards.[43] He also supports the American energy independence.[43]

Personal life

Hagerty is married to Chrissy Hagerty, and has two daughters and two sons.[46] He identifies as a conservative Christian.[49]

References
  1. Collins, Michael (July 27, 2017). "1 Tennessee's Bill Hagerty sworn in as the U.S. ambassador to Japan". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  2. "President Donald J. Trump Sends Nominations to the Senate". White House press pool email. March 27, 2017. Archived from the original on March 28, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
  3. "Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty launches U.S. Senate bid". Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  4. Ebert, Joel; Allison, Natalie. "Bill Hagerty wins Tennessee's bitter Republican US Senate primary". The Tennessean.
  5. Hubbard, Alex (April 24, 2017). "Bill Hagerty named Distinguished Eagle Scout in Franklin ceremony". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  6. Harvey, Laura (July 24, 2017). "Madisonville-North Hopkins High School graduate confirmed as U.S. ambassador to Japan". Kentucky New Era. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  7. "Bill Hagerty '84 appointed as U.S. Ambassador to Japan". Vanderbilt Law School. March 24, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  8. "Appointment of the 1991–1992 White House Fellows" (PDF). White House. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  9. Haberkorn, Jennifer; Restuccia, Andrew (August 28, 2016). "Trump taps Bush, Romney veterans for transition". Politico. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  10. Garrison, Joey (November 12, 2014). "ECD Commissioner Bill Hagerty to leave Haslam administration". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  11. "Trump to name Nashville's Bill Hagerty ambassador to Japan". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  12. "Report for the Committee on Foreign Relations: Hagerty, William – Japan – May 2017". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  13. "State bill seeks to help Nashville MLS bid with stadium". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  14. "Nashville formally awarded MLS team, completing come-from-behind win". Nashville Business Journal. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  15. "Nashville lands MLS franchise". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  16. "Nashville MLS Win: Don't bet against Bill Hagerty". Nashville Business Journal. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  17. "Jeb Bush names Frist, three Chattanoogans for TN presidential delegate slate". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  18. "Nashville's Bill Hagerty takes on key role on Trump transition team". The Tennessean. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  19. Rogin, Josh (August 3, 2016). "Top Corker aide joins Trump transition team". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  20. "Senate Confirmation Vote". United States Senate.
  21. "U.S. Senate confirms businessman Hagerty as ambassador to Japan". Reuters. July 13, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  22. The White House (July 27, 2017), Vice President Pence Swears In U.S. Ambassador to Japan William F. Hagerty IV, retrieved July 27, 2017
  23. "Hagerty: Goal remains the denuclearization of North Korea". Asahi. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  24. "Bill Hagerty reportedly a contender to be Trump's top trade negotiator". The Tennessean. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  25. "Trump Team makes overtures to democrats as transition push ramps up". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  26. Hughes, Clyde (July 16, 2019). "U.S. ambassador to Japan resigns amid Senate race". United Press International. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  27. Casiano, Louis (July 12, 2019). "Trump says Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty to make Senate run in Tennessee". Fox News. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  28. Segers, Grace (July 12, 2019). "Trump announces U.S. ambassador to Japan will run for Senate". CBS News. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  29. Ebert, Joel (July 12, 2019). "President Donald Trump says Bill Hagerty to run for US Senate in Tennessee". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  30. Rogers, Alex; Cohen, Zachary (July 12, 2019). "Trump announces his US ambassador to Japan will run for US Senate in Tennessee". CNN Politics. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  31. "Bill Hagerty raises $1.9 million from donors during first month in U.S. Senate race". Tennessean. October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  32. "Hagerty raises $1.2M more in Tennessee bid for US Senate". AP. April 4, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  33. Entman, Liz (December 17, 2019). "Vanderbilt Poll finds Tennesseans broadly united on key issues, economic insecurity top of mind for many". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  34. "Donald Trump Jr. touts father's accomplishments, slams media and Democrats while stumping for Bill Hagerty". Tennessean. January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  35. "Nikki Haley Says Bill Hagerty Is 'A Quality Republican' During Nashville Stop". Tennessee Star. February 19, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  36. "President Donald J. Trump Announces Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups". White House. White House. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  37. "Trump task force member Bill Hagerty may be using pandemic to fund his Tennessee Senate campaign". Salon. May 27, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  38. "Browse loans". FEC.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  39. Arkin, James (August 6, 2020). "Trump-endorsed Hagerty wins Tennessee Senate primary". Politico. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  40. West, Emily R.; Hardiman, Samuel. "Marquita Bradshaw wins Tennessee's Democratic US Senate primary". The Tennessean.
  41. Ebert, Joel (January 27, 2020). "GOP U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty's first TV ad highlights Trump endorsement, impeachment". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  42. Wegmann, Philip (January 7, 2020). "Bill Hagerty Is No Mitt Romney (and That's Fine by Trump)". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  43. Keafer, Tori (December 2, 2019). "Senate candidate talks political and Main Street views with Franklin mayor". Williamson Herald. Franklin, Tennessee. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  44. Hagerty, Bill (March 9, 2020). "End Human Trafficking, Support Death Penalty For Traffickers". The Chattanoogan. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  45. "Issues". teamhagerty.com. Bill Hagerty for U.S. Senate. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  46. Siniard, Tim (January 10, 2020). "Hagerty vows to stand with Trump". Cleveland Daily Banner. Cleveland, Tennessee. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  47. Hagerty, Bill (April 2020). "Bill's Blueprint To Bring Jobs Back To The United States" (PDF). teamhagerty.com. Bill Hagerty for U.S. Senate. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  48. Hagerty, Bill (June 2020). "Bill Hagerty's Blueprint To Protect The Right To Life" (PDF). teamhagerty.com. Bill Hagerty for U.S. Senate. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  49. Stevens, Blake (January 14, 2020). "From jobs to healthcare to Iran: Former Ambassador, U.S. Senate Candidate Bill Hagerty discusses range of topics". WATE-TV. Knoxville, Tennessee. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Caroline Kennedy		 United States Ambassador to Japan
2017–2019		 Succeeded by
Joseph Young
Acting
Party political offices
Preceded by
Lamar Alexander		 Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Tennessee
(Class 2)
2020		 Most recent
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