Thomas J. Donohue Explained

Thomas J. Donohue
Birth Name:Thomas Joseph Donohue
Birth Date:12 August 1938
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Death Place:Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
Education:St. John's University (BA)
Adelphi University (MA)
Occupation:Business executive
President and CEO of U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Predecessor:Richard L. Lesher
Successor:Suzanne P. Clark
Term:1997–2019 (as President)
1997–2021 (as CEO)
Children:3

Thomas Joseph Donohue Sr. (August 12, 1938 – October 14, 2024) was an American business executive. He served as the President and CEO of the United States Chamber of Commerce located in Washington, D.C. from 1997 to 2021.[1] [2] During his leadership of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Donohue established the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform and was president of the National Chamber Foundation. Before his leadership at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Donohue was President and CEO of the American Trucking Association.

Early life

Thomas Joseph Donohue was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 12, 1938 to a production manager at the American Can Company, and was of Irish descent.[3] He was raised in Rockville Centre on Long Island. He studied at St. John's University, before pursuing a Master of Arts in Business at Adelphi University (1965).[4] He worked his way through college as a union truck driver before working as a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts of America and the National Center for Disability Services.[5] [6]

Career

Donohue worked as an administrator at Fairfield University and as a trustee at Marymount University.[7] From 1969 to 1976 he was the US Official Deputy Assistant Postmaster General, where he helped "convert" the Post Office from a government department into the quasi-private U.S. Postal Service.[6]

In 1976 he joined the US Chamber of Commerce development department under its president, Richard Lesher. By 1978, his role included running "a grassroots political apparatus" and "relations with the White House and Congress".

In 1984, he left to become President and CEO of the American Trucking Association, "quickly turning what was a moribund also-ran into a Washington powerhouse" according to the Washington Monthly. In 1997 he returned to the Chamber as its President.

Donohue was an Emeritus Hudson Institute Trustee and has served on the board of directors of Qwest, Sunrise Assisted Living Corporation, Union Pacific, and XM.[8] [9]

In July 2022, Donohue helped found a group of U.S. business and policy leaders who share the goal of constructively engaging with China in order to improve U.S.-China relations.[10]

Chamber of Commerce

In 1997, Donohue assumed the role of President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, replacing Richard Lesher.[11] Under Lesher, the Chamber had endorsed the Clinton health care plan of 1993, angering many conservatives.[12] [13] Congressman John Boehner led a campaign pushing companies to leave the Chamber over its support of the bill. When Donohue took over, the Chamber's power was considered to be at a low ebb. The Washington Post wrote, "Nobody has mastered this new Washington game better than Thomas J. Donohue."[14] According to The Wall Street Journal, "[Donohue's] most striking innovation has been to offer individual companies and industries the chance to use the chamber as a means of anonymously pursuing their own political ends."[15]

Donohue established the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, which has won significant cases in the courts, at the state and federal levels, and in elections for state attorneys general and Supreme Court judges.[9] Donohue was president of the National Chamber Foundation as well as the Center for International Private Enterprise, a core institution of the National Endowment for Democracy.[9] [16]

In 2014, Donohue said that if the Republicans did not change their immigration policies then they "shouldn't bother to run a candidate in 2016".[17] During his final years at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, he often clashed with President Donald Trump over his administration's trade and immigration policies.[18]

Donohue resigned as president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2019.[18] He would then retire as CEO in 2021 with Suzanne P. Clark succeeding him as both CEO and President.[19]

Personal life and death

In 1963, Donohue married Elizabeth Schulz in Bayside, New York. They met while attending St. John's together. They had three sons; Thomas Jr., Keith and John.[20] Schulz died of cancer in July 2017.[21]

Donohue died from congestive heart failure at his home in Arlington, Virginia on October 14, 2024, at the age of 86.[22] [23] [24]

Honors

Donohue was the 2013 recipient of the Horatio Alger Award.[25] In April 2016, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Boy Scouts of America's National Capital Area Council.[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: December 8, 2013. Thomas J. Donohue. March 12, 2021. U.S. Chamber of Commerce. en.
  2. Broder JM. (2009). Storm Over the Chamber. New York Times.
  3. Web site: Statement on the Passing of Former U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas J. Donohue. October 14, 2024. U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
  4. Web site: Adelphi University's Eighth Annual President's Gala Honors Outstanding Executives and Alumni. February 20, 2008. March 9, 2015. University Advancement News. Adelphi University.
  5. James Verini, "Show Him the Money ", Washington Monthly, July/August 2010
  6. James Toedtman, "Full-Court Press for Business", Newsday, January 4, 1998
  7. Web site: Thomas J. Donohue. October 14, 2024. Horatio Alger.org.
  8. Bloomberg, "Thomas J. Donohue Executive Profile"
  9. Web site: Thomas J. Donohue. October 2, 2024 . October 14, 2024. Hudson.org.
  10. Web site: July 7, 2022 . We Want to Rebuild U.S. Relations With China – WSJ . July 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707140754/https://www.wsj.com/articles/we-want-to-rebuild-us-china-relations-trade-business-economic-growth-antony-blinken-foreign-policy-11657141306 . July 7, 2022 . dead.
  11. Web site: USCC Timeline. October 15, 2024. USChamber.com.
  12. Web site: Top lobbyists in the US . December 30, 2015.
  13. Web site: U.S. Chamber: $34.7 million in lobbying. Jonathan. Allen. Politico. October 20, 2009.
  14. Steven Pearlstein, "The Hard Bargainer; Donohue Brings Pragmatist's Head and Fighter's Heart to Venerable Business Group", Washington Post, September 7, 1997
  15. Jim Vandehei, "Business Lobby Recovers Its Clout By Dispensing Favors for Members, Wall Street Journal
  16. Web site: Biography: Thomas J. DONOHUE. WTO.org. October 14, 2024.
  17. News: Public Infrastructure . May 12, 2014 . www.c-span.org . C-SPAN . May 12, 2014.
  18. Web site: Former Chamber of Commerce CEO dead at 86. The Denver Gazette. October 14, 2024. October 14, 2024.
  19. Web site: Tom Donohue, former longtime Chamber of Commerce CEO, dies. WRBL. October 14, 2024. October 14, 2024.
  20. Web site: In Memoriam: Retired US Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas J. Donohue '63C, '85HON. October 2, 2024 . St. John's.edu. October 15, 2024.
  21. Web site: ELIZABETH DONOHUE Obituary. Legacy. October 15, 2024. July 14, 2017.
  22. Web site: Tom Donohue, former longtime Chamber CEO, dies. The Hill. October 14, 2024. October 14, 2024.
  23. Web site: Tom Donohue, titan of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, dies at 86. Axios. October 14, 2024. October 14, 2024.
  24. News: Thomas Donohue, who built Chamber of Commerce lobbying clout, dies at 86. The Washington Post. October 15, 2024. October 15, 2024.
  25. https://www.horatioalger.org/members/member-detail/?id=003j000000f210DAAQ Member Profile
  26. https://www.ceoupdate.com/articles/news/ceos-recognized-boy-scouts-their-achievements CEOs recognized by Boy Scouts for their achievements
  27. Web site: 2018 Spring Conferment of Decoration. US Embassy.gov. October 14, 2024.