Card, Andrew H: Files, 1983-1987, 1988

Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

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Andrew Card initially joined the Reagan White House staff in September 1983. He succeeded Jim Medas as the person with primary responsibility for liaison with the nation’s Governors. In March 1987, Card left the White House staff to become a senior consultant for Vice President Bush’s nascent presidential campaign. Card returned to the Reagan White House in May 1988, and headed the Intergovernmental Affairs office for three months. He then left a second time, for a position with the Bush campaign organization. It is clear from the dating on much of this material that it was created by Jim Medas and may be transferred to his collection.

Biography

Andrew Hill Card Jr. (May 10, 1947- ) is an American politician/government official and academic administrator. He was White House Chief of Staff under President George W. Bush from 2001-2006 and Card served as Secretary of Transportation under President George H. W. Bush from 1992 to 1993.

Card was born in Brockton, Massachusetts and grew up in Holbrook Massachusetts, graduating from Holbrook High School in 1965. As a youth, he was active in the Boy Schouts of America's Old Colony Council and earned the rank of Life Scout. He attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy 1966 to 1967 before graduating from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering in 1971. He also attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Card got his start in politics holding a number of elected and appointed municipal offices in Holbrook. From 1974 until 1983, he was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he served in the Republican leadership for six years. It was at this time that Card began to move into national politics, serving as a delegate to the 1976, 1980, and 1984 Republican National Conventions. In the late 1970s Card ran the Bush for President campaign for the New Hampshire primary. He spent a lot of one on one time with then Ambassador Bush and they created a lasting bond which resulted in his long association with the Bush family. Card ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Governor of Massachusetts in 1982.

Beginning in 1983, Card served in the West Wing under President Ronald Reagan, as Special Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs with primary responsibility of relations between the Reagan Administration and the nation's governors. He left this post in March 1987 to work again as the head of the successful New Hampshire presidential primary campaign for Vice President George H. W. Bush. He returned to the White House in May 1988, appointed as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, where he was liaison to governors, statewide elected officials, state legislators, mayors and other elected officials.

From 1989 to 1992, Card served in President George H.W. Bush's administration as Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff. From 1992 until 1993, Card served as the 11th Secretary of Transportation under President Bush. In August 1992, at the request of President Bush, Secretary Card coordinated the administration's disaster relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Andrew. Later that year, Secretary Card directed President Bush's transition office during the transition from the Bush administration to the Clinton Administration.

From 1993 to 1998, Card was president and chief executive officer of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA), the trade association whose members were Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation. The AAMA dissolved in December 1998. From 1999 until his selection as President George W. Bush's Chief of Staff, Card was General Motors Vice President of Government Relations. Card directed the company's international, national, state and local government affairs activities and represented GM on matters of public policy before Congress and the administration.

In 2000, Card was asked by Texas Governor George W. Bush to run the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. Subsequently on November 26, 2000, Card was appointed to be chief of staff for President-elect George W. Bush.

On September 11, 2001, Card approached Bush as he was visiting Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, and whispered in his ear the news that a second plane had hit the World Trade Center, confirming that a terrorist attack was underway. Card later recounted his story, saying that he whispered "A second plane hit the second tower. America is under attack."

On March 28, 2006, the White House announced that Card would resign as Chief of Staff. Card's resignation was effective April 14, 2006. At 5 years and 84 days, his tenure as Chief of Staff was the second-longest in the office's history.

Card then began a "second career" in academia and other pursuits. In July 2006, Card was elected to an expanded Board of Directors of the Union Pacific Railroad. He also became a senior counselor at public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard. Card serves on the Board of Directors of Hylion, Draganfly, Inc. and the Aurora Tech Industry Advisory Council, and on a number of other non-profit boards. He served on the Board of Lorillard until it was purchased by RIA in 2015. He also was on the Edward M. Kennedy Institute Board, the Business Advisory Board of BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, the Global Advisory Board of Alexander Proudfoot, and the Advisory Board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce He is also a professional speaker represented by the Washington Speakers Bureau (WSB).

On July 5, 2011, Card was named acting dean of The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. He remained there until the return of Dean Ryan Crocker's return from service as the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan on August 1, 2013. He then went on to be Executive Director of the Office of the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Texas A&M University from August 2013 until December 2014. Card was selected as the fifth president of Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire. He began his tenure in December 2014, and resigned in the summer of 2016.

Card previously served as Chairman of the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, DC from January 2018 until January 2021. From June 2020 until December 2020, he also served as the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation. Since December 2023, Card has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation.

Card has been the recipient of many honorary degrees and awards.

Card is married to Reverend Kathleene Bryan Card. They reside in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. They have three grown children and six grandchildren.

Record Type

Textual

Last Modified Date

2025-02-12

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Card, Andrew H: Files, 1983-1987, 1988

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