Beasley was born in Lamar,South Carolina. He is the son of Richard Lee Beasley and Jacqueline (Blackwell) Beasley. He graduated from Lamar High School in 1975,then attended the Capitol Page School in Washington,DC while serving as a page in the U.S. Congress.[2]
Early political career
Elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives at age 20,Beasley transferred from Clemson University to the University of South Carolina where he received a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies in 1979 and a J.D. from the School of Law in 1983.[3] Beasley was a member of the South Carolina House representing the Society Hill area from 1979 until 1995,serving as majority whip from 1985 to 1986 and the majority leader from 1987 to 1989.[4] He served as the youngest Speaker pro tempore and majority leader in the nation.[5]
During the 1991–92 legislative session Beasley switched to the Republican Party.[6]
Governor Of South Carolina (1995-1999)
in the 1994 election for governor,both Beasley and his Democratic opponent Lieutenant GovernorNick Theodore faced tough primary opposition within their respective parties. Beasley defeated his toughest competitor,former congressman and state senator Arthur Ravenel Jr.,in both the primary and run-off,and went on to win the general election by 23,754 votes.[6]
Beasley supported moving the Confederate flag from the Statehouse dome to a pole on the lawn (as seen in the image).
South Carolina had a strong economy while Beasley was governor,with unemployment at a record-low 3.5% in 1998. [7] Beasley often made known his Christ-centered beliefs and conservatism in a state known for its strong ties to Christianity and conservative politics.[8]
Beasley strongly opposed gambling,which was legal in South Carolina until 2002.[9] At the time,many gas stations,convenience stores,and poker "casinos" were established across the state,and as Beasley supported legislation that would outlaw gambling,the video poker industry generated "Ban Beasley" billboards and radio ads.[10]
Until 2000,the Confederate flag flew atop the South Carolina State House. It had been raised over the Capitol dome in celebration of the Civil War centennial. This celebration started in 1961 with the raising of the Army of Tennessee Battle Flag over the State House Dome. The Army of Tennessee Battle Flags were also displayed in the inner chambers of the SC Senate and SC House of Representatives.
Beasley initially supported the flag's presence but announced on statewide television in 1996 that he had reversed his decision and believed the flag should be relocated to a monument elsewhere on the grounds. Beasley's position on the Confederate flag cost him many Republican votes in the next election. The flag was removed from the capitol dome in 2000 after Beasley left office. It was displayed on a pole in front of the statehouse until it was removed from the grounds in 2015 after the Emanuel Nine shooting.[11]
Beasley also faced allegations of having an affair with his former press secretary,Ginny Wolfe. Beasley refuted the claims,saying,"I can tell you right up front [my wife] Mary Wood and I love each other dearly. We both have been faithful to one another 100 percent."[citation needed]
In the 1998 South Carolina gubernatorial election,Beasley Ran for reelection against Democrat Former state representative Jim Hodges,Hodges took advantage of controversy and missteps made by Beasley,namely Beasley's indecisiveness on allowing The Confederate flag to fly at the state capitol and call to eliminate video poker. While also Blaming Beasley for the poor SAT scores and the low achievement levels by the students of the state. Donations from video gambling interests helped Hodges narrow a near million-dollar fundraising gap with Beasley. On November 3rd 1998 Beasley Decisively lost to Hodges by 85,982 votes.[8]
In 2000,after leaving office as governor,Beasley supported George W. Bush in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary.[12] He introduced Bush during a campaign speech at Bob Jones University,which drew controversy because of the fundamentalist school's anti-Catholic teaching and strict policy against interracial dating. Referring to Bush's anti-abortion stance,Beasley said Bush "shares our values."[13]
In 2004,Beasley unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate to replace retiring Democrat Fritz Hollings. He lost the Republican nomination to CongressmanJim DeMint of Greenville,South Carolina.[15] In April 2005,Beasley,along with his administration's former chief legal counsel,Henry Deneen,incorporated the Center for Global Strategies,Ltd (CGS). CGS focuses on developmental initiatives in the non-integrated world. Beasley is chairman of the board.[16]
In February 2017,United States Ambassador to the United NationsNikki Haley (also a former South Carolina governor) nominated Beasley to be the next executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP).[a][18]United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and U.N. Food and Agriculture OrganizationJoséGraziano da Silva officially appointed Beasley to the post in March 2017,saying he brought "extensive experience with key governmental and business leaders and stakeholders around the world,with very strong resource mobilisation skills."[19] Guterres also said Beasley had been among 23 applications/nominations for the position.[20]
In December 2020,Beasley accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the WFP for its efforts to combat world hunger.[3]
As the term of the director of the World Food Programme is five years,Beasley's term was originally set to expire in April 2022. However,United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres extended Beasley's term,citing the current food crisis of the Russo-Ukrainian War[23] and the COVID-19 pandemic.[24] President Biden initially opposed extending Beasley's term,but bipartisan support in Congress encouraged Biden to support the extension.[25] Beasley's term as executive director expired in April 2023.[24]
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