Thomas A. Loftus

Last updated
Barbara Carolyn Schasse
​
​
(m. 1969)​
Tom Loftus
ThomasALofthusUSEmbassyOslo.jpg
United States Ambassador to Norway
In office
November 18, 1993 –December 22, 1997
Children2
Education
Awards Royal Norwegian Order of Merit
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1965–1967
Battles/wars Vietnam War

Thomas Adolph Loftus (born April 24, 1945) is a retired American diplomat, educator, and Democratic politician from Dane County, Wisconsin. He was United States Ambassador to Norway from 1993 through 1997, during the presidency of Bill Clinton, served as an advisor and representative of the World Health Organization, and most recently was a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, retiring in 2011.

Contents

Prior to his diplomatic service, he was the 70th speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly (1983–1991) at the culmination of a 14-year career in the Wisconsin Legislature, and was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Wisconsin in the 1990 election.

Early life and education

Tom Loftus was born in Stoughton, Wisconsin, on April 24, 1945. He was raised and educated in Dane County, graduating from Sun Prairie High School in 1963. He served in the United States Army for two years in the midst of the Vietnam War before returning to his education in Wisconsin. [1] He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in 1970, and immediately went on to complete his Master of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1971. [1]

Loftus became involved in politics with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin from an early age, and went to work as a legislative aide in the Wisconsin State Assembly immediately after completing his education. For two years, he was an administrative aide to Assembly speaker Norman C. Anderson. In the spring of 1976, he worked as a campaign organizer for Mo Udall during his unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. [2]

Assembly career

Later that year, incumbent state representative David D. O'Malley announced he would not run for another term in the Assembly, and Loftus decided to enter the race to succeed him. He faced three other candidates in the Democratic primary, but prevailed with nearly 47% of the vote. He defeated Republican Shirley Thompson in the general election. [3] Loftus went on to win six more terms in the Assembly.

Loftus began looking to move into caucus leadership in his second term. He challenged R. Michael Ferrall for his role as assistant majority leader before the start of the 1979 session, but lost that election. Later in that term, Loftus made a bid for majority leader when James W. Wahner resigned, but he again fell short in the early rounds of the caucus vote. [4] Loftus finally won a leadership position after the 1980 general election, defeating Thomas A. Hauke to become Assembly majority leader. [5] Two years later, he was unanimously elected speaker. [6]

He ultimately became the longest-serving Democratic speaker in Wisconsin history, serving four terms. Loftus frequently sparred with Republican governor Tommy Thompson after his election in 1986, and by the summer of 1989 the Wisconsin political press was already expecting Loftus to challenge Thompson in the 1990 gubernatorial election. [7] Loftus did ultimately challenge Thompson in the election. He faced no opposition for the Democratic nomination but fell far short in the general election, receiving just 42% of the vote. [8]

Later years

After losing the gubernatorial election, Loftus took a short break from politics to teach, first spending a semester at the Harvard Institute of Politics, [9] then spending a semester at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. [10]

Loftus returned to politics in early 1992, when he endorsed Bill Clinton in his presidential primary campaign, and then became chairman of Clinton's Wisconsin campaign organization. [11] Shortly after Clinton won the presidency, Loftus was nominated to become United States Ambassador to Norway. [12] His nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 3, 1993. [13] [14] [15]

Loftus served as ambassador for four years, stepping down in December 1997 to significant acclaim. Before leaving Norway, he was presented with the Grand Cross, the highest order of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, by King Harald V. [16] He quickly accepted another diplomatic post, however, becoming a special advisor to the director-general of the World Health Organization in Geneva. He also became outspoken back in Wisconsin on diplomatic causes, advocating for the United States to support the admission of Poland and the Baltic states into the European Union. [17]

After Clinton left office, Loftus became a representative of the World Health Organization in the United States. He remained active in state politics as a senior statesman, admonishing state government for recent ethical problems. He also reconciled with his former rival, Tommy Thompson, who was then serving as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. [18] During these years, Loftus endorsed a number of ethics reforms in the state and partnered with former Republican governor Lee S. Dreyfus in supporting the creation of WisconsinEye, a nonprofit cable network covering the state government. [19] [20] In 2005, Loftus was appointed to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents by governor Jim Doyle, and later that year he became president of WisconsinEye. [21] [22] Loftus remained involved in WisconsinEye through its launch in 2007. He remained on the board of regents until 2011, when he retired. [23]

Loftus still resides in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and has remained outspoken about international affairs, frequently writing a guest column in the Wisconsin State Journal and The Capital Times . [24] [25] After Tommy Thompson was chosen interim president of the University of Wisconsin System, in 2020, he selected Loftus as an advisor to help him prepare for the job. [26]

Personal life and family

Tom Loftus was one of four children born to Adolph Loftus and his wife Margaret Elaine ( née Nielsen). Both parents were the children of immigrants, Adolph's parents had emigrated from Norway. Margaret's father had come from Denmark. [27]

Tom Loftus married Barbara Carolyn Schasse on August 23, 1969. [28] They had at least two children together. [29]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly, 46th district (1976, 1978, 1980)

YearElectionDateElectedDefeatedTotalPlurality
1976 [3] PrimarySep. 14Thomas A. Loftus Democratic 2,55946.86%Thomas L. Hebl Dem. 1,47226.95%5,4611,087
Richard Keller Dem. 86515.84%
James H. Bailey Dem. 56510.35%
GeneralNov. 2Thomas A. Loftus Democratic 13,29355.74%Shirley Thompson Rep. 10,44643.80%23,8472,847
Edith O. Schreiber Ind. 10847.90%
1978 [30] GeneralNov. 7Thomas A. Loftus (inc) Democratic 10,30960.26%Wilbur D. Stites Rep. 6,79939.74%17,1083,510
1980 [31] GeneralNov. 4Thomas A. Loftus (inc) Democratic 14,81556.03%Mary D. Weisensel Rep. 11,62543.97%26,4403,190

Wisconsin Assembly, 99th district (1982)

YearElectionDateElectedDefeatedTotalPlurality
1982 [32] GeneralNov. 2Thomas A. Loftus Democratic 9,35462.43%Jack V. Putney Rep. 5,63037.57%14,9843,724

Wisconsin Assembly, 46th district (1984, 1986, 1988)

YearElectionDateElectedDefeatedTotalPlurality
1984 [33] GeneralNov. 6Thomas A. Loftus Democratic 13,16062.62%Danny E. Trotter Rep. 7,85737.38%21,0175,303
1986 [34] GeneralNov. 4Thomas A. Loftus (inc) Democratic 9,75365.46%Danny E. Trotter Rep. 5,14734.54%14,9004,606
1988 [35] GeneralNov. 8Thomas A. Loftus (inc) Democratic 14,75969.28%John H. Vegter Rep. 6,54530.72%21,3048,214

Wisconsin Governor (1990)

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election, 1990
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
General Election, November 6, 1990
Republican Tommy Thompson (incumbent) 802,321 58.15% +5.41pp
Democratic Thomas A. Loftus576,28041.77%−4.45pp
Scattering1,1260.08%
Plurality226,04116.38%+9.86pp
Total votes1,379,727 100.0% -9.62%
Republican hold

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References

  1. 1 2 Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1989). "Biographies". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1989–1990 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p.  53 . Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ "A four-way Dem race in the 46th District". Wisconsin State Journal . September 10, 1976. p. 4. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1977). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1977 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp.  893, 915 . Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  4. ↑ Wheeler, Dick. "Denial by Assembly of speech request rare". The Daily Tribune. p. 4. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Still, Thomas W. (November 12, 1980). "Dems elect Loftus to lead Assembly". Wisconsin State Journal . p. 4. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Hunter, John Patrick (November 11, 1982). "Loftus-Johnson team melds Assembly split". The Capital Times . Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Mayers, Jeff (July 2, 1989). "Tommy vs. Tom". Wisconsin State Journal . p. 1. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1991). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1991–1992 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p.  907 . Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ Dorsher, Mike (January 10, 1991). "Loftus still has itch for office". Wisconsin State Journal . p. 9. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Miller, Mike (August 28, 1991). "Loftus plans include teaching, writing". The Capital Times . p. 20. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Dorsher, Mike (January 4, 1992). "Loftus endorses Clinton in primary". Wisconsin State Journal . p. 4. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Mayers, Jeff; Hesselberg, George (August 27, 1993). "Loftus fits diplomatic bill for Norway service". Wisconsin State Journal . p. 9. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Loftus confirmed by U.S. Senate as Norway envoy". Wisconsin State Journal . November 4, 1993. p. 3. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Council of American Ambassadors > Members > Thomas A. Loftus". Archived from the original on 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  15. ↑ "Office of the Historian". www.state.gov.
  16. ↑ Moe, Doug (December 17, 1997). "Players invite the curse of Macbeth". The Capital Times . p. 2. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Nathans, Aaron (April 19, 2000). "Globetrotter Loftus visits home, talks of Europe". The Capital Times . p. 2. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Old rival: Tommy's changed". The Capital Times . January 22, 2005. p. 19. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ Pommer, Matt (August 29, 2002). "Dreyfus: WisconsinEye to expose 'arrogant solons'". The Capital Times . p. 6. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ Zweifel, Dave (July 17, 2002). "Loftus: Our political innocence is over". The Capital Times . p. 10. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ Sheehan, Tom (October 12, 2005). "Former Assembly speaker now at helm of WisconsinEye". Racine Journal Times . p. 11. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Thomas A. Loftus". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
  23. ↑ "A proud defender of UW". The Capital Times . July 20, 2011. p. 8. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "To manage Putinism, we should look to Norway". The Capital Times . April 2, 2014. p. 28. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ Loftus, Tom (January 7, 2016). "Ambassador Tom Loftus: Vote on confirmation of U.S. ambassador to Norway" . Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Thompson has transition team". Wisconsin State Journal . June 24, 2020. p. A4. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "Loftus, Adolph Olean". The Capital Times . December 28, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "The Schasse-Loftus Vows Solemnized". The Capital Times . August 29, 1969. p. 16. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ Langeland, Terje (July 3, 1996). "At home, and loving it, in Oslo". Wisconsin State Journal . p. 41. Retrieved November 28, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1979). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1979–1980 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p.  925 . Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  31. ↑ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1981). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1981–1982 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p.  916 . Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  32. ↑ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1983). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1983–1984 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p.  912 . Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  33. ↑ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1985). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1985–1986 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p.  926 . Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  34. ↑ Theobald, H. Rupert; Barish, Lawrence S., eds. (1987). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1987–1988 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p.  908 . Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  35. ↑ Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1989). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1989–1990 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p.  926 . Retrieved November 28, 2023.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Wisconsin
1990 		Succeeded by
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded byMember of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 46th district
January 3, 1977 –January 3, 1983		Succeeded by
Preceded byMember of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 99th district
January 3, 1983 –January 7, 1985		Succeeded by
John Young
Preceded by
James C. Holperin
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 46th district
January 7, 1985 –January 7, 1991		Succeeded by
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly
January 5, 1981 –January 3, 1983		Succeeded by
Gary K. Johnson
Preceded by Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly
January 3, 1983 –January 7, 1991		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Norway
November 18, 1993 –December 22, 1997		Succeeded by
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