Pierre S. du Pont, IV

Pierre Samuel "Pete" du Pont, IV (born January 22, 1935) is an American lawyer and politician from Rockland, in Brandywine Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, near Wilmington. He is a member of the Republican Party, who served as U. S. Representative from Delaware and Governor of Delaware.

Early life and family

Du Pont was born January 22, 1935 at Wilmington, Delaware, the son of Pierre S. du Pont, III and Jane Holcomb du Pont. After an education at the Phillips Exeter Academy, Princeton University, and Harvard Law School, he served in the U.S. Naval Reserve (Seebees) from 1957 until 1960. He is married to Elise Ravenel Wood, heir to the Wawa Food Markets chain of convenience stores, and has four children, Ravenel, Pierre S. V., Benjamin Franklin, and Eleuthere Irenee. They have a second home at North Haven, Maine and are members of the Episcopal Church.

Professional and political career

From 1963 until 1970 du Pont was employed by E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. In 1968 he was elected to the Delaware House of Representatives where he served in the 1969/70 session. In 1970 he was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives and served three terms from January 3, 1971 until January 3, 1977. He resigned from this office following his election as Governor of Delaware in 1976 when he defeated incumbent Governor Sherman W. Tribbitt. Du Pont was reelected Governor in 1980 and served two terms from January 18, 1977 until January 15, 1985.

As Governor, du Pont reorganized the fiscal basis of state government by signing into law two income tax reduction measures, and a constitutional amendment that restrained future tax increases and limited government spending. The Wilmington News Journal praised these policies, saying that "he revived [the] business climate and set the stage for [Delaware's] prosperity. Education and preventing youth unemployment were also important themes of his administration. In 1979, he founded the nonprofit "Jobs for Delaware Graduates," an employment counseling and job placement program for high school seniors not bound for college. This program was the model for other programs currently functioning in many states and foreign countries.

Later career

In 1984 du Pont served as Chairman of the Education Commission of the States, a national organization of educators dedicated to improving all facets of American education. He has also served as Chairman of the Hudson Institute from 1985–1987 and the National Review Institute from 1994–1997. Du Pont ran unsuccessfully for the Republican Presidential nomination during the 1988 election where he advocated the privatization of social security.

Presently, he is chairman of the board for the National Center for Policy Analysis.

Public offices

Elections are held the first week of November. Members of the Delaware General Assembly take office the first week of January. The State House has a term of two years. The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and has a four year term. U.S. Representatives take office the first week of January for a term of two years.