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[[Image:TomRidge.jpg‎|thumb|200px]]

[[Image:TomRidge.jpg‎|thumb|200px]]

'''Tom Ridge''' (born August 26, 1945) is a former governor of [[Pennsylvania]] (1995 to 2001) and the [[United States]] [[Secretary of Homeland Security]] from 2001 to December, 2004. He attended [[Harvard University]] and graduated in 1967. In 1982, after serving in the [[Vietnam War]] with the Army and earning his law degree, he was elected to Congress as a Representative. He was reelected an amazing six terms in a row.<ref>https://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/ridgebio.html</ref> In 1995 he was elected governor of the state of [[Pennsylvania]] where he served two terms in office. Shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] and [[World Trade Centers]], Ridge was appointed by President [[George W. Bush]] as the first Office of Homeland Security Advisor in the history of the [[United States]]. He held the position until he stepped down on December 2, 2004.<ref>https://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/30/ridge/</ref> He was replaced with [[Michael Chertoff]].

'''Tom Ridge''' (born August 26, 1945) is a former governor of [[Pennsylvania]] (1995–2001) and the [[United States]] [[Secretary of Homeland Security]] from 2001 to December 2004. He attended [[Harvard University]] and graduated in 1967. In 1982, after serving in the [[Vietnam War]] with the Army and earning his law degree, he was elected to Congress as a Representative. He was reelected an amazing six terms in a row.<ref>https://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/ridgebio.html</ref> In 1995 he was elected governor of the state of [[Pennsylvania]] where he served two terms in office. Shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] and [[World Trade Centers]], Ridge was appointed by President [[George W. Bush]] as the first Office of Homeland Security Advisor in the history of the [[United States]]. He held the position until he stepped down on December 2, 2004.<ref>https://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/11/30/ridge/</ref> He was replaced with [[Michael Chertoff]].

Ridge was widely cited as a potential running mate for [[John McCain]] in his 2008 bid for the White House. His home state of Pennsylvania is a [[swing state]] that has voted for the Democratic candidate in the last 4 Presidential elections, and is often considered a "must win" for Obama. However, Ridge's stance on [[abortion]] is considered too [[liberal]] for many [[conservative]]s in the Republican Party.

Ridge was widely cited as a potential running mate for [[John McCain]] in his 2008 bid for the White House. His home state of Pennsylvania is a [[swing state]] that has voted for the Democratic candidate in the last 4 Presidential elections, and is often considered a "must win" for Obama. However, Ridge's stance on [[abortion]] is considered too [[liberal]] for many [[conservative]]s in the Republican Party.

Beyond his views on abortion, Ridge is considered by many to be a liberal in other areas, such as opposing capital gains tax cuts, opposing the "Star Wars" missile defense program and failing to support school vouchers with enough zeal.<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_10_52/ai_62241930</ref>

Beyond his views on abortion, Ridge is considered by many to be a liberal in other areas, such as opposing capital gains tax cuts, opposing the "Star Wars" missile defense program and failing to support school vouchers with enough zeal.<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_10_52/ai_62241930</ref> He also strongly opposed conservative President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>Calicchio, Dom (December 11, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/tom-ridge-says-trumps-ukraine-call-has-him-disappointed-and-troubled-says-he-wont-back-president-in-2020 Tom Ridge says Trump’s Ukraine call left him ‘disappointed and troubled,’ says he won’t back president in 2020]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved December 11, 2019.</ref>

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