America’s Power Player: Spencer Abraham

He heads one of the United States Government’s largest agencies, leading a cabinet department with a $23 billion budget and more than 14,000 Federal employees and 100,000 contract employees. He’s the Honorable Spencer Abraham, a Lebanese-American who became the 10th Secretary of Energy of the United States on January 20, 2001.

 

Spencer Abraham was born in East Lansing, Michigan, as the youngest of three children to Lebanese-American parents Eddie and Julie Abraham.  “All four of my grandparents are from Lebanon,” said Abraham in his interview with Today’s Outlook.  “My father’s parents are from Derdghaiya, in Lebanon’s south. My mother’s father, on the other hand, is from Dahr el-Ahmar, and her mother is from Tripoli.”

 

As a young boy, Abraham was able to stay in touch with his heritage through his involvement with the Antiochian Orthodox church. Years later, as a political candidate, he had the chance to meet a large number of people from the Lebanese-American community. “I have great pride in my heritage and I take part in community events as often as possible,” said Abraham. “My children, even though they’re young, are interested in their heritage too, and it’s been fun to help them get acquainted with it.” 

 

Early years

Abraham entered the world of politics at an early age, armed with a law degree from the prestigious Harvard University.  At the age of 30, he was elected to serve as chairman of the Michigan Republican Party (MRP), thus becoming one of the nation’s youngest Republican state chairs. When Abraham first took on chairman’s role in 1983, the MRP was deep in debt and didn’t hold a single major position in the state government. By 1990 all that had changed; it had become one of the strongest state political operations in the country. 

 

For the following year, during President George Bush’s Administration, Abraham was Deputy Chief of Staff to Vice President Dan Quayle.  He later served as Co-Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee from 1991 to 1993.

 

Abraham’s biggest breakthrough came in 1995 when he was elected to serve as a United States Senator for Michigan – a position he held until 2001.  During those years, he authored 22 pieces of legislation that have been signed into law – an unprecedented accomplishment for a freshman Senator. Abraham served on a number of important committees during his Senate tenure (including the Budget, Commerce, Judiciary, Science and Transportation, and Small Business Committees), and also chaired the important Manufacturing and Competitiveness, and Immigration Subcommittees.

 

Abraham’s most recent accomplishment came when he was asked in 2000 by current US President George W. Bush to lead the Department of Energy (DOE), one of the American government’s largest agencies.

 

Great challenges

Under Abraham’s leadership, the DOE has pursued an ambitious agenda that strengthens America's energy and national security.

 

“President Bush has set a number of challenging goals for the Department of Energy,” said Abraham. These include increasing America’s energy security, increasing energy supply and conservation as well as energy efficiency, and developing new technologies.

 

“My department is also in charge of the nation’s nuclear stockpile,” Abraham explained.  “Therefore, I have the duty of ensuring that the United States’ weapons programs are safe and reliable.” The department’s responsibility for the environmental cleanup of former federal atomic weapons facilities throughout the United States prompted Secretary Abraham to create the Expedited Cleanup Initiative, which represents the most ambitious overhaul ever seen of this $7 billion-a-year program. 

 

Secretary Abraham also has responsibility for the effectiveness of the nation’s national science laboratories. It’s an incredibly broad purview, and that diversity is what makes the DOE job so exciting for Abraham. “Helping to shape the nation’s economic policies on the energy side and the security policies on the national security side is extremely important, and to be part of that process is certainly challenging and rewarding,” he said.

 

Building strong ties

The Department of Energy has strong ties to the Middle East, which allows Abraham to be involved on a day-to-day basis with energy partners in this region. His current position also allows him to work on strengthening the ties between the US and Lebanon.  “The Lebanese community in the US is active in so many different ways that there’s a high level of respect towards the Lebanese people here,” explained Abraham.  “Certainly, that’s always been true in Lebanon in relation to the United States.  So I’m hopeful that we’ll see a stronger relationship emerge in the years ahead.”

 

During his years in the Senate, Abraham took a leading role in almost all of the legislative issues that involved Lebanon.  He worked to secure financial assistance for Lebanon, and to promote among his colleagues a greater interest in the Middle East in general, and Lebanon in particular.  “I always tried to host or co-host events for visiting Middle Eastern political leaders so they could get to know their counterparts in the United States,” he said. 

 

One of the changes that Abraham successfully worked for during his time in the Senate was the lifting of the travel ban on Lebanon.  “That was a very positive step because it opened the way for more Americans to visit Lebanon, and that – hopefully – will lead to stronger economic ties between the two countries,” he said.  

 

Secretary Abraham also took part in the US-Arab Economic Forum that took place in Detroit, Michigan, last September.  The summit, entitled “One World, Two Cultures, Endless Possibilities”, attracted a large number of leaders from both the United States and the Arab world. 

 

“The US-Arab Economic Forum was a very positive undertaking,” commented Abraham.  “It telegraphed to people in this country that the Arabic business community is a growing and thriving one, and that it has a lot to offer to America’s economy through partnerships and economic projects.” Abraham believes the summit also sent a very positive signal to the Middle East that there’s great US interest in economic partnerships in the region.  “I think the forum was a great first step, far beyond the expectations of most people. It really proved that the community has some momentum and has a lot to offer.  I’m very proud that I was part of it and that I helped in its organization,” he added.

 

Being very active on this front attracted the criticism of some of Abraham’s opponents who have argued that he’s too pro-Arab. “I’m pro-American first and foremost,” replied Abraham when Today’s Outlook broached this subject, “but that doesn’t mean I’m not proud of my heritage.  There are always going to be critics.  The success that I’ve enjoyed in my career demonstrates that you can overcome some of the criticism if you’re determined.”

 

Looking ahead

In a world where planning is a priority, not to mention a necessity, it’s hard to believe that someone – particularly a political leader – would leave his future unplanned and open to possibilities. That’s really how it is for Secretary Abraham, though. “In politics, you never know what will come next.  Often, unexpected things happen that could affect your future,” he said.  “In my career, that’s always been the case. Each of the major jobs I’ve had was one I hadn’t anticipated having. In 1993, when I ran for Chairman of the Republican National Committee, I nearly lost, only to find myself elected to the US Senate. And in 2000, I found myself being asked to serve in the President’s Cabinet.  As a result of those experiences, I’ve learned that, at least in the political world, it’s difficult to make long-term plans, and for me it’s worked out very well.”

 

Abraham has enjoyed a life in public service – a career path that still holds more appeal for him than any other.  “I’m currently very happy in the role I have, and if the President wants me to keep serving the country, I would be privileged to have that chance,” he said.

 

Life hasn’t been without its trials, along with its triumphs, yet Abraham is grateful for it all.  “On a professional level, being a member of the President’s Cabinet is something I’m very proud of. I’m equally proud that I was elected by the people of Michigan to go to Washington as their Senator,” he said. “But as with most people from our community, my greatest pride is my family. I’ve been blessed with great kids.  My wife and I have a wonderful family and we’re really proud of that.”  

 

Abraham and his wife, Jane, have three children – twin daughters, Julie and Betsy, 10, and a son, Spencer, 7.  Next January will mark the couple’s fourteenth wedding anniversary.

 

Words of Wisdom

Abraham has always felt that it’s important not just to enjoy success, but also to use it to create opportunities for others from the Lebanese and Arab communities. “If you look at the people I’ve employed in my staff either in this job or in the Senate, you’ll find many people of Arabic heritage,” he said.  “I believe it’s critical to give young, talented people in our community opportunities so they can get the credentials that will allow them to pursue their dreams.” 

 

Abraham believes that Lebanese-Americans have demonstrated in a very broad sense the extent to which they can contribute in the professional field, in academia, politics, athletics, and certainly in entertainment.  Today, he hopes that young Lebanese will aspire to whatever goals they have, and work to achieve them.

 

“When I first began to get involved in politics, many people in Michigan told me that because of my heritage I’d have to stay behind the scenes,” he recalled.  “But I was willing to basically challenge those critics, and I was successful.  So I hope that young Lebanese today, whatever their interests might be, will also be willing to challenge those who say it’s too hard, because I think they’ll find that their talent and ability will prevail.”