Thomas A. Loftus
Thomas A. "Tom" Loftus (born April 24, 1945)[1] is a retired American diplomat and politician from Wisconsin. A member of the Democratic Party, he was United States Ambassador to Norway from 1993 through 1998, during the presidency of Bill Clinton.
Tom Loftus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Norway | |
| In office November 18, 1993 – December 22, 1997 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Loret Miller Ruppe |
| Succeeded by | David B. Hermelin |
| 70th Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly | |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Jackamonis |
| Succeeded by | Walter Kunicki |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly | |
| In office January 7, 1985 – January 7, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | James C. Holperin |
| Succeeded by | Rudy Silbaugh |
| Constituency | 46th district |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985 | |
| Preceded by | John M. Young |
| Succeeded by | John M. Young |
| Constituency | 99th district |
| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | David D. O'Malley |
| Succeeded by | James C. Holperin |
| Constituency | 46th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas A. Loftus April 24, 1945 Stoughton, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
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.
Biography
Loftus was born in Stoughton, Wisconsin. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1976, Loftus served as a state representative until 1991. In 1982, Loftus was elected speaker of the Assembly, a position he held until he left the Assembly in 1991.[1] In the 1990 Wisconsin gubernatorial election, Loftus was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee against incumbent Republican governor Tommy Thompson. On November 4, 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Loftus United States Ambassador to Norway and he served until December 22, 1997.[2][3] Governor Jim Doyle appointed Loftus to the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents in 2005.[4]
Notes
- Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (comp.). State of Wisconsin 1989-1990 Blue Book. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Administration, 1989, p. 53.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2009-11-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Office of the Historian". www.state.gov.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2009-11-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tony Earl |
Democratic nominee for Governor of Wisconsin 1990 |
Succeeded by Charles Chvala |
| Wisconsin State Assembly | ||
| Preceded by David D. O'Malley |
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 46th district January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1983 |
Succeeded by James C. Holperin |
| Preceded by John M. Young |
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 99th district January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985 |
Succeeded by John M. Young |
| Preceded by James C. Holperin |
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 46th district January 7, 1985 – January 7, 1991 |
Succeeded by Rudy Silbaugh |
| Preceded by Edward Jackamonis |
Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1991 |
Succeeded by Walter Kunicki |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by Loret Miller Ruppe |
United States Ambassador to Norway November 18, 1993 – December 22, 1997 |
Succeeded by David B. Hermelin |
 | ||
