John A. Knebel
John A. Knebel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 19th United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
| In office November 4, 1976 – January 20, 1977 | |
| President | Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Earl Butz |
| Succeeded by | Robert Bergland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 4, 1936 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Zenia Marks |
| Education | United States Military Academy (BS) Creighton University (MA) American University (LLB) |
John Albert Knebel (born October 4, 1936) is a former United States government official who served as secretary of agriculture under President Gerald Ford.[1]
Biography
[edit]Early life and education
[edit]Knebel was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on October 4, 1936. He graduated from West Point in 1959 and received his Master's at Creighton University in 1962.[1] In 1965, he received his law degree from American University.[1] Between 1965 and 1968 he was engaged in private practice with the firm of Howrey, Simon, Baker and Murchison in Washington, DC.[1] He was a legislative assistant to Congressman J. Ernest Wharton in 1963 and 1964 and served as general counsel to the Small Business Administration during Nixon's second term.[1] He was also a member of the American, Federal, and District of Columbia Bar Association.[1] In March 1971, he became the General Counsel of the Small Business Administration, and in January 1973 he was appointed as General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture.[1] He was a partner in the law firm of Brownstein, Zeidman, Schomer and Chase from April until December 1975, when he was named the deputy secretary of agriculture.[1]
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
[edit]On November 4, 1976, Knebel was named secretary of agriculture by President Gerald Ford.[1] His period in this office was brief and ended January 20, 1977.[2] After that, he returned to law and as of 2003[update] was still the president of the American Mining Congress.[2]
Personal life
[edit]Knebel married Zenia Marks of New Jersey, with whom he has had three children.[1] He and his family resided in McLean, Virginia at the time on his appointment as secretary of agriculture in 1976.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Biographies of Cabinet Department Secretaries during the Gerald R. Ford Presidency, 1974-1977: A-K" (PDF). The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Digital Library. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Former Secretaries". USDA.gov. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
External links
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| International | |
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| National | |
- 1936 births
- Living people
- Secretaries of agriculture of the United States
- Washington College of Law alumni
- Creighton University alumni
- United States Military Academy alumni
- Politicians from Tulsa, Oklahoma
- American people of German descent
- Ford administration cabinet members
- 20th-century American politicians
- Oklahoma Republicans