Meet Mike Pence, whose real name is Michael Richard Pence. He is an American politician who was the 48th Vice President of the United States from 2017 to 2021, serving under President Donald Trump.
He was a member of the Republican Party and previously served as the 50th governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017. Mike Pence was also a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013.
Mike Pence Biography
Michael Richard Pence is a politician, lawyer, and broadcaster who was born on June 7, 1959, in Columbus, Indiana. He is a member of the Republican Party and has served as the 48th Vice President of the United States under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021.
He was also the 50th governor of Indiana from 2013 to 2017 and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013. Mike Pence graduated from Hanover College and Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law before entering private practice.
He is married to Karen Batten and has three children, including Charlotte, and his brother is U.S. Representative Greg Pence. He resides in Carmel, Indiana.
Who Is Mike Pence
Mike Pence is a politician from the United States who served as the Vice President under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021. ((britannica.com)) He was born on June 7, 1959, in Columbus, Indiana. ((en.wikipedia.org)) Mike Pence also held positions as a Representative from Indiana and Governor of the State of Indiana.
Family Background | Siblings | Relatives
Michael Richard Pence was born on June 7, 1959, in Columbus, Indiana. His parents were Ann Jane “Nancy” Cawley and Edward Joseph Pence Jr., who ran a group of gas stations. Pence’s father served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and received the Bronze Star in 1953.
Pence’s paternal grandfather, Edward Joseph Pence Sr., worked in the Chicago stockyards. His mother is of Irish ancestry and his father was of German and Irish descent. Mike Pence was named after his maternal grandfather, Richard Michael Cawley, who emigrated from Doocastle, County Mayo, Ireland, to the United States through Ellis Island.
Education Background
Mike Pence is an American politician who graduated from Columbus North High School in 1977. He later attended Hanover College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1981.
Mike Pence went on to get a Juris Doctor from the Robert H. McKinney School of Law at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis in 1986. While at Hanover, he was the chapter president of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and worked as an admissions counselor at the college from 1981 to 1983.
Pence grew up in a Roman Catholic family and was a Democrat in his youth. He even volunteered for the Bartholomew County Democratic Party in 1976 and voted for Jimmy Carter in the 1980 presidential election.
However, while in college, he became an evangelical, born-again Christian and his political views began to shift to the right. He was inspired by figures such as John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., but eventually identified with the “common-sense conservatism of Ronald Reagan.” His mother was disappointed with his conversion to evangelical Christianity.
Early Life | Career
Pence was born in Columbus, Indiana, and has a younger brother, U.S. Representative Greg Pence. He graduated from Hanover College and Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
After losing two bids for a congressional seat, he became a conservative radio and television talk show host from 1994 to 1999. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000 and represented the 2nd and 6th districts of Indiana.
Mike described himself as a “principled conservative” and supporter of the Tea Party movement. In 2012, Pence successfully sought the Republican nomination for the Indiana gubernatorial election and won the election.
As governor, he initiated the largest tax cut in Indiana’s history and pushed for more funding for private education initiatives. Mike signed bills intended to restrict abortions, including one that prohibited abortions if the reason for the procedure was the fetus’s race, gender, or disability.
After signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, he faced backlash and amended the bill to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and other criteria.
Vice Presidency
Pence withdrew from his gubernatorial reelection campaign in July 2016 to become Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2016 presidential election. He was inaugurated as vice president on January 20, 2017.
As vice president, he chaired the National Space Council and was appointed chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Election | Post-Vice Presidency
Mike Pence and Trump lost their bid for re-election in the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Despite Trump’s urging to overturn the election results and the attack on the U.S. Capitol during the counting of the Electoral College votes, Pence certified the Biden–Harris ticket as the winner of the election.
Pence has distanced himself from Trump by endorsing candidates in several Republican primary elections in opposition to candidates endorsed by Trump.
Full Career
Mike Pence’s Early Career | Congressional Campaigns
Mike Pence began his career as a lawyer and radio host before running for office. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013, representing Indiana’s 2nd and 6th congressional districts. Mike ran unsuccessfully for Congress twice before winning the seat in 2000.
U.S. House of Representatives (2001–2013)
During his time in the House of Representatives, Mike Pence was known for his conservative views and support for limited government.
He was a vocal opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage and advocated for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Pence also served on the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees.
Governor of Indiana (2013–2017)
In 2013, Pence was elected Governor of Indiana, where he focused on education policy, energy and environment, gun policy, public health, religion and LGBT rights, and abortion.
Education Policy
As governor, Mike Pence implemented several education policies aimed at increasing school choice and accountability.
He expanded the state’s voucher program, which allowed students to attend private schools using taxpayer-funded scholarships and supported the expansion of charter schools.
Mike also signed into law a measure that tied teacher pay and evaluations to student performance on standardized tests.
Energy | Environment
Pence was a proponent of expanding the state’s energy production, including coal and natural gas. He supported efforts to deregulate the energy industry and opposed regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
Mike also signed a controversial law that prohibited state agencies from implementing regulations that were more stringent than federal standards.
Gun Policy
As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, Pence signed into law several measures aimed at expanding gun rights in Indiana.
He signed a law that allowed employees to keep firearms in their vehicles on company property and a measure that allowed guns in locked vehicles on school property.
Public Health
During his time as governor, Pence faced criticism for his handling of a public health crisis in Indiana. In 2015, an HIV outbreak occurred in rural Scott County, which was attributed to the sharing of needles among drug users.
Pence initially opposed a needle exchange program to combat the outbreak but eventually reversed his position.
Religion and LGBT Rights
Pence’s views on LGBT rights were controversial. As a congressman, he supported a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman and opposed the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
As governor, he signed into law a measure that allowed businesses to cite religious objections to refuse service to LGBT individuals, which was widely criticized as discriminatory.
Abortion
Pence was a staunch opponent of abortion and signed into law several measures aimed at restricting access to the procedure.
He signed a law that required women to have an ultrasound at least 18 hours before having an abortion and a measure that prohibited abortions based on the fetus’s race, gender, or disability.
Media | The Press
Pence’s relationship with the media was often strained. As governor, he faced criticism for his decision to use a private email account to conduct official business and for his administration’s handling of public records requests.
He was also known for avoiding interviews with certain news organizations, including the Associated Press.
Syrian Refugee Crisis
In 2015, Pence became embroiled in the controversy surrounding the Syrian refugee crisis. He issued an executive order banning state agencies from participating in the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Indiana, citing security concerns. The order was challenged in court and ultimately struck down as unconstitutional.
Public-Records Requests | Use of Private Email
During his time as governor, Pence was criticized for his handling of public-records requests and his use of a private email account to conduct state business. He was sued by news organizations for access to his emails, and a judge ruled that he had violated the state’s public records law.
Re-Election Campaign | Withdrawal
In 2016, Pence ran for re-election as governor of Indiana. However, he withdrew from the race in July after being selected as Donald Trump’s running mate in the presidential election.
2016 Vice Presidential Campaign
As Trump’s running mate, Pence played a key role in the 2016 presidential campaign. He often served as a surrogate for Trump, appearing at rallies and in media interviews.
Vice Presidency (2017–2021)
Pence was inaugurated as vice president of the United States on January 20, 2017. In this role, he served as president of the Senate and played a prominent role in the Trump administration.
Inauguration
Pence’s inauguration as vice president was marked by controversy, as many Democrats boycotted the ceremony in protest of Trump’s election. Pence delivered a speech in which he called for unity and pledged to work for all Americans. ((en.wikipedia.org))
Advisors | Staff
As vice president, Pence surrounded himself with a team of advisors and staff members who shared his conservative views. Notable members of his team included his chief of staff, Nick Ayers, and his national security advisor, Keith Kellogg.
Political Action Committee
In 2017, Pence launched his own political action committee, the Great America Committee, to support Republican candidates in the 2018 midterm elections.
Pence and The Trump Impeachment Inquiry
In 2019, Pence became embroiled in the Trump impeachment inquiry when it was revealed that he had been involved in efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, Trump’s political rival. Pence denied any wrongdoing and defended Trump throughout the impeachment process.
Death of Soleimani
In January 2020, Pence played a key role in the Trump administration’s decision to order a drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian military commander. The move was widely criticized and raised fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Covid-19 Pandemic
As Vice President, Pence led the White House Coronavirus Task Force in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He faced criticism for downplaying the severity of the pandemic and for the administration’s response to the crisis. Pence himself tested positive for COVID-19 in October 2020 but recovered. ((en.wikipedia.org))
2020 Vice Presidential Election
In August 2020, Pence was officially nominated as the Republican Party’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2020 United States presidential election, running alongside incumbent President Donald Trump.
During the election, Pence faced criticism for his handling of the pandemic and for defending the administration’s policies on issues such as immigration and climate change.
Vote Counting and Storming of The Capitol
On January 6, 2021, Pence presided over a joint session of Congress to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. During the proceedings, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building, causing chaos and destruction. Pence and his family were evacuated to a secure location, and he later condemned the violence in a statement.
Post-Vice Presidency (2021–present)
After leaving office in January 2021, Pence returned to private life and established the Advancing American Freedom political advocacy group. He has remained active in Republican politics and has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s policies on issues such as immigration and foreign policy.
Classified Documents
In March 2021, it was reported that Pence had declined a request to declassify documents related to the Russia investigation during his time as vice president. The documents had been requested by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley.
Abortion, Sex Education | Stem Cell Research
Pence is known for his conservative views on social issues. He opposes abortion and has supported measures to restrict access to the procedure. He has also supported abstinence-only sex education and opposes the use of federal funding for stem cell research. ((en.wikipedia.org))
LGBT Rights
Pence has a mixed record on LGBT rights. As governor of Indiana, he signed a controversial religious freedom law that many critics said allowed discrimination against LGBT individuals. He also opposed same-sex marriage and has been a vocal opponent of transgender rights. However, Pence has also expressed support for some LGBT individuals and has said that he opposes discrimination against anyone.
Economic Policy
As Governor of Indiana, Pence signed into law a tax cut package and supported free market policies. He has also advocated for a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Health Care
Pence opposes the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and has supported efforts to repeal and replace it. He has also been a vocal opponent of Planned Parenthood and has worked to defund the organization.
Immigration
Pence has taken a hardline stance on immigration and has supported increased border security measures. He has also called for the end of birthright citizenship and has opposed amnesty for undocumented immigrants.
Social Security
Pence has advocated for reforms to Social Security, including raising the retirement age and reducing benefits for higher-income earners. He has also supported the privatization of Social Security.
Patriot Act
Pence has supported the Patriot Act, a controversial law that expanded the government’s surveillance powers after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
International Trade
As Vice President, Pence played a key role in negotiating the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trade deal that replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). ((en.wikipedia.org))
Foreign Policy
Pence has taken a strong stance on foreign policy issues, particularly with regards to Iran and North Korea. He has supported sanctions against these countries and has advocated for a more aggressive approach towards them.
Climate Change
Pence has been criticized for his stance on climate change, which many see as skeptical or dismissive. He has opposed regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and has supported increased domestic production of fossil fuels.
Crime | Illegal Drugs
Pence has been a vocal advocate for “tough on crime” policies, including mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses. He has also supported increased funding for drug treatment programs and initiatives aimed at reducing drug addiction.
Gambling
Pence has opposed the expansion of gambling in Indiana and has supported measures aimed at restricting it.
Campaign Finance
Pence has been a critic of campaign finance reform efforts, including limits on political donations and disclosure requirements for donors.
Racial Views
Pence has faced criticism for his record on issues related to race, including his opposition to affirmative action and his support for voter identification laws.
Presidential Impeachment
During his tenure as Vice President, Pence faced pressure to support the impeachment of President Trump after the January 6, 2021, storming of the Capitol. He ultimately opposed impeachment and has defended his decision.
Net Worth | Wealth | Cars | Houses
Mike Pence has a net worth of about $4 million ((marketrealist.com)) and owns a home worth $1.93 million in Indiana. ((nypost.com/)) He could have had more money if he sold his stake in Kiel Bros. Oil Co. earlier. ((marketrealist.com)) Pence is entitled to receive around $50,000 annually from the government for his service in the House and as Vice President.
However, there is no information available about his cars or other properties. Pence’s source of income is primarily from his career in politics as a former Vice President, Congressman, and Governor of Indiana.
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