Abraham, Spencer (1952-…), was United States secretary of energy from 2001 to 2005, during President George W. Bush’s first administration. From 1995 to 2001, Abraham had served as a member of the U.S. Senate.
Abraham was born on June 12, 1952, in East Lansing, Michigan. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1974 and a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1979.
Abraham taught at Thomas M. Cooley School of Law from 1981 to 1983. From 1983 to 1991, he served as chair of the Michigan State Republican Party. He also was deputy chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle in 1990 and 1991. From 1991 to 1993, he chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee. Abraham practiced law from 1992 to 1994, when he won election to the U.S. Senate. He took office in 1995.
In the Senate, Abraham, the grandson of Lebanese immigrants, worked to prevent limits on legal immigration to the United States. He also managed debate on the Senate floor concerning a proposed constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget. That measure failed by one vote. He served on the Senate’s Budget Committee and its Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Abraham ran for reelection to the Senate in 2000, but lost to his Democratic opponent in a close race.
