Don Nickles is the former Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman. He was elected to his first term at the RNC in 1997 and served until 2002, when he was named Secretary of Transportation by President George W. Bush. He was re-elected to his second term in 2005 and served until January 2009, when he resigned amidst controversy over his handling of the Gulf oil spill
On March 12, 2009, the Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General announced that it had opened an investigation into Mr. Nickles for his role in the administration of an unqualified contractor while he was Secretary of Transportation. Since leaving government service, Mr.
Nickles has become a nationally recognized business speaker and political commentator.
And the whole world, the whole world that believes in freedom, whether you're talking about personal freedom, economic freedom, religious freedom, they look to the United States for leadership; and you're part of that leadership.Don Nickles
But the federal government, our collective government, has responsibilities that none of these other levels of government can fulfill; and chief among these is national defense.Don Nickles
