Tom DeLay

Thomas Dale DeLay (born April 8 1947 in Laredo, Texas) is an American politician from Sugar Land, Texas and a prominent Republican.

Biography and early political career

After living part of his childhood in Venezuela due to his father's work in the petroleum and natural gas industry, DeLay received a degree in biology from the University of Houston in 1970, though he had previously been expelled from Baylor University for drinking. There he gained a reputation as a playboy, earning the nickname "Hot Tub Tom". http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A6825-2001May9&no Prior to entering politics, DeLay had successful business experience in pest control.

Related Topics:
Venezuela - Petroleum - Natural gas - Degree - Biology - University of Houston - 1970 - Baylor University - Pest control

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DeLay was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1978, and in the following years struggled with alcoholism during his service there. By his own admission, he was drinking "eight, ten, twelve martinis a night at receptions and fundraisers." http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A6825-2001May9&no

Related Topics:
Texas House of Representatives - 1978 - Alcoholism - Martini

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DeLay became a born-again Christian in 1985. This followed a battle with alcoholism which plagued his life and caused his expulsion from Baylor. After Christine DeLay began volunteering as a court-appointed special advocate for children in foster care, they also became foster parents. DeLay has declined to comment on reports in The New Yorker that he is estranged from much of his family, including his mother and one of his brothers http://partners.nytimes.com/library/politics/062199delay-profile.html. According to The Washington Post, DeLay has not spoken to his younger brother, Randy, a Houston lobbyist, since 1996, when a complaint to the House Ethics Committee prompted Tom DeLay to cut his brother off in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A6825-2001May9&no.

Related Topics:
Born-again Christian - 1985 - Foster care - The New Yorker - The Washington Post - Houston - 1996 - House Ethics Committee

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DeLay was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1984, representing the Texas 22nd congressional district, which includes Sugar Land (map), after his predecessor, libertarian Republican Ron Paul, stepped down, citing his support for the concept of term limits. (Paul returned to Congress in 1996 as a representative of Texas's 14th district.)

Related Topics:
1984 - Sugar Land - Libertarian - Ron Paul - Term limits - 1996

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