Obituary – Death – Cause of death News : Thomas Joseph Donohue, a prominent figure in the US Chamber of Commerce, played a pivotal role in reshaping the organization into a powerful entity over the span of two decades. By leveraging millions of dollars from members and donors, Donohue advocated for key issues such as international trade agreements and the collaboration between the public sector and businesses to combat climate change.
Under Donohue’s leadership, the Chamber’s political influence grew substantially, with a shift towards supporting a more diverse range of candidates, including Democrats. This move was seen as a strategic response to the changing political landscape under the Trump administration.
One of Donohue’s most significant initiatives was the establishment of the Institute for Legal Reform in 1998, which aimed to reform civil litigation laws to benefit businesses. Additionally, he oversaw the creation of several legal affairs journals that promoted Chamber-backed positions on various issues.
Despite facing criticism for his aggressive tactics and close ties to corporate interests, Donohue remained a staunch advocate for the Chamber’s mission. His tenure also saw public clashes with the Trump administration over trade policies and immigration reforms.
After stepping down as Chamber president in 2019, Donohue continued to be involved in the political landscape through his consultancy work. His advice for navigating Washington emphasized the importance of avoiding contentious debates and focusing on building relationships with key policymakers.
Born in Brooklyn in 1938, Donohue’s upbringing and early career experiences shaped his approach to leadership and advocacy. With a background in business administration and a strong work ethic, he rose through the ranks to become a prominent figure in the world of business and politics. Thomas Smith left the Chamber of Commerce in 1984 to take on the role of president at the American Trucking Association. Thirteen years later, he returned to the Chamber as president, showcasing his dedication and leadership in the business world.
Throughout his career, Thomas served on various corporate boards, including Qwest Communications, Sunrise Assisted Living Corp., and Union Pacific Railroad. His experience and expertise in the industry made him a valuable asset to these companies.
In 2017, Thomas faced a personal loss with the passing of his wife Elizabeth, whom he had been married to for 54 years. Despite this, he found strength in his three sons, Thomas Jr., Keith, and John, along with his sister and five grandchildren.
An interesting tidbit about Thomas is his preparedness, stemming from his time as a Boy Scouts fund-raiser and Eagle Scout. In an interview with The New York Times, he revealed that he carried special dental glue in his briefcase in case a crown came off during important meetings. This attention to detail and readiness for any situation exemplified his commitment to excellence in all aspects of his life.
Overall, Thomas Smith’s journey is one of resilience, dedication, and preparedness. His legacy as a leader in the business world and his personal life is a testament to his strong character and unwavering commitment to success.
Thomas Donohue, who built Chamber of Commerce lobbying clout, dies at 86
Mr. Donohue’s tenure at the Chamber of Commerce was marked by significant growth and influence. He transformed the organization into a powerful advocate for issues such as international trade, climate change, and legal reform. Under his leadership, the Chamber harnessed millions of dollars in funding from members and donors to support its advocacy efforts.
One of Mr. Donohue’s key accomplishments was expanding the Chamber’s political reach by endorsing and supporting candidates from both major parties. This shift towards bipartisanship was seen as a strategic move to ensure the Chamber’s influence in Washington. Despite facing criticism from some GOP officials for supporting Democrats, Mr. Donohue defended the Chamber’s approach as necessary for effective advocacy.
In addition to his political efforts, Mr. Donohue spearheaded the creation of the Institute for Legal Reform in 1998. This group focused on advocating for changes in civil litigation codes to protect businesses in legal disputes. The Chamber’s legal arm, the US Chamber Litigation Center, also played a significant role in representing businesses in legal proceedings.
Mr. Donohue’s leadership was not without controversy, as he faced criticism for the Chamber’s tactics, including funding media outlets and launching newspapers to promote the organization’s views. Despite these challenges, Mr. Donohue remained committed to advancing the Chamber’s mission and ensuring its influence in Washington.
After stepping down as president of the Chamber in 2019, Mr. Donohue continued to be involved in Washington politics through his consultancy. His advice for navigating the political landscape emphasized avoiding divisive fights and focusing on building relationships with key policymakers.
Overall, Thomas J. Donohue’s legacy at the Chamber of Commerce is one of transformation and strategic advocacy. His efforts helped shape the organization into a leading voice on key economic and business issues, leaving a lasting impact on American business and politics. Donohue rebuilt the Chamber over the next two decades into a powerful voice, harnessing tens of millions of dollars a year from members and donors to advocate for views such as support of international trade pacts and demands that the public sector work with businesses to share the costs of fighting climate change.
What were some of the key initiatives Mr. Donohue led during his time at the Chamber?
With Mr. Donohue’s restless fund-raising, the Chamber’s political endorsements came with a flow of campaign contributions. The group leaned staunchly Republican for decades, but Mr. Donohue led shifts to support a growing number of Democrats as the GOP under Donald Trump moved away from traditional trade-friendly platforms.
How did Mr. Donohue change the Chamber’s approach to political endorsements?
In the 2020 elections, the Chamber backed a record 23 Democrats in House races (compared with seven Democrats in 2018), with 15 winning reelection. Some GOP officials and groups publicly denounced the Chamber for broadening its bipartisanship. Mr. Donohue said it was smart politics to play the long game in Washington. (Chamber endorsements for this November’s election are still being made.)
What was the significance of the Chamber’s bipartisan approach in recent elections?
“We’re not an arm of the Republican Party,” he told The Washington Post. “We need to engage the moderate Democrats.”
What was Mr. Donohue’s perspective on the Chamber’s relationship with political parties?
In one of the most significant — and contentious — expansions of the Chamber’s reach, Mr. Donohue spearheaded the 1998 creation of the Institute for Legal Reform. The group seeks changes in civil litigation codes to give more protections for businesses in tort cases, which can involve suits such as alleged environment damage or claims about inadequate workplace safety.
What was the purpose of the Institute for Legal Reform created by Mr. Donohue?
The Institute for Legal Reform also has backed candidates for positions such as state-level judgeships across the country. In 2004, the Chamber contributed more than $4 million to the November Fund, which assailed Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry for choosing a successful longtime trial lawyer, Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, as his running mate.
How did the Institute for Legal Reform influence political campaigns and legal proceedings?
Mr. Donohue said the efforts were part of the Chamber’s overall mission. Yet civil watchdog groups such as Common Cause characterized the Institute for Legal Reform as using propaganda-style tactics by funding media outlets that showcase its views.
What were some criticisms of the Institute for Legal Reform’s tactics?
In 2004, Mr. Donohue oversaw a plan by the Chamber of Commerce to launch the Madison County Record (now the Madison-St. Clair Record), a 6,000-circulation weekly in Illinois that presented itself as a legal affairs journal. The Record, critics said, emphasized Chamber-backed positions such as opposition to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the corporate-reform legislation that followed the 2001 collapse of energy giant Enron and other corporate implosions.
How did the Chamber of Commerce expand its influence through publications like the Madison County Record?
The Chamber later backed similar papers across the country, including the Florida Record, the Southeast Texas Record, and the Northern California Record. Mr. Donohue also boosted the role of US Chamber Litigation Center, the group’s legal arm that helps represents businesses in legal proceedings.
What other publications and legal initiatives did Mr. Donohue support during his tenure?
“We are an advocacy organization,” Mr. Donohue told The New York Times in 2005. “I believe that advocates should be enthusiastic and should be energetic, and I do believe they should be aggressive.”
How did Mr. Donohue view the Chamber’s role in advocacy and legal proceedings?
Mr. Donohue’s Leadership at the Chamber of Commerce
Thomas Donohue stepped down as the Chamber of Commerce president in 2019 and turned over the role to senior vice president Suzanne Clark, while he continued as chief executive until 2021.
Reasons for Leadership Shake-Up
The Chamber did not provide a reason for the leadership change at the time, but it coincided with the publication of a Wall Street Journal article that highlighted the Chamber picking up nearly all the costs for Mr. Donohue’s private jet travels, including trips to Greece.
Mr. Donohue’s Washington Consultancy
After leaving the Chamber, Mr. Donohue set up a consultancy in Washington. His advice for navigating Washington was to avoid big political fights and focus on working with lawmakers and policymakers to get things done.
Early Life and Education
Thomas Joseph Donohue was born in Brooklyn and raised in Rockville Centre, Long Island. He graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in business administration and later earned his MBA from Adelphi University.
Professional Career
Mr. Donohue served in various roles, including as the US deputy assistant postmaster general and later as president of the American Trucking Association. He returned to the Chamber of Commerce as president in 1997.
Board Memberships and Personal Life
Throughout his career, Mr. Donohue served on the boards of several companies. He was married to Elizabeth Schulz for 54 years until her passing in 2017, and he had three sons, a sister, and five grandchildren.
Chamber of Commerce Advocacy and Political Endorsements
Under Mr. Donohue’s leadership, the Chamber advocated for international trade pacts and collaboration between the public sector and businesses to address climate change. The organization also made political endorsements and campaign contributions, supporting both Republicans and Democrats.
Institute for Legal Reform
One of Mr. Donohue’s significant contributions was the creation of the Institute for Legal Reform in 1998. The institute focuses on changing civil litigation codes to provide more protections for businesses in tort cases and has supported candidates at various levels of government.
Controversies and Criticisms
While Mr. Donohue saw these efforts as part of the Chamber’s mission, some watchdog groups, such as Common Cause, criticized the Institute for Legal Reform for its tactics, including funding media outlets to promote its views.
Launch of the Madison County Record
In 2004, Mr. Donohue oversaw the Chamber of Commerce’s launch of the Madison County Record, a publication that presented itself as a legal affairs journal. The publication has since been renamed the Madison-St. Clair Record.
Thomas Joseph Donohue, born in Brooklyn on Aug. 12, 1938, was a prominent figure in the world of business and advocacy. Growing up in Rockville Centre on Long Island, he had a solid foundation laid by his father, a manager at American Can Company, and his mother, a homemaker. Donohue’s journey to success started at St. John’s University, where he graduated in 1963 with a degree in business administration. He furthered his education by obtaining a master’s in business administration in 1965 from Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y., where he worked as a union truck driver to help pay the tuition.
Donohue’s career took off when he served as the US deputy assistant postmaster general from 1969 to 1976. He then joined the US Chamber of Commerce as a development director, setting the stage for his eventual return as president 13 years later. Along the way, he also became the president of the American Trucking Association in 1984. Donohue’s influence extended beyond the Chamber, as he served on the boards of companies like Qwest Communications, Sunrise Assisted Living Corp., and Union Pacific Railroad.
One of the defining features of Donohue’s tenure at the Chamber was his unwavering advocacy for business interests. The Record, a publication associated with the Chamber, was criticized for promoting Chamber-backed positions, such as opposition to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. This legislation, a response to the collapse of energy giant Enron and other corporate scandals, aimed to reform corporate governance and enhance transparency. Despite the criticism, Donohue stood firm in his beliefs, emphasizing the importance of advocacy and aggressive action.
Donohue’s leadership extended beyond advocacy to legal representation through the US Chamber Litigation Center, the group’s legal arm. This entity assisted businesses in legal proceedings, further solidifying the Chamber’s influence. Donohue’s approach to fundraising was clear – it should always be a top priority for Chamber executives. His office, with a view of the White House, featured a sign that read: “Show Me The Money.”
As Donohue’s tenure progressed, he faced challenges, including public rifts with the Trump administration. When Trump imposed protectionist tariffs and pushed for strict immigration limits, Donohue openly criticized the administration’s approach. He believed that Trump’s understanding of trade was limited and endorsed immigration reforms that clashed with the administration’s policies. This stance led to a heated exchange between Donohue and Trump, highlighting the Chamber’s willingness to challenge governmental decisions.
In 2019, Donohue stepped down as the president of the Chamber of Commerce, passing the torch to Suzanne Clark, a senior vice president. However, he continued to serve as the chief executive until 2021. The leadership transition came amidst speculation about the Chamber’s financial practices, particularly regarding Donohue’s use of private jets for personal travel. Despite the controversy, Donohue remained a prominent figure in Washington, setting up a consultancy and offering advice on navigating the political landscape.
Throughout his career, Donohue emphasized the importance of staying out of major political disputes and focusing on incremental progress. He believed in building relationships with key policymakers to influence policy decisions. His pragmatic approach to advocacy and fundraising reflected his commitment to advancing business interests while maintaining a strategic outlook.
Donohue’s legacy extended beyond his professional achievements. His personal life, marked by the loss of his wife in 2017, showcased his resilience and dedication to his family. Survived by three sons, a sister, and five grandchildren, Donohue’s impact on the business world and advocacy will be remembered for years to come. As he navigated the complexities of Washington, Donohue’s ability to adapt and thrive in challenging situations served as a testament to his leadership and influence. Expanding can refer to the act of increasing in size, volume, or extent. It can also refer to growing or developing in a particular direction or area. Additionally, expanding can refer to broadening one’s knowledge, skills, or experiences.