NPR Series: Job 1: Careers That Shaped The GOP Candidates https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=141152608 Creating work for unemployed Americans will be the top priority for whoever wins the 2012 presidential race. An NPR series examines some of the formative jobs that each Republican presidential contender held before running for office. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Thu, 03 Apr 2025 04:50:00 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: Job 1: Careers That Shaped The GOP Candidates https://www.npr.org/series/141152608/job-1-early-careers-that-shaped-the-gop-candidates In Gingrich's Past, A Lesson On Ambition The former House speaker began his career as a history professor at West Georgia College. "He thought he could have some kind of impact, to get kids to think," says a friend and former colleague. "But he really wanted to get into politics." Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:15:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/11/22/142599781/in-gingrichs-past-a-lesson-on-ambition https://www.npr.org/2011/11/22/142599781/in-gingrichs-past-a-lesson-on-ambition

The former House speaker began his career as a history professor at West Georgia College. "He thought he could have some kind of impact, to get kids to think," says a friend and former colleague. "But he really wanted to get into politics."

]]> Kathy Lohr Santorum: Early Political Work Influences Him Still Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum says he learned to run a lean campaign from a former Pennsylvania state senator's wife. Now he's employing those skills in Iowa, hoping to stun the political establishment with a surprise win in January. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:01:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2011/11/21/142451892/santorum-early-political-work-influences-him-still https://www.npr.org/2011/11/21/142451892/santorum-early-political-work-influences-him-still

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum says he learned to run a lean campaign from a former Pennsylvania state senator's wife. Now he's employing those skills in Iowa, hoping to stun the political establishment with a surprise win in January.

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla)

]]> Jeff Brady Before He Delivered For Voters, Paul Delivered Babies When he set up shop in 1968, Ron Paul, the GOP presidential candidate known primarily for his opposition to armed intervention overseas and the Federal Reserve, was the only obstetrician in town. His former partner recalls he had two stipulations: No. 1, no abortions; and No. 2, he refused to participate in any federal health programs. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2011/10/25/141653000/before-he-delivered-for-voters-paul-delivered-babies https://www.npr.org/2011/10/25/141653000/before-he-delivered-for-voters-paul-delivered-babies Ron Paul, shown in this screen shot taken from his website, says he delivered more than 4,000 babies in the Texas district where he used to practice.

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When he set up shop in 1968, Ron Paul, the GOP presidential candidate known primarily for his opposition to armed intervention overseas and the Federal Reserve, was the only obstetrician in town. His former partner recalls he had two stipulations: No. 1, no abortions; and No. 2, he refused to participate in any federal health programs.

]]> Julie Rovner Bachmann Once Prosecuted Tax Evaders For The IRS Perhaps more than any other Republican running for president this year, Michele Bachmann has railed against taxes. She says they're too high, and that the current tax code should be repealed. She also worked for the IRS office in St. Paul, Minn., for more than four years as a prosecutor. "The first rule of war," she says, "is know your enemy." Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:17:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2011/10/21/141587908/bachmann-once-prosecuted-tax-evaders-for-the-irs https://www.npr.org/2011/10/21/141587908/bachmann-once-prosecuted-tax-evaders-for-the-irs Rep. Michele Bachmann, shown speaking at a reception by the anti-tax group Iowans for Tax Relief, was once a prosecutor for the IRS. On the campaign trail, she has made that part of her resume a selling point.

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Perhaps more than any other Republican running for president this year, Michele Bachmann has railed against taxes. She says they're too high, and that the current tax code should be repealed. She also worked for the IRS office in St. Paul, Minn., for more than four years as a prosecutor. "The first rule of war," she says, "is know your enemy."

(Image credit: Steve Pope)

]]> David Welna In White House Run, Cain Counts On Corporate Skill Herman Cain is the only Republican presidential contender who's never held political office. Critics say that could be a disadvantage. Cain and his supporters say his business experience is an asset. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:01:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2011/10/19/141465994/in-white-house-run-cain-counts-on-corporate-skill https://www.npr.org/2011/10/19/141465994/in-white-house-run-cain-counts-on-corporate-skill Herman Cain became a vice president at Pillsbury, left that job and started over at Burger King, where he climbed the corporate ladder again. Eventually, he became CEO of Godfather's Pizza, which he is credited with turning.

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Herman Cain is the only Republican presidential contender who's never held political office. Critics say that could be a disadvantage. Cain and his supporters say his business experience is an asset.

(Image credit: Robert Paskach)

]]> Kathy Lohr Match Game: What Did These Presidents Do Before They Were Elected? NPR is exploring some of the formative jobs that the 2012 White House hopefuls held before running. Mitt Romney ran Bain Capital. Rick Perry was a farmer. You can test your knowledge of what these presidents did before they reached the White House: Try to match the occupation with the president. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:12:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2011/10/12/141163198/match-game-what-did-these-leaders-do-before-they-were-president https://www.npr.org/2011/10/12/141163198/match-game-what-did-these-leaders-do-before-they-were-president

NPR is exploring some of the formative jobs that the 2012 White House hopefuls held before running. Mitt Romney ran Bain Capital. Rick Perry was a farmer. You can test your knowledge of what these presidents did before they reached the White House: Try to match the occupation with the president.

]]> Before Politics, Huntsman Aspired To Rock Star Fame Before GOP presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman served as governor of Utah, a corporate executive, and U.S. ambassador to China, he had another youthful calling: Huntsman was a rock 'n' roll musician in a band called Wizard. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:50:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2011/10/12/141276651/before-politics-huntsman-aspired-to-rock-star-fame https://www.npr.org/2011/10/12/141276651/before-politics-huntsman-aspired-to-rock-star-fame With shaggy hair and skinny jeans, Jon Huntsman (upper right) strikes a pose with his band, Wizard.

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Before GOP presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman served as governor of Utah, a corporate executive, and U.S. ambassador to China, he had another youthful calling: Huntsman was a rock 'n' roll musician in a band called Wizard.

]]> Scott Horsley For Rick Perry, A Restless Life On The Farm Before he was elected governor of Texas, or to any of a series of positions going back more than 25 years, Perry grew cotton and raised cattle on land that his family had worked since the late 1800s. In every campaign, he has run as a man shaped by that experience. But real life on the farm was far less romantic. Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:01:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2011/10/07/141090399/for-rick-perry-a-restless-life-on-the-farm https://www.npr.org/2011/10/07/141090399/for-rick-perry-a-restless-life-on-the-farm Rick Perry's parents still live on Farm Market Road 618.

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Before he was elected governor of Texas, or to any of a series of positions going back more than 25 years, Perry grew cotton and raised cattle on land that his family had worked since the late 1800s. In every campaign, he has run as a man shaped by that experience. But real life on the farm was far less romantic.

(Image credit: Don Gonyea)

]]> Don Gonyea The 2 Portraits Of Mitt Romney, Businessman The job Romney talks about most on the campaign trail is his leadership of Bain Capital. His supporters say that's where he learned to solve big problems, create jobs and expand companies. His opponents say he made money by shutting down factories, occasionally driving companies into bankruptcy. Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:04:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2011/10/06/141115638/2-portraits-emerge-of-mitt-romney-the-businessman https://www.npr.org/2011/10/06/141115638/2-portraits-emerge-of-mitt-romney-the-businessman Mitt Romney, shown in 1993, is the former CEO of Bain & Co. In the 1980s, he started an investment fund called Bain Capital. His supporters say that's where he learned to solve big problems, create jobs and expand companies. His opponents say he made money by shutting down factories, occasionally driving companies into bankruptcy.

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The job Romney talks about most on the campaign trail is his leadership of Bain Capital. His supporters say that's where he learned to solve big problems, create jobs and expand companies. His opponents say he made money by shutting down factories, occasionally driving companies into bankruptcy.

(Image credit: David L. Ryan)

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