2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumTogether for America Launches for Republicans and Independents Backing Hillary Clinton
Together for America is launching to lead the Hillary for America campaigns recruitment and outreach to the growing number of Republicans and Independents who are stepping forward to endorse Hillary Clinton for president. The list of nearly 50 endorsements includes three former Cabinet Secretaries, six current or former Members of the House and Senate, six former Ambassadors, five former leaders in the armed forces, nearly 20 senior Republican administration officials and numerous business or community leaders.
Together for America is also announcing major new endorsements for Hillary Clinton today from former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Carla Hills, Former Congresswoman Connie Morella, Former Congressman Chris Shays and Former Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte.
Voters are increasingly seeing that Clinton understands the complex and volatile world we live in and has the experience and temperament to be president and lead the nation as Commander in Chief and that Donald Trump does not. These endorsements send a strong signal to Republican and Independent voters that respected leaders are putting country over political party in this election.
Americans are looking to the next president to help bring us together to tackle the big challenges facing the country and Hillary Clintons bi-partisan support is the latest proof that she can work across the aisle to make us stronger together, said HFA Campaign Chair John Podesta. Hillary Clintons experience and temperament make her a steady leader for this unique moment while Donald Trump is unfit, lacks the temperament, and is too dangerous to be in the Oval Office and the Situation Room. Regardless of party, voters are increasingly concerned that Trump's tendency to bully, demean and degrade others sends the wrong message to our children."
The list includes Republicans and Independents like former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Carla Hills, Senator Angus King (ME), Former Senators David Durenberger (MN) and Larry Pressler (SD), Congressman Richard Hanna (NY), Former Congresswoman Connie Morella (MD), Former Congressman Chris Shays (CT), Former Governor Arnie Carlson (MN), Former Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, Former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, and CEO Meg Whitman, among many others.
Carlos Gutierrez, Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce (2005-2009) and Former Chairman and CEO of Kellogg Company
I support Hillary Clinton because she has the steady temperament and the experience to serve as president. She has shown her commitment to strengthening U.S.-Cuba relations, immigration reform, and Americas role in todays competitive global economy. I look forward to supporting her progress on these important issues.
Connie Morella, Former U.S. Ambassador to the OECD (2003-2005) and Former U.S. Representative from Maryland (1987-2003)
Hillary Clinton has the knowledge, the experience, and the commitment to lead our country as president and Commander in Chief. She will reach out to every segment of our society to move our country forward. I have seen her work across the aisle to get things done and I know her lifelong commitment to families and children. Unlike her opponent, she will not divide, bully, or dismiss us. She is the right choice in this election and I wholeheartedly support her and urge my fellow Republicans to look at the choice before them and do the same.
John Negroponte, Five-time Ambassador, Deputy National Security Advisor to Ronald Reagan, and Director of National Intelligence and Deputy Secretary of State for George W. Bush
I have personally known Hillary Clinton as First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State. She will bring to the Presidency the skill, experience and wisdom that is needed in a president and Commander in Chief. Having myself served in numerous diplomatic and national security positions starting in 1960, I am convinced that Secretary Clinton has the leadership qualities that far and away qualify her best to be our next president.
Chris Shays, Former U.S. Representative from Connecticut (1987-2009)
Donald Trump represents practically everything I was taught not to be, and taught our daughter not to be. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate for president, will be getting my vote, not reluctantly, but with a strong conviction she will be a good president. By working with all Americans Hillary will reinforce the fact that the inspired efforts of our Founding Fathers -- who toiled unceasingly to create a Constitution designed to enable a diverse people, through the art of compromise, to find common ground -- was not in vain.
Together for America has leaders from a wide range of fields and areas of expertise, including the business community, national security, foreign and economic policy, academia, entertainment, civil society, community based groups and current and former officials.
Meg Whitman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
As a proud Republican, casting my vote for president has usually been a simple matter. Not this year. The reality we face is that Donald Trump is unfit to be president. And that is why more and more Republicans are doing what I did and supporting Hillary Clinton. Secretary Clintons temperament, global experience and commitment to Americas bedrock national values make her the right choice in 2016 for President of the United States.
Together for America will work to build the coalition of Republicans and Independents who are supporting Clinton and help amplify their voices to Republican and Independent voters. As more Republicans and Independents endorsers step forward, the list will continue to grow.
Additional Republicans and Independents can get involved in this effort at togetherforamerica.com.
The full list is below
Dan F. Akerson: Former CEO, GM
Ruben Alvarez: Community Leader and Former Policy Advisor to Gov. Jane Dee Hull (R-AZ)
Donna Barbisch: Retired Brigadier General
John Lane Berrey: Chairman of Quapaw Tribal Business Committee, Chairman of the Downstream Development Authority, and GOP Leader
Ambassador Robert Blackwill: Former Deputy National Security Advisor and U.S. Ambassador to India for President George W. Bush; and Senior NSC Official under President George H. W. Bush
Michael Bloomberg: Founder, Bloomberg LP, and former Mayor of New York City
Merom Brachman: Industrial Leader and Ohio Presidential Elector for President Reagan (1980) and President Bush (2004). Senior Member, Bipartisan State Ethics Commission
Arne Carlson: Former Governor of Minnesota (1991-1998)
Jim Cicconi: Special Assistant to the President and Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff for President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985); Assistant to the President and Deputy to the Chief of Staff for President George H.W. Bush (1989-1990); Vice President, George Bush Presidential Library Foundation
Michael Donley: Former Secretary of the Air Force (2008-2013)
David Durenberger: Former U.S. Senator from Minnesota (1978-1995)
Doug Elmets: Former spokesperson and speechwriter in the Reagan White House
Scott Evertz: Former Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy (2001-2002)
Joel Flory: Co-Founder and CEO of VSCO, and registered Republican
Fred T. Goldberg, Jr.: Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury for Tax Policy (1992); Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (1989-1992)
Ambassador David A. Gross: Former U.S. Coordinator for international Communications and Information Policy (2001-2009)
Cindy Guerra: Former Chair, Broward County Republican Executive Committee; Former Regional Deputy Attorney General, State of Florida (2007-2012)
Carlos M. Gutierrez: Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce (2005-2009) and Former Chairman and CEO of Kellogg Company
Richard Hanna: U.S. Representative from New Yorks 22nd Congressional District (2011 to present)
Matt Higgins: Co-Founder and CEO, RSE Ventures; Former Press Secretary, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani; Former COO, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation; Board Member, Autism Speaks
Carla Hills: Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1975-1977) and Former U.S. Trade Representative (1989-1993)
Ambassador Richard Holwill: Former State Department Official
Brigadier General (Ret.) David Irvine: Former Utah State Legislator
Senator Angus King: U.S. Senator (I-ME), 2013 to present
James Kunder: former Assistant Administrator for Asia and the Near East at USAID under George W. Bush
Jimmy LaSalvia: Co-Founder and Former President, GOProud
Jennifer Lim: Co-Founder of Republican Women for Hillary
Ambassador Frank Lavin: Former White House Political Director to President Reagan (1987-1989), U.S. Ambassador to Singapore (2001-2005) and U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce (2005-2007)
Susan Loudon: Gold Star Mother and Registered Republican
Hamid R. Moghadam: Chairman & CEO, Prologis
Alberto Mora: Former General Counsel of the Navy (2001-2006)
Ambassador Connie Morella: Former U.S. Ambassador to the OECD (2003-2005) and Former U.S. Representative from Maryland (1987-2003)
John Negroponte: Five-time Ambassador, Deputy National Security Advisor to Ronald Reagan, and Director of National Intelligence and Deputy Secretary of State for George W. Bush
Henry M. Paulson, Jr.: Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (2006-2009)
Gale S. Pollock: Major General (Ret)
Larry Pressler: Former U.S. Senator from South Dakota (1979-1997) and U.S. Representative (1975-1979)
William K. Reilly: Former EPA Administrator to President Bush
William Ruckelshaus: Former EPA Administrator to Presidents Reagan and Nixon
William Sanchez: Special Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice (2004 - 2005); counsel for political asylum seekers and refugees from Cuba and Haiti
Brent Scowcroft: Former National Security Advisor to Presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush
Christopher Shays: Former U.S. Congressman from Connecticut (1987 to 2009)
Harry Sloan: Chairman and CEO, Global Eagle Acquisition LLC
Timothy P. Stratford: Former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for China (2005-2010)
Shirin Tahir-Kheli: Former special assistant to the president for President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's Ambassador and Senior Adviser for Women's Empowerment
Ambassador Pete Teeley: Press Secretary to V.P. George H.W. Bush, Former U.S. Ambassador to Canada and U.S. Representative to UNICEF under President George H.W. Bush
Ashley J. Tellis: Former special assistant to the president and senior director for strategic planning and Southwest Asia
Daniel Twining: Former State Department Policy Planning Staff under President George W. Bush; former Foreign Policy Advisor to Senator John McCain
Matthew Waxman: Senior State Department, Defense Department and National Security Council official under George W. Bush
Meg Whitman: President and Chief Executive Officer, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Mary Daley Yerrick: Co-Founder and Chair Emeritus of Vital Voices Global Partnership
The individuals listed herein have endorsed in their personal capacity and this does not reflect the endorsement of any organization, corporation or entity to which they are affiliated.Titles and affiliations of each individual are provided for identification purposes only.