Bio
David Cook
David Cook is Senior Editor and Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor. He oversees the Monitor's 9-person bureau in the nation's capital, hosts the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts, and writes for csmonitor.com.
For over 40 years, Monitor breakfasts have brought journalists together with key public officials to talk about the issues of the day in a candid, in-depth fashion. Since their start in 1966, four US presidents, five vice presidents, and countless cabinet and congressional officials have been guests at the 3,600 breakfasts the Monitor has hosted.
When Monitor correspondent Jill Carroll was held captive in Iraq for 82 days in 2006, Cook served as the Monitor's spokesperson and appeared on numerous national broadcasts including "Today," "Nightline," "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer," and "ABC World News Tonight."
From August 1994 through July 2001, Cook served as editor of The Christian Science Monitor. During his term, the Monitor's print edition was redesigned, csmonitor.com was launched, and the paper won numerous awards including the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for international reporting.
Previously Cook was editor of Monitor Broadcasting which produced daily radio news programs heard on 200 public radio stations. He also served as managing editor of the Monitor's Emmy award-winning nightly television news program "World Monitor."
His current assignment is Cook's third tour in Washington. During two previous postings in the nation's capital he covered economic policy. He also has been a Detroit-based correspondent for Business Week.
Cook was awarded a Bagehot Fellowship in Business and Economic Journalism by Columbia University. He is a graduate of Principia College, attended the Advanced Management Program at Michigan State University, and served in the U.S. Army. He is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization, and the father of three grown sons.
Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty serves as president and CEO of The Financial Services Roundtable which represents leading financial service companies in their efforts to protect the security, integrity and success of our nation’s financial system. He previously served as governor of the State of Minnesota (2003-2011). As his state’s CEO, he was responsible for a $50 billion biennial budget, 30,000 employees and over 20 agencies and departments. His work as governor included promoting international business opportunities through trade missions to nine countries. As governor, he was also responsible for disaster preparedness and response, appointment of judges, and for serving as commander in chief of Minnesota’s National Guard. As chair of the State Board of Investment, Mr. Pawlenty provided oversight over $60 billion in investments. His education, health care and energy initiatives were widely viewed as among the most innovative in the nation. He served as chair of the National Governor’s Association (2007-2008), chair of the Education Commission of the States (2008-2010), and chair of the Midwest Governor’s Association (2006-2007). From 1986 to 2000, Mr. Pawlenty practiced law in the areas of criminal prosecution, civil litigation and appeals. He also served as vice president of corporate development for Wizmo, an early stage technology services company. He has served as a board member for numerous companies. Mr. Pawlenty served in the Minnesota House of Representatives (1993-2003) where he was elected majority leader by his colleagues (1999-2003). He received a B.A. from the University of Minnesota with Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honors. He received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.
ZOOM IN: Learn more with related books and additional materials.
Encyclopædia Britannica Article
- Minnesota
State (pop., 2008 est.: 5,220,393), midwestern U.S. Bordered by Canada and the U.S. states of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota, it covers 86,939 sq mi (225,171 sq km); its capital is St. Paul. The most northerly of the 48 contiguous U.S. states, it has extensive woodlands, fertile prairies, and numerous lakes. Before European settlement, the region was inhabited by the Ojibwa (Chippewa or Anishinaabe) and the Dakota (Sioux) peoples. French explorers arrived in search of the Northwest Passage in the mid-17th century. The northeastern portion of what became the Minnesota Territory passed from the French to the British in 1763, after the French and Indian War, and then to the U.S. in 1783, following the American Revolution; it became part of the Northwest Territories in 1787. The southwestern portion was acquired by the U.S. in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase, and the northwestern portion was ceded to the U.S. by the British by treaty in 1818. The first permanent U.S. settlement was at Fort Snelling, founded in 1819. The Minnesota Territory, established in 1849, included present-day Minnesota and the eastern sections of North and South Dakota. Minnesota became the 32nd U.S. state in 1858. The Sioux Uprising in southern Minnesota in 1862 resulted in the death of more than 500 civilians, soldiers, and Dakota. Commercial iron-ore production began in 1884, and after the huge iron reserves of the Mesabi Range were discovered in 1890, the population at Duluth grew rapidly. Services are the dominant economic activity of modern-day Minnesota, but agriculture, especially grains, meat, and dairy products, remains important. In addition to iron ore, mineral resources include granite and limestone.
- Minnesota on britannica.com
© 2010 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
