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John Henry Hager
37th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
In office January 14, 1998 – January 14, 2002
Governor	Jim Gilmore
Preceded by	Don Beyer
Succeeded by	Tim Kaine
Born	August 28, 1936 (1936-08-28) (age 71) Durham, North Carolina
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Maggie Hager
Profession	Politician, Entrepreneur

John Henry Hager (born August 28, 1936) is an American politician who has served as the chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia since July 2007. He also served as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from 1998 to 2002, and as an assistant secretary within the United States Department of Education from 2004 to 2007.

Hager was born in Durham, North Carolina. Growing up in Durham, Hager started his own local newspaper. While enrolled at Purdue University, he took 25 credit hours in one semester and graduated with his degree in mechanical engineering in 1958, at the age of 22. In college, he joined the ROTC and continued to run his own business. He was also an active member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Hager then continued his education and attended Harvard Business School, graduating in 1960, and subsequently served in the Army, where he was a captain.

He is married to Margaret C. "Maggie" Hager, with whom he has two sons, John H. "Jack" Hager (born 1973) and Henry C. Hager. Henry is engaged to be married to President Bush's daughter, Jenna. ^[1]

Hager began work for the Duke family at the former American Tobacco Company in Richmond, Virginia. At American Tobacco, he served as a government affairs representative. Hager contracted polio in 1974 when his son was vaccinated for the disease. As a result, he uses a nonmotorized wheelchair for daily ambulation. Following this occurrence, Hager retired from the American Tobacco Company and began his career in politics.

In 1975, he volunteered for Lieutenant Governor John N. Dalton, and in 1984 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. In 1994, he co-chaired the Senatorial campaign for Oliver North.

Hager has served as the director of Virginia's homeland security under Governors Jim Gilmore and Mark Warner. Hager was elected Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in 1997, defeating Democrat Lewis F. Payne, Jr.. Hager is believed to be the first disabled individual to serve in an elected statewide office in Virginia.

In 2001, Hager ran for Governor of Virginia, but lost in the Republican primary to Virginia's then Attorney General, Mark Earley.

Hager is the former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. He was appointed to this position by President George W. Bush on May 24, 2004, confirmed by the Senate on November 21, 2004 and resigned effective August 1, 2007.

In July 2007, Hager was elected to serve as chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.^[2]

Hager has also been a long time member of the Bohemian Grove club.