John Rusling Block

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John Rusling Block

John Rusling Block (born February 15, 1935 in Galesburg , Knox County , Illinois ) is a former American politician ( Republican Party ) who was a member of the cabinet of US President Ronald Reagan as Secretary of Agriculture .

John Block's family lived in the Illinois countryside; there was no electricity in their household. He later enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point , where he graduated in 1957. He then did his military service in the 101st Airborne Division of the US Army and was stationed in Fort Benning ( Georgia ). After leaving the army, he became a successful agricultural entrepreneur.

Since he could boast expertise in the agricultural sector on the one hand and was known to the other as a staunch Republican, he was in 1977 by Governor James R. Thompson Minister of Agriculture ( Director of Agriculture appointed) of Illinois. After the Republicans won the 1980 presidential election , he moved to the federal government as Minister of Agriculture. Block held this position in the Reagan cabinet from 1981 until his resignation in 1986.

As a result, he was no longer politically active, but in the private sector. He became a board member of John Deere , the world leader in agricultural equipment, and is President of Food Distributors International . In 1992 he received the Horatio Alger Award . In addition, participated in worldwide nutrition programs; he is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the World Food Program , a non-profit organization that works to end global famine. Finally, he is also a consultant for a law firm in Washington .

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personal data
SURNAME Block, John Rusling
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH February 15, 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH Galesburg , Illinois