Tom DeLay: House Majority Whip

Here's a profile of House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R.-Texas, who was in his Capitol Hill office Friday when gunshots rang out nearby.

DeLay represents the 22nd District of Texas. As House Majority Whip, he is the third-ranking party leader in the House. It is his charge to see that the Republican legislative agenda is completed.

DeLay also serves on the House Appropriations Committee.

He started his political career in 1978, when he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. In 1984, he went on to the House, serving variously as Republican Conference Secretary, Deputy Whip, and chairman of the Republican Study Committee.

A three-way race in 1994 brought DeLay his position as majority whip, despite opposition from then-Speaker-elect Newt Gingrich.

Born in Laredo, Texas, in 1947, DeLay did undergraduate work at Baylor University and later graduated from the University of Houston. He then operated his own business, Albo Pest, in
Texas.

He and his wife, Christine, have a grown daughter, Danielle.