Peter MacDonald (Navajo leader)
Peter MacDonald Sr. | |
|---|---|
MacDonald in 2022 | |
| Chairman of the Navajo Nation | |
| In office January 10, 1987 – February 1989 | |
| Vice President | Johnny Thompson |
| Preceded by | Peterson Zah |
| Succeeded by | Leonard Haskie |
| In office January 10, 1971 – January 15, 1983 | |
| Vice President | Wilson Skeet (1971-1979) Frank E. Paul (1979-1982) |
| Preceded by | Raymond Nakai |
| Succeeded by | Peterson Zah |
| President of the Navajo Code Talker Association | |
| In office February 2012 – August 2022 | |
| Chairman of the Navajo Code Talkers Museum | |
| Assumed office August 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hashkasilt Begay December 16, 1928 |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Bacone College, University of Oklahoma (BSEE), University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Public speaker, Engineer (formerly) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1944–1946 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 6th Marine Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Peter MacDonald (born December 16, 1928) is a Native American politician and the only four term Chairman of the Navajo Nation. MacDonald was born in Arizona, U.S. and served the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II as a Navajo Code Talker. He was first elected Navajo Tribal Chairman in 1970.
In 1989, MacDonald was removed from office by the Navajo Tribal Council, pending the results of federal criminal investigations headed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. MacDonald was sent to federal prison in 1990 for violations of US law and subsequently convicted of more U.S. federal crimes, including fraud, extortion, riot, bribery, and corruption. He was later pardoned.
MacDonald is married to Wanda MacDonald, and has five children with her. He also has nine grandchildren.