Orlebeke, Charles J.

Executive Assistant to Governor Romney, later Deputy Undersecretary to Romney, then serving as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Nixon administration.

Charles J. Orlebeke began working for George Romney in the 1962 gubernatorial campaign. He worked as an administrative assistant for Romney until becoming Executive Assistant for Research and Program Development in January of 1967. While working with Romney in the governor's office, Orlebeke focused on education, mental health, civil rights, and corrections. Orlebeke continued working with Romney at HUD as Deputy Undersecretary. Orlebeke worked at HUD from 1969-1973.

Orlebeke was born in Grand Rapids in 1934, graduating from Grand Rapids Christian High School in 1952. He earned his bachelor's degree in English and Political Science from Calvin College in 1957. He then received a Master's degree at Michigan State University in political science in 1960. In 1960-61 Orlebeke was a Fulbright scholar in Australia, and he earned his Ph.D from Michigan State University in 1965. His dissertation analyzed the Liberal Party in New South Wales, Australia.

Following his service to Romney, Orlebeke taught urban planning and public policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His books include Federal Aid to Chicago and New Life at Ground Zero: New York, Home Ownership and the Future of American Cities .