Tony Blair (Real-Life Reader Biography)

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, affected the life of every American. When such horrific crimes were committed on American soil, it left all Americans uneasy and afraid. An unexpected friend helped America see she was not alone in her fight against terrorism.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the youngest Prime Minister in over two-hundred years, proved to be one of America’s greatest friends. Inheriting his father’s political ambitions, Tony’s rise in politics didn’t surprise many people. Growing up, he was a star athlete and a star pupil. Educated as a lawyer, Blair landed a law apprenticeship with the legal firm of Alexander Irvine, where he would meet his future wife, lawyer Cherie Booth. But Blair was never the stoic politician-type one might expect. Tony was once a lead singer in a rock band, he wore his hair long, and tested rules to the limit. Today, he leads the Labour Party and presides over the strongest British economy in 40 years.