Born May 12, 1928 near San Idlefonso, New Mexico, Manuel Lujan Jr. graduated from high school in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and received his B.A. from the College of Santa Fe in 1950. He then went to work in the insurance business before setting out on a career in politics.

Though he was defeated in his 1964 bid for the state senate, Lujan was elected in 1968 to represent the First Congressional District of New Mexico in the U.S. House of Representatives. In the interim, he also served as vice-chairman of the New Mexico State Corporation Commission and Advisory Board (1965-1968), as a member of the Bernalillo County Crime Commission (1967-1968), and as president of the New Mexico Independent Insurance Agents (1968). While in Congress (1969-1989), Lujan served on the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, the Science and Technology Committee, and the Energy and Environment subcommittees.

Lujan served as secretary of the interior in the Bush administration from 1989 to 1993. He currently sits on the board of various organizations and foundations and runs Manuel Lujan Associates, a consulting firm dealing with matters involving federal agencies.