J. James Exon
J. James Exon | |
---|---|
Frank Marsh Gerald T. Whelan | |
Preceded by | Norbert Tiemann |
Succeeded by | Charles Thone |
Personal details | |
Born | John James Exon August 9, 1921 Signal Corps |
Battles/wars | World War II |
John James Exon (August 9, 1921 – June 10, 2005) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 33rd Governor of Nebraska from 1971 to 1979, and as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 1979 to 1997. A member of the Democratic Party, Exon never lost an election, and was the only Democrat ever to hold Nebraska's Class 2 U.S. Senate seat. He was elected governor in 1970, re-elected in 1974, elected to the Senate in 1978, and re-elected to that seat in 1984 and 1990. He is the only Nebraskan other than George W. Norris, the architect of Nebraska's unicameral legislature, to win five consecutive statewide elections.
Early career
Exon was born in Geddes, South Dakota, in 1921 and attended the University of Omaha (now University of Nebraska Omaha) between 1939 and 1941.[1] Exon joined the United States Army Signal Corps in 1942, and served two years overseas in New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan during World War II.[2] He was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant in December 1945 and served in the Army Reserve until 1949.[1]
After the war, he returned to Nebraska and worked as the
He started his political career as a precinct worker for the Democrats. In 1964, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention for Nebraska and served as a delegate for that state in every convention between 1972 and 2004. He served as a member of the Nebraska Democratic State Central Committee between 1964 and 1968 and was a member of the Democratic National Committee from 1968 to 1970. Exon was Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party in 1970 when he decided to run for governor.[3]
Governor of Nebraska (1971–1979)
Exon's first bid for public office was his successful campaign for
His repeated vetoes of the legislature's spending programs earned Exon the reputation as a fiscal conservative. He vetoed 141 bills in his final seven years as governor or an average of 20 a year.
Exon was opposed to gay rights. As a candidate for governor, he voiced his opposition to a 'homophile studies' class at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln,[5] taught by Louis Crompton.[6] As governor, Exon vetoed the legalization of gay sex in 1977, expressing opposition to "perverts, homos, and gays."[7] The legislature overrode his veto, and Nebraska became among the first states to legalize same-sex intercourse.[8]
Senate career (1979–1997)
Exon's popularity as governor carried over to his 1978 campaign for the U.S. Senate, and he was elected with 68 percent of the vote. He had a reputation as a moderate Democrat, often working with Republicans on fiscal and military issues. While serving on the
On October 19, 1983, Exon was one of four Democratic senators to vote against a bill establishing
In 1984, Exon had the closest election in his political career, eventually winning re-election by 25,000 votes. He was re-elected again in 1990.
He helped sponsor the Exon-Florio Amendment, which prevented takeovers or mergers by foreign companies of U.S. companies, if said merger was found to be a threat to national security.
In 1988, Exon took 10 vacations paid for by lobbying groups.[11]
Exon helped to write and secure support for a spending reduction in the U.S. budget of $14 billion in 1994, which he stated was his proudest political achievement. His
Final years and death
After his retirement, Exon served on a Committee established by Congress and led by
He was treated for cancer in the last years of his life, although he claimed in 2003 that it wasn't "highly malignant". Exon died of natural causes at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in
References
- ^ a b c "Exon, J. James". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. U.S. Congress. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ United States Congress. "J. James Exon, Late A Senator from Nebraska, Memorial Addresses and Other Tributes", U.S. Government Printing Office, 2005, p. v.
- ^ a b c Walton, Don (June 11, 2005). "Exon remembered as political giant". Lincoln Journal-Star. Archived from the original on April 14, 2006. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ProQuest 133791789.
- ^ "Tiemann-Exon Debate". The Daily Nebraskan. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. October 22, 1970.
- ^ Albin, Annie (June 29, 2020). "50 years ago, Crompton brought gay studies to Nebraska". news.unl.edu.
- ^ "Senators hope to overturn veto of code". The Lincoln Star. May 25, 1977.
- ISSN 0001-8996.
- ^ "SENATE'S ROLL-CALL VOTE ON KING HOLIDAY". New York Times. October 20, 1983.
- ^ Reagan, Ronald (November 2, 1983). "Remarks on Signing the Bill Making the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a National Holiday". Reagan Library. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
- ^ Fritz, Sarah (May 31, 1990). "More Senators Cut Back on Speaking Fees, Trips : Honorariums: Records show at least 19 rejected appearance funds and four gave them to charity in 1989. The lawmakers had been stung by scandal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
- Federal Communications Law Journal. 49 (1). Archived from the originalon September 13, 2007.
Further reading
- Duane Hutchinson, Exon: Biography of a Governor Foundation Books 1973 ISBN 0-934988-01-3