Ben Nighthorse Campbell facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Campbell, c. 1997

Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Daniel Inouye
Succeeded by	John McCain
In office January 3, 2001 – June 6, 2001
Preceded by	John McCain
Succeeded by	Daniel Inouye
United States Senator from Colorado
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Tim Wirth
Succeeded by	Ken Salazar
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Michael Strang
Succeeded by	Scott McInnis
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 59th district
In office January 1983 – January 1987
Preceded by	Robert E. DeNier
Succeeded by	Jim E. Dyer

Personal details
Born	Benny Marshall Campbell (1933-04-13) April 13, 1933 (age 92) Auburn, California, U.S.
Nationality	American Northern Cheyenne
Political party	Republican (since 1995)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (until 1995)
Spouse	Linda Price
Children	2
Education	San Jose State University (BA) Meiji University
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1951–1953
Rank	Airman First Class E-4
Battles/wars	Korean War
Awards	Korean Service Medal Air Medal

Ben Nighthorse Campbell (born April 13, 1933) is an American politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives and later as a U.S. Senator for Colorado. He is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Tribe's Council of Chiefs. For many years, he was the only Native American in the U.S. Congress. He was the last Native American in the Senate until 2022.

Campbell started his political career as a member of the Democratic Party. However, he later joined the Republican Party in 1995. He was reelected to the Senate in 1998. Campbell decided not to run for another term in 2004 and left office in 2005. After his time in Congress, he became a lobbyist.

Early Life and Family Background
Military Service and Education
Career Highlights
Life After Congress
Personal Life
Honors and Awards
See also

Early Life and Family Background

Ben Nighthorse Campbell was born Benny Campbell in Auburn, California. His mother, Mary Vierra, was an immigrant from Portugal. She came to the U.S. through Ellis Island when she was six years old. She met Albert Campbell, a Native American patient, while she was in the hospital.

Albert Campbell was mostly from the Northern Cheyenne tribe. He also had some Pueblo and Apache ancestry. Ben's parents married in 1929, and he was born in 1933. Ben and his older sister, Alberta, spent time in Catholic orphanages. This was because their mother had tuberculosis, a serious illness.

As a young man, Campbell learned the Japanese martial art of judo. He learned it from Japanese immigrant families. He met them while working in local farm fields.

Military Service and Education

Campbell speaks at the commissioning of the USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) in 2007.

Campbell left Placer High School in 1951 to join the U.S. Air Force. He served in Korea during the Korean War as an air policeman. He left the Air Force in 1953. He earned the rank of Airman Second Class. He also received the Korean Service Medal and the Air Medal.

While in the Air Force, Campbell earned his GED. After leaving the military, he used his G.I. Bill to attend San Jose State University. He graduated in 1957 with a degree in Physical Education and Fine Arts. He was given the name "Nighthorse" when he returned to the Northern Cheyenne reservation. This was part of a special naming ceremony for his father's family, Blackhorse.

Career Highlights

Sports Achievements

At San Jose State, Campbell was on the judo team. He trained for the Olympic Games and studied at Meiji University in Tokyo, Japan. He won U.S. National judo titles in 1961, 1962, and 1963. He also won a gold medal at the 1963 Pan-American Games.

In 1964, Campbell competed in judo at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He was the first Native American to be on the U.S. Olympic judo team. He got an injury and did not win a medal. After the Olympics, he worked as a deputy sheriff. He also coached the U.S. national judo team and taught high school. He and his wife also raised horses.

Jewelry Design

Ben Nighthorse Campbell learned to make jewelry from his father. He used unique methods, including techniques from Japanese sword makers. He won over 200 national and international awards for his jewelry designs. His work has been featured in magazines. Some of his pieces are displayed with the Art of the Olympians organization.

Political Journey

Campbell began his political career in the Colorado State Legislature. He was elected as a Democrat in 1982 and served two terms. His colleagues recognized him as one of the top legislators.

Serving in Congress

Campbell's congressional photograph (1991).

In 1986, Campbell was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He served three terms there. In 1989, he wrote a bill to create the National Museum of the American Indian. This bill later became a law.

Becoming a Senator

In 1992, Campbell ran for the United States Senate. He won the Democratic primary and then the general election. He became the first Native American elected to the U.S. Senate since the 1920s.

In March 1995, Campbell changed his political party from Democrat to Republican. He said this was because the Senate did not pass a balanced-budget amendment, which he strongly supported. In 1998, he was reelected to the Senate by a large margin. He identified as a moderate Republican.

During President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, Campbell voted to convict Clinton. He said he had taken a serious oath of office.

Campbell with President George W. Bush (2004).

Campbell passed more public laws than any other member of Congress during one period. He also became the first American Indian to lead the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. He supported the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. In 2004, he voted against a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. He believed this issue should be decided by individual states.

In March 2004, Campbell announced he would not seek reelection. He had been treated for prostate cancer and heartburn. He retired from office in January 2005. He later said he didn't want to "die in this place."

Life After Congress

Campbell, with Chickasaw Congressman Tom Cole and other officials, listening to a speech by then-president Barack Obama (December 2010).

After retiring, Campbell worked as a senior advisor at a law firm. In 2012, he started his own lobbying firm, Ben Nighthorse Consultants. He also continues to design and create his American Indian jewelry.

A reservoir in Colorado, Lake Nighthorse, was named in his honor in 2011. Campbell is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One. In 2016, he supported John Kasich for president.

In 2016, Campbell said he regretted his vote to support the Iraq War. He felt that the information available at the time was not complete. He later joined other former senators in supporting an investigation into the 2016 election. However, he opposed the impeachment of President Donald Trump. He called it a "waste of time."

Retired senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, with his daughter Shanan Campbell Wells, visiting the Santa Fe Indian Market in August 2015.

In 2020, Campbell spoke about his party switch and Native American issues. He defended his move to the Republican Party. He said that some historical actions against Native Americans were done by Democrats. He also expressed hope that more Native people would get involved in politics.

Personal Life