Don Nickles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Don Nickles
United States Senator from Oklahoma
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Henry Bellmon
Succeeded by	Tom Coburn
Senate positions Chair of the Senate Budget Committee In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2005 Preceded by Kent Conrad Succeeded by Judd Gregg Senate Minority Whip In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 Leader Trent Lott Preceded by Harry Reid Succeeded by Harry Reid In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001 Leader Trent Lott Preceded by Harry Reid Succeeded by Harry Reid Senate Majority Whip In office January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2001 Leader Trent Lott Preceded by Harry Reid Succeeded by Harry Reid In office June 12, 1996 – January 3, 2001 Leader Trent Lott Preceded by Trent Lott Succeeded by Harry Reid
Member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 20th district
In office January 2, 1979 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Roy Grantham
Succeeded by	William O'Connor
Personal details
Born	Donald Lee Nickles (1948-12-06) December 6, 1948 (age 76) Ponca City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Linda Lou Morrison
Children	4
Education	Oklahoma State University–Stillwater (BA)

Donald Lee Nickles (born December 6, 1948) is an American politician who served as a United States Senator for Oklahoma. He was a member of the Republican Party and was in office from 1981 to 2005.

Nickles was known for his conservative views. This means he believed in lower taxes and less government spending. He also held traditional views on social issues. After he retired from the Senate, he started a company called the Nickles Group. This company advises businesses on how to work with the government.

Early Life and Education

Don Nickles was born and grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma. He went to public schools there and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1967.

To help pay for college at Oklahoma State University, he and his wife, Linda, ran their own cleaning business. He studied business administration and graduated in 1971. While in college, he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

After graduating, Nickles worked for his family's business, Nickles Machine Corporation. His grandfather had started the company in 1918. Nickles eventually became the company's vice president. From 1970 to 1976, he also served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

A major event in his childhood was the death of his father when he was twelve. His family had to sell part of their business to pay the estate tax, which is a tax on the property someone leaves behind when they die. This experience shaped many of his later political ideas.

Start in Politics

In 1978, at age 29, Nickles was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate. This was the start of his career in politics. Just two years later, when he was 31, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. He was the youngest Republican ever to be elected to the Senate.

Career in the U.S. Senate

Nickles with President Ronald Reagan in 1986

As a senator, Nickles worked on laws to cut taxes and lower government spending. He also focused on strengthening the country's defense. He sponsored the Defense of Marriage Act, a law that allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.

In 1986, during a speech at the University of Oklahoma, President Ronald Reagan accidentally called him Don Rickles, who was a famous comedian. The president thought the mistake was very funny when he found out.

Nickles was one of only three senators who voted against confirming Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court. He also voted against Stephen Breyer. He disagreed with their views on certain legal issues, including the court's decision in Roe v. Wade.

Leadership Roles

Nickles became an important leader among the Senate Republicans. He held several key positions, including:

• Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
• Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee
• Assistant Republican Leader (also known as the Republican Whip)

As the Republican Whip, his job was to make sure other Republican senators voted along with the party's goals. In 2002, he played a role in a major change in Senate leadership. The Republican Leader at the time, Trent Lott, made comments that were seen as racially insensitive. Nickles was the first Republican leader to say publicly that Lott should resign. He felt the issue was distracting from the party's work. Lott soon stepped down.

Nickles was re-elected three times, in 1986, 1992, and 1998. When he retired, he was the longest-serving senator in Oklahoma's history up to that point.

Life After the Senate

In 2003, Nickles announced he would not run for re-election. After leaving the Senate in 2005, he started the Nickles Group. It is a consulting firm in Washington, D.C., that helps businesses understand government policies. He also serves on the board of directors for several companies, including Chesapeake Energy.

Nickles also appeared in the movie Traffic, where he shared his thoughts on the nation's drug policies.

Family

Nickles and his wife, Linda, have four children.