James W. Symington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James W. Symington
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 2nd district |
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| In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1977 |
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| Preceded by | Thomas B. Curtis |
| Succeeded by | Robert A. Young |
| 12th Chief of Protocol of the United States | |
| In office March 22, 1966 – March 31, 1968 |
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| President | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Lloyd Nelson Hand |
| Succeeded by | Angier Biddle Duke |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Wadsworth Symington
September 28, 1927 Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relations | See Symington family |
| Parent | Stuart Symington (father) |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Columbia Law School (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1945–1946 |
| Rank |  Private first class |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Order of Friendship (2008) |
James Wadsworth Symington (born September 28, 1927) is an American lawyer and politician. He is from Missouri. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for four terms. This was from 1969 to 1977.
Before that, he was the Chief of Protocol of the United States. He held this role from 1966 to 1968. He served under President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson. Mr. Symington is a member of the Democratic Party.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
James Symington was born on September 28, 1927. His birthplace was Rochester, New York. His father was Stuart Symington, who was a U.S. Senator from Missouri. His mother was Evelyn (Wadsworth) Symington.
James went to schools in New York City and St. Louis. In 1945, he finished high school at Deerfield Academy. He then joined the United States Marine Corps at age 17. He served as a Private first class from 1945 to 1946. This was during World War II.
After his military service, he went to college. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1950. He also graduated from Columbia Law School in 1954.
Public Service and Law Career
After law school, Symington worked for the city of St. Louis. He was an Assistant City Counselor from 1954 to 1955. In 1958, he joined the United States Foreign Service. He worked in London as an assistant to the U.S. ambassador.
He returned to Washington, D.C. in 1960. There, he held several government jobs.
- He was Deputy Director of Food for Peace (1961–1962). This program helped send food to other countries.
- He was an assistant to United States Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy (1962–1963).
- He directed the President's Committee on Juvenile Delinquency (1965–1966). This committee worked on issues affecting young people.
- He was a consultant for a commission on law enforcement (1965–1966).
- He served as the Chief of Protocol of the United States (1966–1968). This role involves managing diplomatic events and visits.
Time in Congress
In 1968, Symington was elected to Congress. He represented Missouri's 2nd congressional district. He served four terms in the United States House of Representatives. This was from 1969 to 1977.
While in Congress, he worked on important committees. He was on the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce. He also served on the United States House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. He led subcommittees focused on space science, research, and international cooperation.
In 1976, he decided not to run for his House seat again. Instead, he tried to become a U.S. Senator. His father was retiring from the Senate, and James wanted to take his place. He ran in the Democratic primary election. He did not win the primary. After his time in Congress, Symington returned to working as a lawyer in Washington, D.C.
Later Activities
After leaving Congress, James Symington continued to be active. He was a director for The Atlantic Council from 1986 to 2001. He also directed the Library of Congress Russian Leadership Program in 2001.
In 1992, he started the American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation. He led this group until 2015. This foundation worked to build cultural ties between the two countries. In 2008, he received the Order of Friendship from President of Russia Vladimir Putin. This is a special award from Russia.
Symington also enjoys singing and writing. He has made appearances as a singer. In 1999, he published a collection of his poems, songs, and writings. It was called A Muse 'N Washington: Beltway Ballads and Beyond. He has also worked as a lawyer specializing in government relations.
