Jay Rockefeller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jay Rockefeller
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| United States Senator from West Virginia |
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| In office January 15, 1985 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Jennings Randolph |
| Succeeded by | Shelley Moore Capito |
| Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Daniel Inouye |
| Succeeded by | John Thune |
| Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Pat Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Dianne Feinstein |
| Chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee | |
| In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Arlen Specter |
| Succeeded by | Arlen Specter |
| In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Arlen Specter |
| Succeeded by | Arlen Specter |
| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Alan Cranston |
| Succeeded by | Alan Simpson |
| 29th Governor of West Virginia | |
| In office January 17, 1977 – January 14, 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Arch A. Moore Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Arch A. Moore Jr. |
| 22nd Secretary of State of West Virginia | |
| In office January 13, 1969 – January 15, 1973 |
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| Governor | Arch A. Moore Jr. |
| Preceded by | Robert D. Bailey Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Hike Heiskell |
| Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from Kanawha County |
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| In office December 1, 1966 – December 1, 1968 |
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| Preceded by |
12 members
Jesse S. Barker
J.F. Bedell Thomas L. Black Pat Board Kelly L. Castleberry Kenneth L. Coghill Charles C. Dunaway James E. Kessinger Thomas A. Knight James W. Loop Jack L. Pauley Fred Scott |
| Succeeded by |
4 members
J. Dempsey Gibson
Phillis J. Rutledge Sam C. Savilla Harlan Wilson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Rockefeller
June 18, 1937 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (1966–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican (before 1966) |
| Spouse |
Sharon Percy
(m. 1967) |
| Children |
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| Parents | John Davison Rockefeller III Blanchette Ferry Hooker |
| Relatives | See Rockefeller family |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) International Christian University Yale University |
| Signature |  |
John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV (born June 18, 1937) is a retired American politician. He served as a U.S. Senator for West Virginia from 1985 to 2015. Before becoming a senator, he was the governor of West Virginia from 1977 to 1985.
Rockefeller first moved to Emmons, West Virginia, in 1964. He worked there as a VISTA volunteer, helping communities in need. His first public job was as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1966 to 1968. Later, he became the Secretary of State of West Virginia (1968–1973). He also served as president of West Virginia Wesleyan College from 1973 to 1975.
Jay Rockefeller is the great-grandson of the famous oil businessman John D. Rockefeller. He was the only member of the Rockefeller family to hold office as a Democrat. His family was traditionally Republican. He chose not to run for reelection in 2014 and was followed by Shelley Moore Capito.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Davison Rockefeller IV was born in New York City on June 18, 1937. His parents were John D. Rockefeller III and Blanchette Ferry Hooker. He was born shortly after the death of his great-grandfather, John D. Rockefeller.
He went to Phillips Exeter Academy and graduated in 1955. After his third year at Harvard College, he spent three years studying Japanese in Tokyo at the International Christian University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard in 1961. He also studied at Yale University, focusing on Asian languages and history.
After college, Rockefeller worked for the Peace Corps in Washington, D.C. He was an assistant to the Peace Corps Director, Sargent Shriver. He also managed the Corps' largest program in the Philippines. In 1964–1965, he continued his public service with Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). This is when he moved to Emmons, West Virginia.
Political Career Highlights
Serving West Virginia
In 1966, Rockefeller was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates. In 1968, he became the West Virginia Secretary of State. He ran for governor in 1972 but lost.
From 1973 to 1975, he was the president of West Virginia Wesleyan College. He was then elected governor of West Virginia in 1976 and again in 1980. During his time as governor, West Virginia faced tough economic times. Many factories and coal mines closed due to a national economic slowdown.
Becoming a U.S. Senator
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In 1984, Jay Rockefeller was elected to the United States Senate. He won by a small margin. He was re-elected four more times in 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008.
As a senator, he led important committees. He chaired the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs for several years. He also led the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
In 1992, he thought about running for president but decided not to. He strongly supported Bill Clinton for president instead.
In 2010, after Senator Robert Byrd passed away, Rockefeller became the most senior U.S. Senator from West Virginia. He had served with Senator Byrd for 25 years.
In 2013, he announced he would not seek another term. He retired from the Senate in 2015.
Key Political Views
Views on the Iraq War
Jay Rockefeller first supported using military force in Iraq. This was based on information from intelligence agencies about Iraq's weapons programs. However, after learning about some false information given to U.N. inspectors, he started an investigation.
He became a strong critic of the Iraq War. As the head of the Intelligence Committee, he oversaw a report that criticized how intelligence was handled before the war. He stated that leaders used the fight against Al Qaeda to justify going to war with Iraq.
Telecommunications and Privacy
In 2007, Senator Rockefeller worked to give legal protection to phone companies. These companies were accused of helping the National Security Agency (NSA) listen to Americans' calls without permission.
This was a change from his earlier concerns about the NSA's wiretapping program. Some people thought this change was related to money donations from telecommunications companies.
Cybersecurity Efforts
In 2009, Rockefeller introduced a bill called the Cybersecurity Act. This bill aimed to protect the internet from cyber-attacks. It allowed the government to share information about threats with private networks. It also gave the president power to declare a "cyber-emergency" and shut down internet traffic to certain servers if needed.
He also hosted a Homeland Security Summit in West Virginia. This event focused on cybersecurity and keeping online information safe.
Healthcare Initiatives
In 1997, Rockefeller helped create the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This program helps provide health insurance for millions of children from low-income families. He also wrote laws that required the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer more healthcare services to veterans.
Rockefeller is a strong supporter of research into Alzheimer's disease and other brain conditions. He and his family founded the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI) in West Virginia. This institute studies human memory and brain diseases to find new treatments.
He also supported a "public option" for healthcare reform. This would have allowed people to choose a government-run health insurance plan. He voted for President Barack Obama's healthcare reform laws, including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Personal Life
Since 1967, Jay Rockefeller has been married to Sharon Percy Rockefeller. She is the chief executive officer of WETA-TV, a public television station in Washington, D.C. They have four children: John Davison "Jamie" Rockefeller V, Valerie Rockefeller Wayne, Charles P. Rockefeller, and Justin Aldrich Rockefeller.
The Rockefellers live in Washington, D.C., and also have a home in Charleston, West Virginia. They own a ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Jay Rockefeller is related to many famous people in the Rockefeller family. His paternal grandmother was the daughter of Rhode Island Senator Nelson W. Aldrich. His uncles include David Rockefeller, a banker, and Nelson Rockefeller, who was Governor of New York and Vice President of the United States.
Awards and Honors
- National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal, 2009
- Grand Cordon Order of the Rising Sun (Japan), 2013
- Consumer and Labor Leadership Award (shared with Sen. Tom Harkin), 2013
- NCL Trumpeter award, 1992
Images for kids
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Jay Rockefeller's signature
See also
- Rockefeller family
- David Rockefeller
- Kykuit
- US Senate Report on chemical weapons
- 2005 CIA interrogation tapes destruction
