Jay Rockefeller facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jay Rockefeller
United States Senator from West Virginia
In office January 15, 1985 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Jennings Randolph
Succeeded by	Shelley Moore Capito
Senate positions Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2015 Preceded by Daniel Inouye Succeeded by John Thune Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009 Preceded by Pat Roberts Succeeded by Dianne Feinstein Chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 Preceded by Arlen Specter Succeeded by Arlen Specter In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001 Preceded by Arlen Specter Succeeded by Arlen Specter In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 Preceded by Alan Cranston Succeeded by Alan Simpson
29th Governor of West Virginia
In office January 17, 1977 – January 14, 1985
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
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
In office December 1, 1966 – December 1, 1968
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 Davison Rockefeller IV (1937-06-18) June 18, 1937 (age 88) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (1966–present)
Other political affiliations	Republican (before 1966)
Spouse	Sharon Percy ​ (m. 1967)​
Children	John V Valerie Charles Justin
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 is a member of the famous Rockefeller family and served as a United States Senator for West Virginia from 1985 to 2015. Before becoming a senator, he was the Governor of West Virginia from 1977 to 1985.

Rockefeller came from a family that was mostly part of the Republican Party. However, he chose to be a Democrat. He decided not to run for reelection in 2014 and retired from politics.

Early Life and Choosing Public Service

Jay Rockefeller was born in New York City. He was the great-grandson of John D. Rockefeller, who was once the richest person in the world. Even though he grew up in a very wealthy family, Jay wanted to help others.

After graduating from Harvard University in 1961, he joined the Peace Corps, a program started by President John F. Kennedy to help people in other countries. Later, he worked for a similar program in America called Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). In 1964, this work brought him to the small town of Emmons, West Virginia, where he decided to begin his political career.

Political Career in West Virginia

Governor Rockefeller giving a speech aboard the USS Stump in July 1984.

Rockefeller's first political job was in the West Virginia House of Delegates, which he was elected to in 1966. Two years later, he was elected as the Secretary of State of West Virginia.

In 1976, he was elected governor of West Virginia and was re-elected in 1980. As governor, he led the state during a difficult time when many coal mines and factories were closing. He worked to help the state's economy and its people.

A Long Career in the U.S. Senate

Vice President George H.W. Bush gives the oath of office to Rockefeller in January 1985. He is surrounded by other senators.

In 1984, while still governor, Rockefeller was elected to the United States Senate. He would go on to serve for 30 years, winning re-election four times. In the Senate, he became a leader on many important issues.

When Senator Robert Byrd, another long-serving senator from West Virginia, died in 2010, Rockefeller became the state's senior senator.

Important Work in the Senate

Rockefeller's official portrait in 1993.

Rockefeller was the chairman of several powerful Senate committees. A committee is a group of senators who focus on specific topics, like veterans' affairs or science and technology.

• Intelligence Committee: He was the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. This committee oversees the nation's spy agencies, like the CIA. From this position, he was a key voice on the war in Iraq.
• Veterans' Affairs Committee: He also led the committee that works on issues affecting military veterans. He helped pass laws to give veterans better access to health care services.
• Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee: As chairman of this committee, he worked on laws related to trade, science, technology, and transportation.

Key Political Issues

Health Care

Rockefeller was a strong supporter of making health care available to more people. In 1997, he helped create the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This program provides low-cost health insurance to millions of children from families who cannot afford it.

He also founded the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute in 1999. Named after his mother, the institute studies diseases of the brain, like Alzheimer's disease.

Iraq War

Rockefeller with fellow West Virginia Senator Carte Goodwin.

In 2002, Rockefeller voted to give President George W. Bush the authority to use military force in Iraq. He said he based his vote on intelligence reports about weapons in Iraq.

Later, when it became clear that some of the information was wrong, Rockefeller became a critic of how the war was handled. His committee wrote reports that were critical of the government's use of intelligence before the war.

Cybersecurity

Rockefeller was very concerned about protecting the internet from attacks. In 2009, he introduced a bill called the Cybersecurity Act. The bill was meant to help the government and private companies share information about online threats to keep the internet safe.

Personal Life

In 1967, Jay Rockefeller married Sharon Percy. Her father, Charles H. Percy, was also a U.S. Senator. Sharon is the head of WETA-TV, a major public television station in Washington, D.C.

They have four children: John (Jamie), Valerie, Charles, and Justin. The Rockefellers live in Washington, D.C., but also have a home in Charleston, West Virginia.

On January 11, 2013, Rockefeller announced he would not run for a sixth term in the Senate. He donated his official papers from his 30-year Senate career to West Virginia University.

Awards

• National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest award given to a non-career government employee by the U.S. Intelligence Community.
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan's highest honors, for his work in strengthening U.S.-Japan relations.

See also

In Spanish: Jay Rockefeller para niños

• Rockefeller family
• David Rockefeller
• Kykuit