Jim Wright facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Wright
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 48th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives | |
| In office January 6, 1987 – June 6, 1989 |
|
| Preceded by | Tip O'Neill |
| Succeeded by | Tom Foley |
| Leader of the House Democratic Caucus | |
| In office January 6, 1987 – June 6, 1989 |
|
| Preceded by | Tip O'Neill |
| Succeeded by | Tom Foley |
| House Majority Leader | |
| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1987 |
|
| Deputy | John Brademas Tom Foley |
| Speaker | Tip O'Neill |
| Preceded by | Tip O'Neill |
| Succeeded by | Tom Foley |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 12th district |
|
| In office January 3, 1955 – June 30, 1989 |
|
| Preceded by | Wingate Lucas |
| Succeeded by | Pete Geren |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Claude Wright Jr.
December 22, 1922 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | May 6, 2015 (aged 92) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Resting place | City Greenwood Cemetery Weatherford, Texas |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Mary Lemons
(m. 1942–1972)Betty Hay
(m. 1972) |
| Children | 4 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1946 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
| Unit | United States Army Air Forces |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
James Claude Wright Jr. (December 22, 1922 – May 6, 2015) was an American politician. He served as the 48th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 1989. He represented Texas's 12th congressional district as a Democrat from 1955 to 1989.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Wright joined the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. After the war, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. He then became mayor of Weatherford, Texas. In 1954, he won election to the U.S. Congress. He became a senior member of the House Public Works Committee.
In 1976, Wright was elected House Majority Leader. He became Speaker of the House in 1987. This happened after Tip O'Neill retired. Wright resigned from Congress in 1989. This was during an investigation by the House Ethics Committee. After leaving Congress, he taught at Texas Christian University. He passed away in Fort Worth in 2015.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Jim Wright was born in Fort Worth, Texas. His parents were Marie and James Claude Wright. Because his father was a traveling salesman, Jim and his two sisters lived in many towns in Texas and Oklahoma. He went to public schools in Fort Worth and Dallas. He graduated from Adamson High School. He also studied at Weatherford College and the University of Texas at Austin.
In December 1941, Wright joined the United States Army Air Forces. He became a second lieutenant in 1942. He trained as a bombardier. He earned a Distinguished Flying Cross. He flew in B-24 Liberator planes during World War II. He was part of the 530th Bomb Squadron in the South Pacific. His book, The Flying Circus, tells about his wartime experiences.
After the war, he lived in Weatherford, Texas. He helped start a company that organized trade shows. As a Democrat, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1946. He served from 1947 to 1949. He was the mayor of Weatherford from 1950 to 1954.
Career in Congress
In 1954, Jim Wright was elected to the U.S. Congress. He represented Texas's 12th congressional district. This district included Fort Worth and Weatherford. He was re-elected 14 times. He became more important in his party and in Congress.
In 1956, Wright did not sign the Southern Manifesto. This document supported segregation. He voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. He also supported the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Later, he voted for the bill that made Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday in 1983. In 1988, as Speaker, he helped override President Reagan's veto of the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987.
In 1963, Wright was in Dallas when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Wright continued to serve in the House. He became a senior member of the Public Works Committee. In 1976, he was elected House Majority Leader. He won by just one vote.
The Wright Amendment
Jim Wright is known for the Wright Amendment. This was a law he supported in 1979. It limited air travel from Love Field, an airport in Dallas. The law was meant to help the newer Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport grow. It said that flights from Love Field could only go to states that border Texas. Any flight going further had to stop in a bordering state first.
This rule limited traffic from Love Field. It helped Southwest Airlines grow because they mostly flew within Texas at first. Over time, many people felt the amendment was no longer needed. They thought it limited fair competition. In 2006, Congress passed a law to slowly remove the Wright Amendment. All restrictions on travel from Love Field were lifted on October 13, 2014.
Wright also strongly supported the Superconducting Super Collider project. This was a large science project in Waxahachie, Texas. However, work on it stopped in 1993.
Speaker of the House
On January 6, 1987, Jim Wright was elected Speaker of the House. He took over from Tip O'Neill. Wright said being Speaker was "the greatest responsibility that can come to a lawmaker."
In July 1988, he led the Democratic Party convention. This is where Michael Dukakis was nominated for president. President John F. Kennedy had praised Wright's service in Congress years earlier.
Even though Dukakis lost the 1988 presidential election, Democrats kept control of the House. So, Wright was re-elected Speaker in 1989.
Ethics Investigation and Resignation
In 1988, the House Ethics Committee began an investigation into Jim Wright. They looked into claims that he used sales of his book, Reflections of a Public Man, to earn more money than allowed. They also looked at benefits his wife received.
Facing pressure, Wright resigned as Speaker on May 31, 1989. He was the first Speaker to resign because of a scandal. On June 6, his party chose Tom Foley as his replacement. Wright then resigned from Congress on June 30.
This event was part of a time of increasing political disagreements in Congress. The initial charges against Wright were made by Newt Gingrich. This helped Gingrich's own political career.
Some people believe Wright's resignation was linked to his questions about CIA actions in Nicaragua. Wright had criticized President Reagan's policy and even talked with the Nicaraguan government.
Life After Congress
After leaving Congress, Jim Wright went back to Fort Worth. He became a professor at Texas Christian University. He taught a class about Congress and presidents. He also wrote several books.
In 2004, Wright was honored in the Texas Trail Hall of Fame. His display there says "Fort Worth Loves Him!"
In 2013, Wright had trouble getting a voter ID card in Texas. He felt that the voter ID law might make it hard for older people to vote. He worried they might not be able to meet the requirements.
In May 2014, Wright said he regretted resigning as Speaker. He thought it might have been a "gross misjudgment."
Death
Jim Wright passed away on May 6, 2015, at age 92. He was survived by his wife, Betty, and his four children. He had undergone surgery for cancer twice before his death.
Many political leaders shared their thoughts after his passing. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi praised his courage and leadership. Speaker of the House John Boehner said Wright understood how close the House was to the people. President Barack Obama noted Wright's passion for improving infrastructure and promoting peace in Central America.
See also
In Spanish: Jim Wright para niños
- List of federal political scandals in the United States
