Pat Roberts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pat Roberts
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Roberts in 2015
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| United States Senator from Kansas |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Nancy Kassebaum |
| Succeeded by | Roger Marshall |
| Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Debbie Stabenow |
| Succeeded by | Debbie Stabenow |
| Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Graham |
| Succeeded by | Jay Rockefeller |
| Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee | |
| In office January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Harry Reid |
| Succeeded by | Harry Reid |
| In office November 19, 1999 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Smith |
| Succeeded by | Harry Reid |
| Chair of the House Agriculture Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Kika de la Garza |
| Succeeded by | Robert Smith |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas's 1st district |
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| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Keith Sebelius |
| Succeeded by | Jerry Moran |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Charles Patrick Roberts
April 20, 1936 Topeka, Kansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Franki Fann
(m. 1969) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Kansas State University (BA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1958–1962 |
| Rank |  First Lieutenant |
Charles Patrick Roberts (born April 20, 1936) is a retired American politician. He was a U.S. Senator for Kansas from 1997 to 2021. Before that, he served eight terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 1997. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Roberts was born in Topeka, Kansas. He graduated from Kansas State University. He served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. Later, he worked as a newspaper reporter. He began his political career in the late 1960s. In 1980, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He took over from Congressman Keith Sebelius, for whom he had worked. He led the House Agriculture Committee for one term.
Roberts was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996. He led an investigation into intelligence failures before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He was the longest-serving member of Kansas's group of lawmakers in Washington. He also chaired the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. He is the only person to have led both the House and Senate agriculture committees.
On January 4, 2019, Roberts announced he would not run for re-election in 2020. Roger Marshall took his place on January 3, 2021.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Pat Roberts was born on April 20, 1936, in Topeka, Kansas. His parents were Ruth B. (née Patrick) and C. Wesley Roberts. His father was the Chairman of the Republican National Committee for a short time under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Roberts's great-grandfather, J.W. Roberts, started the Oskaloosa Independent newspaper. This is the second-oldest newspaper in Kansas.
Roberts finished high school in 1954 at Holton High School in Holton, Kansas. He then earned a degree in Journalism from Kansas State University in 1958. He was part of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. From 1958 to 1962, he served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He reached the rank of First Lieutenant.
Early Career and Entering Politics
After serving in the Marines, Roberts worked as a reporter and editor. He worked for several newspapers in Arizona from 1962 to 1967. In 1967, he joined the staff of Republican Kansas Senator Frank Carlson. In 1969, he became an assistant to Kansas's 1st District Congressman Keith Sebelius.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (1981–1997)
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When Keith Sebelius announced he was retiring, Roberts ran for his seat. He easily won the Republican primary election. This meant he was almost guaranteed to win the main election in the Republican-leaning 1st District. He was re-elected seven times without much trouble. He always received more than 60 percent of the votes. In 1988, he ran without anyone running against him.
Roberts was the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee from 1995 to 1997.
Serving in the U.S. Senate (1997–2021)
Senate Elections
1996 Election
When Republican Senator Nancy Kassebaum decided not to run for a fourth term, Roberts ran to take her place. He won the Republican primary easily. He then faced Sally Thompson, the Democratic State Treasurer, in the general election. Roberts won the election with 62.02% of the votes. This was likely helped by Bob Dole, another Kansas Senator, running for president on the Republican ticket that year.
Later Elections
Roberts won re-election in 2002, 2008, and 2014. In 2002, he faced only minor party candidates and won with 82.52% of the vote. In 2008, he defeated former Congressman Jim Slattery with 60.06% of the vote. In 2014, he won a tough primary challenge against Milton R. Wolf. He then won the general election with 53.15% of the vote, even though the main Democratic candidate withdrew.
Time in the Senate
Roberts was the longest-serving member of the Kansas group in Congress. For his first 14 years in the Senate, he was Kansas's junior senator. This was because Sam Brownback had started his term earlier. But after Brownback left to become governor, Roberts became the senior senator for Kansas.
Roberts was an important member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He led the subcommittee that looked at new threats and military abilities. This group watched the military's work in homeland security. They also worked to stop the spread of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.
In 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor to be a Supreme Court Justice. Roberts voted against her nomination. He said he did not plan to vote for her. Sotomayor was confirmed in August 2009.
Roberts became the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (ANF) in 2014. He continued to lead this committee until he retired.
In 2016, Roberts introduced a bill about GMO foods. This bill aimed to create a national plan for labeling these foods. It also tried to stop states like Vermont from making their own labeling laws. President Obama signed this bill into law on July 29, 2016.
Roberts also served as chairman of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission. He helped dedicate the memorial on September 17, 2020, after many years of planning.
In September 2020, Roberts supported voting quickly on President Trump's choice for the Supreme Court. This was after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away. Roberts said it was the Senate’s job to fill court openings. However, in 2016, he had argued that President Obama's Supreme Court nominee should not be considered. He said the process would be "rushed" and that the American people should have a say in the next election.
Committee Work
During his time in the Senate, Roberts missed many of his Agriculture Committee meetings. He missed 130 (65%) of them. This committee handles issues related to farming, food, and forests.
Roberts served on several important committees:
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Chairman for several Congresses)
- Committee on Finance
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Select Committee on Ethics
- Committee on Rules & Administration
Political Views
Healthcare
Roberts was against President Barack Obama's health reform laws. He voted against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2009. He also voted against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. In 2017, he supported a bill to repeal Obamacare.
GMO Foods Law
Roberts introduced a bill in 2016 about labeling GMO foods. This bill aimed to create a national, voluntary labeling system. It would stop states like Vermont from having their own mandatory labeling laws. Many food companies supported this bill. Opponents argued that over 90% of the public wanted mandatory labeling. Many countries, including most in Europe, already require GMO labeling. President Obama signed this bill into law.
Environment
Roberts worked to get money for research on carbon sequestration. This is a way to capture and store carbon dioxide. On the topic of global warming, Roberts said there is some warming, but he was unsure what it meant. He called some of the talk about it "condescending elitism."
In 2017, Roberts was one of 22 senators who asked President Donald Trump to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement. This agreement aims to fight climate change. Records show Roberts received over $415,000 from oil, gas, and coal companies since 2012.
Education
In 2014, Roberts introduced a bill called the Opportunities Created At the Local Level Act. This bill would let states choose their own education standards and tests without federal interference. In 2019, he supported a bill to help employers contribute to their employees' student loans.
Domestic Security
Roberts supported the Patriot Act. This law gives the government more power to investigate terrorism. He also supported the President's right to conduct surveillance without a warrant.
Intelligence Scholars Program
In 2004, the Pat Roberts Intelligence Scholars Program was created. This program helps college students connect with U.S. security and intelligence agencies. It gives money to selected students who agree to work for an agency after they graduate.
Investigation into Iraq Intelligence
As chairman of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Roberts led an investigation. It looked into why intelligence about Iraq was wrong before the 2003 invasion. The first part of the report was released in 2004. It examined how pre-war intelligence compared to what was found after the war.
Immigration
In 1986, when he was in the House, Roberts voted against an immigration bill. This bill would have given limited amnesty to some immigrants. In 2018, Roberts was one of thirteen Republican senators who asked for a pause on the Trump administration family separation policy. They wanted Congress to create new laws. He supports increasing border patrols to reduce undocumented immigration.
Gun Law
Roberts has a high rating from the NRA. This shows his strong support for gun rights. The NRA supported him in the 2014 election. They said he was a "battle-tested candidate who has consistently protected our Second Amendment freedoms."
After the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016, Roberts voted for two Republican proposals on gun policy. He voted against Democratic proposals that would have banned suspected terrorists from buying guns. He also voted against expanding background checks for gun purchases.
After the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018, Roberts said he supported age limits on the AR-15 rifle. He said, "Certainly nobody under 21 should have an AR-15."
Personal Life
Roberts married Franki Fann in 1969. They have three adult children: David, Ashleigh, and Anne-Wesley.
Roberts lives in Alexandria, Virginia. There have been reports that the house he claimed as his home in Dodge City, Kansas, is actually owned by campaign donors.
Electoral History
Roberts ran for and won many elections throughout his career. Here are some of his results:
- 2014 U.S. Senate Election in Kansas
- Pat Roberts (R) (incumbent) 53.3%
- Greg Orman (Independent) 42.4%
- 2008 U.S. Senate Election in Kansas
- Pat Roberts (R) (incumbent) 60%
- Jim Slattery (D) 36%
- 2002 U.S. Senate Election in Kansas
- Pat Roberts (R) (incumbent) 82.5%
- Steven Rosile (Libertarian) 9.1%
- 1996 U.S. Senate Election in Kansas
- Pat Roberts (R) 62%
- Sally Thompson (D) 34.4%
- 1994 Kansas 1st District U.S. Congressional Election
- Pat Roberts (R) (incumbent) 77%
- Terry L. Nichols (D) 23%
- 1988 Kansas 1st District U.S. Congressional Election
- Pat Roberts (R) (incumbent) 100% (ran unopposed)
Images for kids
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Roberts (right) with President Ronald Reagan in 1988
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Roberts and Kika de la Garza at a House Agriculture Committee meeting in 1994
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A previous official congressional portrait of Pat Roberts
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Senator Pat Roberts with General Richard B. Myers in 2005
See also
