Thad Cochran facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thad Cochran
United States Senator from Mississippi
In office December 27, 1978 – April 1, 2018
Preceded by	James Eastland
Succeeded by	Cindy Hyde-Smith
Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee
In office January 3, 2015 – April 1, 2018
Preceded by	Barbara Mikulski
Succeeded by	Richard Shelby
In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Ted Stevens
Succeeded by	Robert Byrd
Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2005
Preceded by	Tom Harkin
Succeeded by	Saxby Chambliss
Chair of the Senate Republican Conference
In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997
Leader	Bob Dole Trent Lott
Preceded by	John Chafee
Succeeded by	Connie Mack III
Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference
In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1991
Leader	Bob Dole
Preceded by	Jake Garn
Succeeded by	Bob Kasten
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 4th district
In office January 3, 1973 – December 26, 1978
Preceded by	Charles H. Griffin (Redistricting)
Succeeded by	Jon Hinson
Personal details
Born	William Thad Cochran (1937-12-07)December 7, 1937 Pontotoc, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	May 30, 2019(2019-05-30) (aged 81) Oxford, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Republican (1967–2019)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (before 1967)
Spouses	Rose Clayton ​ ​ (m. 1964; died 2014)​ Kay Webber ​ (m. 2015)​
Children	2
Education	University of Mississippi (BA, JD)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1959–1961
Rank	Ensign

William Thad Cochran (born December 7, 1937 – died May 30, 2019) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Senator for Mississippi from 1978 until 2018. Before that, he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973 to 1978. He was a member of the Republican Party.

Thad Cochran was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi. He went to the University of Mississippi and served in the United States Navy. After his military service, he became a lawyer. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972.

In 1978, Cochran won a race for the U.S. Senate. He was the first Republican to represent Mississippi in the Senate since the Reconstruction era. He was re-elected six more times. He led important committees like the Senate Appropriations Committee. He also chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee. He served in Congress for over 45 years. This makes him one of the longest-serving members from Mississippi.

Early Life and Education

Thad Cochran was born on December 7, 1937, in Pontotoc, Mississippi. His mother was Emma Grace Berry, and his father was William Holmes Cochran. His father was a school principal and his mother was a teacher. His family moved to Hinds County, Mississippi, near Jackson, in 1946. He graduated at the top of his class from Byram High School.

Cochran earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi in 1959. He studied psychology and political science. He was also a cheerleader and joined an honor society. During summers, he worked as a lifeguard.

From 1959 to 1961, Cochran served in the United States Navy. He was an ensign on the USS Macon. After his Navy service, he went to the University of Mississippi School of Law. He earned his law degree in 1965. While in law school, he was a top student. He later practiced law in Jackson, Mississippi.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

Cochran during his time in the House of Representatives

In 1972, Thad Cochran decided to run for Congress as a Republican. He ran for the 4th District of Mississippi. He won the election, becoming one of the first Republicans from Mississippi elected to the House of Representatives since the Reconstruction period. His win was helped by Richard Nixon's strong presidential election victory that year.

Cochran quickly became popular in his district. He was easily re-elected in 1974, even though many Republicans lost their seats that year. He won again in 1976 with even more votes.

Serving in the U.S. Senate

Senate Elections

In 1978, Senator James Eastland retired. Thad Cochran ran for his seat and won the Republican primary. In the main election, he faced two other candidates. Cochran won with the most votes, becoming the first Republican to win a statewide election in Mississippi in 100 years. He became Mississippi's new U.S. Senator. Senator Eastland resigned early to give Cochran a head start in his Senate term.

Cochran was re-elected easily in 1984. He was helped by Ronald Reagan also running for president that year. In 1990, no one ran against him. He won again in 1996 and 2002 by large margins. In 2008, he faced a stronger challenger but still won re-election.

2014 Election

In 2014, Cochran faced a tough challenge in his own party's primary election. He ran against a candidate supported by the Tea Party movement. The race was very close. Neither candidate won enough votes in the first primary election. This meant they had a second election, called a runoff.

Cochran won the runoff election by a small number of votes. Later, he won the main election against the Democratic candidate.

Time in the Senate

Cochran with President Ronald Reagan in 1981

Thad Cochran was known for working quietly behind the scenes. He had a lot of influence, especially for his home state of Mississippi.

He served as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference from 1985 to 1991. Then he was the Chairman from 1991 to 1996. He led the Senate Agriculture Committee from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, he became the chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. This committee decides how the government spends money. He was the first Republican from a former Confederate state to lead this committee.

In 1996, Cochran ran to become the Senate Majority Leader. He lost to his fellow Mississippi Senator, Trent Lott.

Cochran in 2007

In 2005, the U.S. Senate formally apologized for not passing a federal anti-lynching law many years ago. Cochran and Senator Trent Lott were among a few senators who did not join in sponsoring this apology. Cochran said he was "not in the business of apologizing for what someone else did."

In 2006, Time magazine named Cochran one of "America's 10 Best Senators." They called him "The Quiet Persuader." He helped get a lot of money for the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. He was known for working with others and using his experience to get things done.

In late 2017, there were questions about Cochran's health. He missed some Senate sessions. On March 5, 2018, he announced he would retire from the Senate due to his health. He left office on April 1, 2018.

Political Views

Senators Cochran (left) and Carl Levin (right) meet with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel at the Pentagon to discuss budgeting, April 10, 2013.

Thad Cochran was seen as more moderate than some other Republicans. This means his views were sometimes closer to the middle of the political spectrum.

In 2005, he voted against a law that would stop inhumane treatment of prisoners. In 2006, he voted to lift restrictions on federal money for stem cell research.

In 2010, it was reported that Cochran had asked for a lot of "earmarks." Earmarks are special funds added to bills for specific projects or places.

Environment

In 2017, Cochran was one of 22 senators who asked President Donald Trump to leave the Paris Agreement. This agreement aims to fight climate change. Cochran had received money from oil, gas, and coal companies.

Gun Laws

Cochran had a high rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA). This was because he supported laws that protect gun rights. In 2013, he voted against a bill that would have made background checks for gun buyers wider. He also voted to remove a rule that stopped some people with certain mental health issues from buying guns.

Healthcare

Cochran did not support President Barack Obama's healthcare law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He voted against it in 2009 and 2010.

Jefferson Davis

As a senior senator from Mississippi, Cochran chose to use the desk of Jefferson Davis. Davis was the president of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Cochran said he was "very proud" to have Davis's desk. He also did not support removing a statue of Davis from the U.S. Capitol building.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a law making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday. Thad Cochran, a Republican, voted for this law.

Trade

In 2018, Cochran was one of many Republican senators who asked President Trump to keep the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). They wanted it updated for modern times.

Key Legislation and Committees

Cochran sponsored several important laws. One was the Natchez Trace Parkway Land Conveyance Act of 2013. This bill would give land back to Mississippi from the National Park Service. He also supported the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014, which aimed to improve hunting and fishing opportunities.

He was also the main sponsor of "The Cochran-Inouye National Missile Defense Act of 1999." This law aimed to protect the U.S. from missile threats.

Cochran served on several important committees:

• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (He was Chairman of this committee)
• Committee on Appropriations (He was Chairman of this committee, which handles government spending)
• Committee on Rules and Administration

Personal Life and Death

In 1964, Thad Cochran married Rose Clayton. They had two children. Rose Cochran passed away in 2014. In 2015, Cochran married Kay Webber, who had worked for him for a long time.

Thad Cochran died on May 30, 2019, in Oxford, Mississippi. He was 81 years old. The cause of his death was kidney failure.

Legacy

In 2018, the federal courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi, was named the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse. This was done to honor his long service.

The University of Mississippi gave Cochran the Mississippi Humanitarian Award in 2018. This award is for people who have greatly helped the state. His official papers are kept at the University of Mississippi.

Images for kids

• 

  Thad Cochran's signature

See also

In Spanish: Thad Cochran para niños