Henry M. Jackson

:This is an article about a former US Senator. For information about the sports writer, see Scoop Jackson (writer).

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Henry Martin "Scoop" Jackson (May 31, 1912 – September 1, 1983) was a U.S. Congressman and Senator for Washington State from 1941 until his death. As a Cold War anti-Communist Democrat, Jackson's political philosophies and positions were a forerunner for modern neoconservatism.

Related Topics:
May 31 - 1912 - September 1 - 1983 - Congressman - Senator - Washington State - 1941 - Cold War - Anti-Communist - Democrat - Neoconservatism

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Born in Everett, Washington, Jackson went on to graduate with a Bachelor's degree from Stanford University and a law degree from the University of Washington. In 1935 (the year of his law school graduation) he was admitted to the bar and began to practice law in Everett. He found immediate success, and was the prosecuting attorney for Snohomish County from 1938 to 1940.

Related Topics:
Everett, Washington - Stanford University - University of Washington - 1935 - Snohomish County - 1938 - 1940

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Jackson received his nickname "Scoop" after a comic strip character that he is said to have resembled.

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His involvement in politics grew from there ? he successfully ran for Congress as a Democrat in 1940 and took his seat in the House of Representatives with the Seventy-Seventh Congress on January 3, 1941. From that date forward, Jackson would not lose a congressional election. He attended the International Maritime Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1945 with the American delegation, and was elected president of the same conference in 1946, when it was held in Seattle, Washington. From 1945 to 1947, Jackson was also the chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs. In the 1952 election, Jackson relinquished his seat in the House for a run at one of Washington's Senate seats—he won that election, and remained a Senator for thirty years. In 1963, Jackson was made chairman of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, a post he would hold until 1979. From 1977 until 1981, Jackson was chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Related Topics:
Congress - Democrat - 1940 - January 3 - 1941 - International Maritime Conference - Copenhagen - Denmark - 1945 - American - 1946 - Seattle, Washington - 1947 - Committee on Indian Affairs - 1952 - 1963 - Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs - 1979 - 1977 - 1981 - Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

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Jackson was not only successful as a politician in Washington State, but also found recognition on the national level, rising to the position of chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1960. He would not achieve the party's ultimate honor, however, as he was denied the Democratic nomination for President despite two attempts at it, in 1972 and 1976.

Related Topics:
Democratic National Committee - 1960 - President - 1972 - 1976

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In 1974, Jackson co-sponsored the Jackson-Vanik amendment with Charles Vanik, which denied normal trade relations to certain countries with non-market economies that restricted the freedom of emigration. The amendment was intended to help refugees, particularly religious minorities, specifically Jews, to emigrate from the Soviet Bloc. Jackson and his assistant, Richard Perle also lobbied personally for some people who were affected by this law — among them Natan Sharansky. Jackson also led the opposition within the Democratic Party against the SALT II treaty.

Related Topics:
1974 - Jackson-Vanik amendment - Charles Vanik - Soviet Bloc - Richard Perle - Natan Sharansky - SALT II treaty

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Jackson was often criticized for his close ties to the defense industries of his state. Opponents derided him as "the Senator from Boeing" because of his perceived relationship with that company.

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