J. James Exon

John James "Jim" Exon (August 9, 1921 – June 10, 2005) was an American Democratic politician. He served as the Governor of Nebraska from 1971 to 1979, and as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 1979 to 1997. Exon was a Nebraska Democrat who never lost an election. He was elected and re-elected governor in 1970 & 1974, elected to the Senate in 1978, and re-elected in 1984 and 1990. He is the only Nebraskan besides George Norris, the architect of Nebraska's Unicameral, to win five consecutive statewide elections.

Senator from Nebraska 1979-1997

Exon's popularity as Governor carried over to his 1978 campaign to be elected as a US Senator as he was elected with 68 per cent of the vote. He had a reputation as a moderate Senator often working with Republicans on fiscal and military issues. While serving on the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, Exon was a strong defender of the B-2 stealth bomber.

Related Topics:
U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services - B-2 stealth bomber

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In 1984, Exon had his closest election in his political career due to the popularity of President Reagan eventually winning re-election by 25,000 votes. He was re-elected again in 1990.

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Exon helped to write and secure support for a spending reduction in the US budget of $14 billion in 1994 which he stated was his proudest political achievement. His Communications Decency Act of 1996 was Congress's first effort to try to prevent minors accessing pornography via the Internet. It was later overturned by the US Supreme Court.

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