James A. McClure
Jim McClure | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from Idaho | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Len Jordan |
| Succeeded by | Larry Craig |
| Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Scoop Jackson |
| Succeeded by | Bennett Johnston |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho's 1st district | |
| In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Compton I. White Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Steve Symms |
| Member of the Idaho Senate | |
| In office 1962–1966 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 27, 1924 Payette, Idaho, U.S. |
| Died | February 26, 2011 (aged 86) Boise, Idaho, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Louise M. Miller[1] McClure (b. 1928) (m.1950–2011, his death) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Idaho State University (BA) University of Idaho (JD) |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
James Albertus McClure (December 27, 1924 – February 26, 2011) was an American lawyer and politician from the state of Idaho, most notably serving as a Republican in the U.S. Senate for three terms.
Early life and education[]
McClure attended public schools in Payette and joined the U.S. Navy at age 18 during World War II, serving from 1942 to 1946. McClure graduated from the Navy Program at the University of Idaho–Southern Branch (now Idaho State University) in Pocatello in 1943. After his discharge from the Navy, he entered the College of Law at the University of Idaho and graduated in 1950.
Career[]
From 1950 to 1956, he served as prosecuting attorney for Payette County; he also served as city attorney for Payette from 1953 to 1966. During this span, he was also a member of the Idaho State Senate, serving from 1961 to 1966.
In the 1966 election, McClure ran for the U.S. House from Idaho's first Congressional district. He won the race, defeating incumbent Compton I. White, Jr., and was re-elected in 1968 and 1970.
U.S. Senate[]
McClure ran for the open U.S. Senate seat (Class II) in 1972, vacated by the retirement of Len Jordan. In the general election he defeated the Democratic nominee, William E. "Bud" Davis, the president of Idaho State University. McClure was reelected by wide margins in 1978 and 1984. The seat was occupied by William Borah for over three decades (1907–1940), and has been continuously held by Republicans since 1949.
In 1981, McClure joined Republican colleagues Jesse Helms of North Carolina and fellow Idaho senator Steve Symms in an unsuccessful fight to return to a purchase requirement for participation in the food stamp program. Helms cited a Congressional Budget Office study which showed that 75 percent of the increase in food stamp usage had occurred since the purchase requirement was dropped in 1977. Senators voted 33 to 66 against the Helms-McClure position. "It's obvious the majority of the Senate is not really concerned about constraining the growth of the food-stamp program," McClure said.[2][3]
In 1984 McClure ran for Senate Majority Leader, but was defeated by Senator Bob Dole of Kansas, who three years earlier had led the intraparty opposition to the Helms-McClure position on reinstating the purchase requirement for food stamps.
During his 18 years in the Senate, McClure served as the chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources from 1981 to 1987. In this capacity McClure emerged as an early proponent of electric cars and energy independence. He also chaired the Senate Republican Conference from 1981 to 1985.
Retirement[]
At age 65, McClure declined to run for a fourth term in 1990. Republican congressman Larry Craig of Midvale easily won McClure's Senate seat in November 1990 and served three terms, succeeded by Jim Risch.
After leaving the Senate, McClure became a mining consultant and lobbyist in Washington, D.C., founding the firm of McClure, Gerard, & Neuenschwander. Up until his death, McClure maintained a residence in McCall.
In October 1995 the new home of the College of Mines and Earth Resources at the University of Idaho was dedicated as James A. McClure Hall.[4][5] On December 12, 2001, the Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Boise was renamed for McClure.[6]
Personal life[]
In December 2008, the 83-year-old McClure suffered a stroke and was sent to the intensive care unit at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Although initially he was expected to recover,[7] McClure died at the age of 86 on February 26, 2011.[8][9][10]
Election results[]
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Compton I. White, Jr. (inc.) | 65,446 | 48.2% | Jim McClure | 70,410 | 51.8% | |
| 1968 | Compton I. White, Jr. | 62,002 | 40.6% | Jim McClure (inc.) | 90,870 | 59.4% | |
| 1970 | William Brauner | 55,743 | 41.8% | Jim McClure (inc.) | 77,513 | 58.2% |
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | William E. "Bud" Davis | 140,913 | 45.5% | Jim McClure | 161,804 | 52.3% | Jean L. Stafford | American | 6,885 | 2.2% | ||
| 1978 | Dwight Jensen | 89,635 | 31.6% | Jim McClure (inc.) | 194,412 | 68.4% | ||||||
| 1984 | Pete Busch | 105,591 | 26.0% | Jim McClure (inc.) | 293,193 | 72.2% | David B. Billings | Libertarian | 7,384 | 1.8% | ||
References[]
- ^ "Seniors". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1950. p. 286.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, June 13, 1981, p. 1032
- ^ Billy Hathorn, "The Iron Triangle in Action: The Federal Food Stamp Program", National Social Science Journal, Vol 12, No. 2 (1999), p. 54
- ^ Laboe, Barbara (October 21, 1995). "New UI mines building dedicated to James McClure". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. p. 1A.
- ^ "McClure Hall dedicated at UI". Lewiston Morning Tribune. October 21, 1995. p. 6A.
- ^ "Federal courthouse named after McClure". Spokesman-Review. December 13, 2001. p. B3.
- ^ McClure suffers stroke; doctors are hopeful, son says
- ^ Boone, Rebecca (February 28, 2011). "Idaho had 'great statesman' in McClure". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ Popkey, Dan (February 27, 2011). "Former Sen. Jim McClure dies at age 86". Spokesman-Review. (from Idaho Statesman). Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ Brown, Emma (February 28, 2011). "James A. McClure dies: Three-term U.S. senator from Idaho was 86". Washington Post. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
External links[]
- United States Congress. "James A. McClure (id: M000346)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Federal Bldg. (1968) Boise, Idaho – renamed for James A. McClure, 2001
- University of Idaho – James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research
- University of Idaho – Senator James McClure
- University of Idaho Library – Papers of Senator James A. McClure
- James A. McClure at Find a Grave
- Appearances on C-SPAN
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- 1924 births
- 2011 deaths
- People from Payette, Idaho
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Idaho
- Republican Party United States senators from Idaho
- Idaho Republicans
- Idaho state senators
- 20th-century American politicians
- American prosecutors
- American lobbyists
- Idaho lawyers
- University of Idaho alumni
- Idaho State University alumni
- University of Idaho College of Law alumni
- United States Navy personnel of World War II
- 20th-century American lawyers