James A. McClure

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.

"Senator McClure" redirects here. For other uses, see Senator McClure (disambiguation).
Jim McClure
United States Senator
from Idaho
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1991
Preceded byLen Jordan
Succeeded byLarry Craig
Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
In office
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987
Preceded byScoop Jackson
Succeeded byBennett Johnston
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Idaho's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973
Preceded byCompton I. White Jr.
Succeeded bySteve Symms
Member of the Idaho Senate
In office
1962–1966
Personal details
Born(1924-12-27)December 27, 1924
Payette, Idaho, U.S.
Died February 26, 2011(2011-02-26) (aged 86)
Boise, Idaho, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Louise M. Miller[1] McClure
(b. 1928)
(m.1950–2011, his death)
Children3
EducationIdaho State University (BA)
University of Idaho (JD)
ProfessionAttorney
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1942–1946
Battles/warsWorld War II

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, over 71 years.

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
U.S. House elections (Idaho's 1st district): Results 1966–1970
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%


U.S. Senate elections in Idaho (Class II): Results 1972–1984
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
  1. "Seniors". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1950. p. 286.
  2. Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, June 13, 1981, p. 1032
  3. Billy Hathorn, "The Iron Triangle in Action: The Federal Food Stamp Program", National Social Science Journal, Vol 12, No. 2 (1999), p. 54
  4. Laboe, Barbara (October 21, 1995). "New UI mines building dedicated to James McClure". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. p. 1A.
  5. "McClure Hall dedicated at UI". Lewiston Morning Tribune. October 21, 1995. p. 6A.
  6. "Federal courthouse named after McClure". Spokesman-Review. December 13, 2001. p. B3.
  7. McClure suffers stroke; doctors are hopeful, son says
  8. Boone, Rebecca (February 28, 2011). "Idaho had 'great statesman' in McClure". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  9. Popkey, Dan (February 27, 2011). "Former Sen. Jim McClure dies at age 86". Spokesman-Review. (from Idaho Statesman). Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  10. Brown, Emma (February 28, 2011). "James A. McClure dies: Three-term U.S. senator from Idaho was 86". Washington Post. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Compton I. White, Jr.		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Idaho's 1st congressional district
January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1973		 Succeeded by
Steve Symms
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
Len Jordan		 U.S. senator (Class 2) from Idaho
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1991
Served alongside: Frank Church, Steve Symms		 Succeeded by
Larry Craig
Political offices
Preceded by
Henry M. Jackson		 Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
1981–1987		 Succeeded by
J. Bennett Johnston
Party political offices
Preceded by
Len Jordan		 Republican Party nominee for U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Idaho
1972, 1978, 1984		 Succeeded by
Larry Craig
Preceded by
Bob Packwood		 Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference
1981–1984		 Succeeded by
John Chafee
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