| Donald Lee Nickles | |
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| In office January 5, 1981 – January 3, 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Henry Bellmon |
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| Succeeded by | Tom Coburn |
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| In office June 12, 1996 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Leader | Trent Lott |
| Preceded by | Trent Lott |
| Succeeded by | Harry Reid |
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| In office January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2001 |
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| Leader | Trent Lott |
| Preceded by | Harry Reid |
| Succeeded by | Harry Reid |
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| In office January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001 |
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| Leader | Trent Lott |
| Preceded by | Harry Reid |
| Succeeded by | Harry Reid |
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| In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Leader | Trent Lott Bill Frist |
| Preceded by | Harry Reid |
| Succeeded by | Harry Reid |
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| Born | December 6, 1948 Ponca City, Oklahoma |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Linda Nickles |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Donald Lee Nickles (born December 6, 1948) is an American political leader who was a United States Senator from Oklahoma from 1981 until 2005. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Henry Louis Bellmon (born September 3, 1921) is an American Republican Politician from Oklahoma. Thomas Allen "Tom" Coburn, MD (born March 14 1948 is an American Politician and medical doctor. The Assistant Majority and' Minority Leaders of the United States Senate' (commonly called Senate Majority and' Minority Whips) are the second-ranking Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Chester Trent Lott Sr (born October 9, 1941) is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party Chester Trent Lott Sr (born October 9, 1941) is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939 is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, as well as The Assistant Majority and' Minority Leaders of the United States Senate' (commonly called Senate Majority and' Minority Whips) are the second-ranking Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Chester Trent Lott Sr (born October 9, 1941) is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939 is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, as well as Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939 is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, as well as The Assistant Majority and' Minority Leaders of the United States Senate' (commonly called Senate Majority and' Minority Whips) are the second-ranking Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Chester Trent Lott Sr (born October 9, 1941) is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939 is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, as well as Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939 is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, as well as The Assistant Majority and' Minority Leaders of the United States Senate' (commonly called Senate Majority and' Minority Whips) are the second-ranking Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Chester Trent Lott Sr (born October 9, 1941) is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party William Harrison "Bill" Frist Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939 is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, as well as Harry Mason Reid (born December 2 1939 is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, as well as Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ponca City is a city in Kay and Osage counties in the US state of Oklahoma named after the Ponca Tribe ( Páⁿka iyé Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. Events 1060 - Béla I of Hungary is crowned king of Hungary 1240 - Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He is a member of the Republican Party. While in the U. S. Senate, Nickles was considered a fiscal and social conservative member and sponsored legislation that cut taxes, reduced the size of overall government spending, increased the military defense system, and sought to allow voluntary prayer in public schools and later sponsored the so-called Defense of Marriage Act which outlawed individual states being required to recognize same-sex marriage from other states. The Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, is the short title of a Federal law of the United States passed on September 21 1996 as Public Law No
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Early life
Born and raised in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Nickles attended Oklahoma State University where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Ponca City is a city in Kay and Osage counties in the US state of Oklahoma named after the Ponca Tribe ( Páⁿka iyé When he was a young man, Nickles' father died and the government's heavy taxation of the family's small manufacturing business (which may have contributed the family business difficulties) made a profound impression on him. He paid his way through college by starting a janitorial business that served nearby office building and business establishments. Following graduation from college, he went to work for Nickles Machine Corporation in Ponca City, a business started by his grandfather. He rose to the position of General Manager. He also served in the United States National Guard from 1970 until 1976. For the National Guard of a State and other countries' National Guard see National Guard. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
First Race for the Senate
Encouraged by then-U. S. Senator Dewey F. Bartlett, Nickles ran for the Oklahoma State Senate in 1978 and won. Dewey Follett Bartlett ( March 28, 1919 &ndash March 1, 1979) a U After two years in the State Senate and displeased by the policies of the Carter Administration, Nickles ran for the United States Senate in 1980 to succeed Republican Henry Bellmon who was retiring. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Henry Louis Bellmon (born September 3, 1921) is an American Republican Politician from Oklahoma. As an unknown in a field crowded with business and political bigwigs, Nickles was not initially given much of a chance. Indeed, Bellmon even tried to convince him to wait and run for the House.
Utilizing personal contact, Nickles unique ties to Amway distributors gave him an interpersonal network throughout the state. His platform was based on cutting the size of government, and strong support of tax cuts, and appeal to the prevailing conservative views of Oklahomans proved popular. In 1982 the term Christian right was still unfamiliar, but the movement was active and growing. The Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe a spectrum of right-wing Christian political and social movements and Nickles beat two well funded oil millionaires (Jack Zink and Ed Noble) in the primary and won the primary run-off against Tulsan Jack Zink, also known as a race car driver. He was later swept into office in the general election against Oklahoma City Mayor Andy Coats on the shoulders of the "Reagan Revolution" of 1980. Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the US state of Oklahoma. A front page editorial of the Daily Oklahoman said "Reagan Needs Nickles" and urged his election. At the age of 31, Nickles was the youngest Republican ever elected to the United States Senate.
Senate leader
Nickles quickly rose in the Senate Republican Leadership, serving as Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee in the 101st Congress; Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee in the 102nd, 103rd, and 104th Congresses; and Assistant Republican Leader from 1996 to 2003. After being term-limited out of the Assistant Leader position, Nickles served in the 108th Congress as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Nickles was also on Bob Dole's short list of vice presidential choices, before Dole finally decided on former New York Congressman Jack Kemp. Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole (born July 22 1923 is an attorney and retired United States Senator from Kansas from 1969–1996 serving part of that time New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Jack French Kemp Jr (born July 13 1935 is an American politician and former professional American football player
In December of 2002, Nickles became embroiled in the controversy surrounding Republican Leader Trent Lott. Chester Trent Lott Sr (born October 9, 1941) is a former United States Senator from Mississippi and a member of the Republican Party At Senator Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party, Lott had made comments that some took to be racially insensitive. James Strom Thurmond ( December 5, 1902 – June 26, 2003) was an American politician who served as governor of South Carolina and As the controversy grew, Nickles went on national television and became the first senator in leadership to say that Lott should step down. Nickles believed that the controversy over Lott's remarks would distract from the Republican Party's legislative agenda, and as he served as Lott's deputy in the Senate this statement was seen as the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back. " Lott stepped down shortly thereafter. Declining to run for the position of Senate Majority Leader himself, Nickles stepped aside as Tennessee senator Bill Frist was elevated to the post of Republican Leader. The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders (also called Senate Floor Leaders) are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. William Harrison "Bill" Frist
Nickles was re-elected in 1986, 1992 and 1998 and was the senior senator of Oklahoma from 1994 to 2005. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
He announced that he would not run again in the 2004 election on October 7, 2003. Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Republican Tom Coburn won the election to succeed Nickles. Thomas Allen "Tom" Coburn, MD (born March 14 1948 is an American Politician and medical doctor. Nickles went on to found The Nickles Group, a government consulting group in Washington, D. C. . He also serves on the board of directors of Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy. Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the US state of Oklahoma. Chesapeake Energy ( is a producer of Natural gas in the United States and according to their 3Q 2007 report is the largest independent producer third overall
He was one of the politicians featured in the movie Traffic giving his opinion on the war on drugs. Traffic is a 2000 Crime drama Film directed by Steven Soderbergh.
Nickles and his wife, Linda, have 4 children and several grandchildren and remains in contact with many friends in Oklahoma, where he remains popular. Although Nickles is retired from public life, his popularity brings speculation of future election campaigns in Oklahoma.
References
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henry Bellmon |
United States Senator (Class 3) from Oklahoma 1981–2005 Served alongside: David L. Boren, James Inhofe |
Succeeded by Tom Coburn |
| Preceded by Rudy Boschwitz Minnesota |
Chairman of National Republican Senatorial Committee 1989–1991 |
Succeeded by Phil Gramm Texas |
| Preceded by William L. Armstrong Colorado |
Chairman of Senate Republican Policy Committee 1991–1996 |
Succeeded by Larry Craig Idaho |
| Preceded by Trent Lott Mississippi |
Senate Republican Whip 1996–2003 |
Succeeded by Mitch McConnell Kentucky |
| Senate Majority Whip 1996–2001 |
Succeeded by Harry Reid Nevada |
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| Preceded by Harry Reid Nevada |
Senate Minority Whip 2001–2003 |
Succeeded by Harry Reid Nevada |
| Preceded by Kent Conrad North Dakota |
Chairman of Senate Budget Committee 2003–2005 |
Succeeded by Judd Gregg New Hampshire |
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