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Jack Brooks (politician)
Encyclopedia
Jack Bascom Brooks is a retired Democratic
politician
from the U.S. state
of Texas
, who served for more than 40 years in the U.S. House of Representatives
. He was defeated for reelection in the 1994 election. He is the most senior Representative ever to have lost a general election
.
, the seat of Acadia Parish
in south Louisiana
. His family moved to Beaumont
, Texas, when he was five years old. He attended public schools and received a scholarship
to Lamar Junior College
. He enrolled in Lamar in 1939, where he majored in journalism
, and completed his first two years of college. Brooks transferred to the University of Texas at Austin
where he earned a B.A.
in journalism in 1943 and was a member of the Texas Cowboys
. After Brooks was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1946, he sponsored a bill that would make Lamar a four-year institution. The bill failed, but the following year it passed both houses. While a member of the Texas legislature, he earned a law degree
from the University of Texas at Austin, in 1949.
During World War II
, Brooks enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps
, serving for approximately two years in the Pacific theater on Guadalcanal
, Guam, Okinawa, and in North China
. He continued his military service in the Marine Corps Reserves, reaching, upon his retirement in 1972, the rank of colonel
.
in the Texas Legislature
. He won re-election in 1948 without opposition.
In 1952, Brooks was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
in Texas's 2nd district
as a Democrat
. During the 1950s and 1960s he was one of the more liberal Southern Congressmen on issues like labor and civil rights (he refused to sign a Southern Manifesto
) while remaining conservative on issues like the death penalty and gun control. In 1966, he changed to representing Texas's 9th congressional district
. Brooks was the chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Government Operations from 1975 through 1988 and the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary from 1989 until 1995. Brooks was one of the few Texas congressional supporters of liberal Democrat Sen. Ralph Yarborough
.
On November 22, 1963, Brooks was in the motorcade carrying President John F. Kennedy
and his wife Jackie Kennedy through downtown Dallas, Texas
, when Kennedy was shot and killed. Brooks was present on Air Force One
at Dallas Love Field when then-Vice President
Lyndon B. Johnson
was sworn in as President.
Subsequently, in 1967, Brooks opposed the move of the US Patent Office to attempt to introduce guidelines for software patent
ability.
When the House first began requiring financial disclosures in the late 1970s, Brooks became known as one of the richest men in Congress, having acquired a number of banks and other businesses during his years in office.
During his congressional tenure, he held many leadership roles on committees and subcommittees, including chairmanship of the House Committee on Government Operations from 1975 through 1988, and chairmanship of the House Committee on the Judiciary between 1989 and 1995. He became the senior member of the Texas Congressional delegation in 1979, a position he held until he left office.
As a ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Brooks helped write the Civil Rights Act of 1964
and the Voting Rights Act
of 1965; he was one of the few southern congressmen to support civil rights legislation. He was a leader in the investigation that uncovered millions of dollars in public funds expended at the vacation homes of President Nixon. During the impeachment proceedings following the Watergate scandal
in 1974, he drafted the articles of impeachment against Nixon, subsequently adopted by the Committee.
Among the bills sponsored by Congressman Brooks were the Single Audit Act of 1984, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1991, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991
.
As the leader of the Government Operations Committee, Brooks oversaw legislation affecting budget and accounting matters and the establishment of departments and agencies. He also helped pass the Inspector General Act
of 1978, the General Accounting Office Act
of 1980, and the Paper Reduction Act
of 1980.
In 1988, a law introduced by Brooks was passed, banning Japanese construction companies from participating in American public works projects for the next year. The rationale ostensibly justifying this legislation was that Japan had already placed obstacles before American construction companies seeking work in that country.
Brooks' sponsorship of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
, which eventually was incorporated with an amendment to ban semi-automatic firearms
, probably contributed to his electoral defeat by Republican
Steve Stockman
, despite Brooks' life membership in the National Rifle Association
and his personal opposition to the ban.
On his office desk, Brooks kept a silver paperweight with the inscription "Fighting Marine".
The gavel used by Brooks during the Judiciary Committee's 1974 impeachment hearings was made from wood taken from President Nixon's 1973 inauguration stand.
and a federal courthouse
in Beaumont, Texas
are named in his honor. There is a statue of him at Lamar University.
On April 23, 2001, NASA
Administrator Daniel Goldin
presented the agency’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Medal
to Brooks at a ceremony in the John Gray Center of Lamar University. Goldin cited Brooks’ long-standing support of the U.S. space program and praised his role in “strengthening the agency during its formative years”. Goldin, who served as NASA administrator from 1992 until 2002, added “Congressman Brooks took it upon himself to personally deliver support to one of the agency’s key programs: the design, development, and on-orbit assembly of the International Space Station
”.
In 2008, Brooks donated his archives to the Center for American History, of the University of Texas at Austin
.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, who served for more than 40 years in the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He was defeated for reelection in the 1994 election. He is the most senior Representative ever to have lost a general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
.
Early life
Brooks was born in CrowleyCrowley, Louisiana
Crowley is a city in and the parish seat of Acadia Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 14,225 at the 2000 census. The city is noted for its annual International Rice Festival. Crowley has the nickname of "Rice Capital of America", because at one time it was a major center for...
, the seat of Acadia Parish
Acadia Parish, Louisiana
Acadia Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Crowley. According to the 2010 census, the population of Acadia Parish is 61,773. The parish was founded from parts of St...
in south Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. His family moved to Beaumont
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
, Texas, when he was five years old. He attended public schools and received a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to Lamar Junior College
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
. He enrolled in Lamar in 1939, where he majored in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, and completed his first two years of college. Brooks transferred to the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
where he earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in journalism in 1943 and was a member of the Texas Cowboys
Texas Cowboys
Texas Cowboys is an honorary men's service organization at The University of Texas at Austin. Founded in 1922, its members include some of the University's most distinguished students and alumni...
. After Brooks was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1946, he sponsored a bill that would make Lamar a four-year institution. The bill failed, but the following year it passed both houses. While a member of the Texas legislature, he earned a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from the University of Texas at Austin, in 1949.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Brooks enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, serving for approximately two years in the Pacific theater on Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal campaign
The Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by Allied forces, was a military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theatre of World War II...
, Guam, Okinawa, and in North China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He continued his military service in the Marine Corps Reserves, reaching, upon his retirement in 1972, the rank of colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
.
Political involvement
In 1946, Brooks was elected to represent Jefferson CountyJefferson County, Texas
Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Texas, United States. As of 2000, the population was 252,051. Its county seat is Beaumont, and it is named for the former U.S...
in the Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
. He won re-election in 1948 without opposition.
In 1952, Brooks was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in Texas's 2nd district
Texas's 2nd congressional district
Texas's 2nd congressional district of the United States House of Representatives is in the southeastern portion of the state of Texas. It stretches from Houston's northern suburbs through eastern Harris County, and across Southeast Texas to the Louisiana border...
as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. During the 1950s and 1960s he was one of the more liberal Southern Congressmen on issues like labor and civil rights (he refused to sign a Southern Manifesto
Southern Manifesto
The Southern Manifesto was a document written February–March 1956 by Adisen and Charles in the United States Congress opposed to racial integration in public places. The manifesto was signed by 101 politicians from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South...
) while remaining conservative on issues like the death penalty and gun control. In 1966, he changed to representing Texas's 9th congressional district
Texas's 9th congressional district
-References:*...
. Brooks was the chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Government Operations from 1975 through 1988 and the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary from 1989 until 1995. Brooks was one of the few Texas congressional supporters of liberal Democrat Sen. Ralph Yarborough
Ralph Yarborough
Ralph Webster Yarborough was a Texas Democratic politician who served in the United States Senate and was a leader of the progressive or liberal wing of his party in his many races for statewide office...
.
JFK assassination
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and his wife Jackie Kennedy through downtown Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, when Kennedy was shot and killed. Brooks was present on Air Force One
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...
at Dallas Love Field when then-Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
was sworn in as President.
Congress
In 1965, Brooks sponsored the Act that opened up the government information technology market for competitive contracts, a move subsequently credited by computer experts as significantly contributing to technological advances and which, in 2002, was the reason for Brooks being selected as "Post Newsweek Tech Media’s civilian executive of the last twenty years" by the Government Computer News.Subsequently, in 1967, Brooks opposed the move of the US Patent Office to attempt to introduce guidelines for software patent
Software patent
Software patent does not have a universally accepted definition. One definition suggested by the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure is that a software patent is a "patent on any performance of a computer realised by means of a computer program".In 2005, the European Patent Office...
ability.
When the House first began requiring financial disclosures in the late 1970s, Brooks became known as one of the richest men in Congress, having acquired a number of banks and other businesses during his years in office.
During his congressional tenure, he held many leadership roles on committees and subcommittees, including chairmanship of the House Committee on Government Operations from 1975 through 1988, and chairmanship of the House Committee on the Judiciary between 1989 and 1995. He became the senior member of the Texas Congressional delegation in 1979, a position he held until he left office.
As a ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Brooks helped write the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
and the Voting Rights Act
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of national legislation in the United States that outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the U.S....
of 1965; he was one of the few southern congressmen to support civil rights legislation. He was a leader in the investigation that uncovered millions of dollars in public funds expended at the vacation homes of President Nixon. During the impeachment proceedings following the Watergate scandal
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
in 1974, he drafted the articles of impeachment against Nixon, subsequently adopted by the Committee.
Among the bills sponsored by Congressman Brooks were the Single Audit Act of 1984, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1991, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991
Civil Rights Act of 1991
The Civil Rights Act of 1991 is a United States statute that was passed in response to a series of United States Supreme Court decisions which limited the rights of employees who had sued their employers for discrimination...
.
As the leader of the Government Operations Committee, Brooks oversaw legislation affecting budget and accounting matters and the establishment of departments and agencies. He also helped pass the Inspector General Act
Office of the Inspector General
Office of the Inspector General is an office that is part of Cabinet departments and independent agencies of the United States federal government as well as some state and local governments. Each office includes an Inspector General and employees charged with identifying, auditing, and...
of 1978, the General Accounting Office Act
Government Accountability Office
The Government Accountability Office is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress. It is located in the legislative branch of the United States government.-History:...
of 1980, and the Paper Reduction Act
Red tape
Red tape is excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making...
of 1980.
In 1988, a law introduced by Brooks was passed, banning Japanese construction companies from participating in American public works projects for the next year. The rationale ostensibly justifying this legislation was that Japan had already placed obstacles before American construction companies seeking work in that country.
Brooks' sponsorship of the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, , , was an act of Congress dealing with crime and law enforcement that became law in 1994. It is the largest crime bill in the history of the US at 356 pages and will provide for 100,000 new police officers, $9.7 billion in funding for prisons and...
, which eventually was incorporated with an amendment to ban semi-automatic firearms
Federal assault weapons ban
The Federal Assault Weapons Ban was a subtitle of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a federal law in the United States that included a prohibition on the manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automatic firearms, so called "assault weapons"...
, probably contributed to his electoral defeat by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Steve Stockman
Steve Stockman
Steve Stockman is a Republican politician who represented Texas's 9th Congressional District between 1995 and 1997.- Biography :Stockman was born in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, near Detroit. He graduated from Dondero High School....
, despite Brooks' life membership in the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
and his personal opposition to the ban.
On his office desk, Brooks kept a silver paperweight with the inscription "Fighting Marine".
The gavel used by Brooks during the Judiciary Committee's 1974 impeachment hearings was made from wood taken from President Nixon's 1973 inauguration stand.
Political retirement
A park in Galveston CountyGalveston County, Texas
Galveston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 291,309. Its county seat is Galveston. League City is the largest city in Galveston County in terms of population; between...
and a federal courthouse
Jack Brooks Federal Building
The Jack Brooks Federal Building is a federal office building in Beaumont, Texas. Completed during the Great Depression in 1933, it was the United States Post Office and Federal Building. The building houses courtrooms and chambers of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of...
in Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
are named in his honor. There is a statue of him at Lamar University.
On April 23, 2001, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Administrator Daniel Goldin
Daniel Goldin
Daniel Saul Goldin served as the 9th and longest-tenured Administrator of NASA from April 1, 1992, to November 17, 2001. He was appointed by President George H. W. Bush and also served under President William Jefferson Clinton and George W...
presented the agency’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Medal
NASA Distinguished Service Medal
The NASA Distinguished Service Medal is the highest award which may be bestowed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States...
to Brooks at a ceremony in the John Gray Center of Lamar University. Goldin cited Brooks’ long-standing support of the U.S. space program and praised his role in “strengthening the agency during its formative years”. Goldin, who served as NASA administrator from 1992 until 2002, added “Congressman Brooks took it upon himself to personally deliver support to one of the agency’s key programs: the design, development, and on-orbit assembly of the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
”.
In 2008, Brooks donated his archives to the Center for American History, of the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
.
Personal life
Jack Brooks married Charlotte Collins in 1960. The couple’s three children are Jeb, Kate Carroll, and Kimberly; Their grandchildren are Matthew Carroll and Brooke Carroll. Jack Brooks continues to live in Beaumont, Texas. He is a 50-year member of Beaumont Lodge #286 A.F. & A.M.See also
- Texas politicsPolitics of TexasFor approximately 100 years, from the end of Reconstruction until the 1970s, the Democratic Party was dominant in Texas politics. However, since the 1950s the Republican Party has grown more prominent within the state, and became the state's dominant political party in the mid-1990s...
- Iran-Contra AffairIran-Contra AffairThe Iran–Contra affair , also referred to as Irangate, Contragate or Iran-Contra-Gate, was a political scandal in the United States that came to light in November 1986. During the Reagan administration, senior Reagan administration officials and President Reagan secretly facilitated the sale of...
- Firearms legislation in the U.S.Second Amendment to the United States ConstitutionThe Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
- Rex 84Rex 84Rex 84, short for Readiness Exercise 1984, was a secretive "scenario and drill" developed by the United States federal government to suspend the United States Constitution, declare martial law, place military commanders in charge of state and local governments, and detain large numbers of American...