By Sohaib Shams
Jay Rockefeller, the last member of his family's political dynasty and a longtime Democratic U.S. senator from West Virginia, died Thursday night at his home in Washington. He was 89.
Early Life and Move to West Virginia
Born John D. Rockefeller IV in New York City, he was the great-grandson of Standard Oil founder John Rockefeller and the son of philanthropist John D. Rockefeller III. His uncles included Republican governors Winthrop Rockefeller of Arkansas and Nelson Rockefeller of New York, as well as banker David Rockefeller. In 1964, at age 27, Rockefeller moved to the West Virginia mining community of Emmons to work with the Volunteers in Service to America program, an experience he later said shaped every policy he pursued.
Political Career in West Virginia
Breaking with his family's Republican tradition, Rockefeller won election to the West Virginia House of Delegates as a Democrat in 1966. After losing the 1972 governor's race to Republican Arch A. Moore Jr., he remained in the state and became president of West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1973. He then won the governorship in 1976, defeating Cecil Underwood, and was reelected in 1980 in a rematch against Moore.
Three Decades in the U.S. Senate
Rockefeller won a U.S. Senate seat in 1984 after the retirement of Democrat Jennings Randolph, and he held the seat for 30 years, winning five terms. He chaired the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where he championed consumer rights, broadband expansion, and online privacy legislation. He authored the 1997 law creating the Children's Health Insurance Program and led the Veterans Affairs and Intelligence committees, frequently clashing with President George W. Bush on foreign policy. He later expressed regret for his 2002 vote authorizing the Iraq war.
Legacy and Family
Rockefeller used his inherited fortune, estimated at $150 million, to fund his campaigns, spending at least $21 million of his own money. He was instrumental in bringing a Toyota engine plant to Buffalo, West Virginia, in 1996, a $2 billion facility employing about 2,200 workers. He is survived by his wife, Sharon, daughter of former Republican Sen. Charles Percy of Illinois, who serves as president and CEO of public broadcaster WETA.
