John Rockefeller in the United States
John Davison Rockefeller, IV (1937- ), Democratic member of the United States Senate from West Virginia (1985- ). John Davison Rockefeller IV was born in New York City, an heir to the Standard Oil fortune built by his great-grandfather, John D. Rockefeller. Growing up in affluence, Rockefeller studied in Japan before returning to the United States and Harvard University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1961. From 1962 to 1963, he was an assistant to Sargent Shriver, the director of the newly founded Peace Corps. From 1964 to 1966 Rockefeller worked for Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) in West Virginia.
West Virginia House of Delegates
Rockefeller began his political career when he served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1967 to 1969. From 1969 to 1973 he was secretary of state for West Virginia. Rockefeller lost his first bid to become the state’s governor in 1972, but he was elected governor in 1976 and reelected in 1980. Rockefeller ran for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Democrat Jennings Randolph in 1984 and won. He was reelected in 1990 with 68 percent of the vote.
John Rockefeller in Senate Commissions and Committees
In 1988 Rockefeller was appointed to the bipartisan, joint House-Senate commission on health care chaired by U.S. Representative Claude Pepper of Florida. In the 104th Congress (1995-1997), Rockefeller was the ranking minority member of the Science, Technology and Space Subcommittee of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee; the ranking minority member of the Medicare, Long-Term Care and Health Insurance Subcommittee of the Finance Committee; and the ranking Democrat on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Source: “Rockefeller, John D(avison), IV” Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia
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