Interview with Jay Rockefeller by Brien Williams

Creator

John 'Jay' D Rockefeller

Date

2010-04-16

Contributor

Brien Williams, Interviewer

Description

Biographial Note

John Davison “Jay” Rockefeller was born June 18, 1937, in New York to Blanchette Ferry (Hooker) and John D. Rockefeller III. He has served as a Democratic U.S. Senator representing West Virginia since 1985. Prior to that (1977-1985), he was governor of West Virginia. He is married to Sharon Percy, daughter of former Illinois Senator Charles “Chuck” Percy. He worked closely with Senator Mitchell on the 1993 health care reform package.

Summary

Interview includes discussion of: description of Senator Mitchell; differences in majority leader styles; Senator Byrd; story of President Clinton’s coming to the Democratic Caucus; their shared love of baseball and the Red Sox; the culture in the U.S. Senate and it has changed; Rockefeller’s switch from Republican to Democrat; health care debate in 1993 and Hillary Clinton; North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); Mithchell’s U.S. Senate retirement; Mitchell’s legacy; Rockefeller’s transition from governor to senator; and reflections on the Kennedy family and politics.

Identifier

GMOH 213

Subject

Law and Politics

Oral History

Political History

United States History

Baseball

Clinton, Hillary Rodham

Clinton, William J.

Health care

Kennedy, Edward M.

Majority Leader

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

U.S. Senate culture

U.S. Senate retirement

U.S. Senators

Access

Open access