The political landscape of Oklahoma has lost a towering figure with the passing of Republican Senator Jim Inhofe at the age of 89.
A true force to be reckoned with, Inhofe’s legacy spanned over five decades of unwavering service, leaving an indelible mark on the state and the nation. From his staunch defense of military interests to his controversial stance on climate change, Inhofe was a polarizing yet influential presence in American politics.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, on November 17, 1934, James Mountain Inhofe’s journey to becoming a formidable political force began in the heartland. Raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Inhofe’s early life was marked by a strong sense of community and a deep appreciation for the state he would come to represent. After earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Tulsa in 1959, Inhofe served in the Army between 1956 and 1958, laying the foundation for his unwavering support of the military throughout his political career.
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Inhofe’s foray into politics began in 1966 when he was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives, a stepping stone that would lead him to the national stage. His political ascent continued as he won a seat in the Oklahoma Senate in 1968, a position he held while unsuccessfully running for governor in 1974 and the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976. Undeterred, Inhofe went on to serve three terms as the mayor of Tulsa, further solidifying his reputation as a tenacious and ambitious politician.
Inhofe’s transition to the national stage came in 1986 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving two terms before setting his sights on the U.S. Senate. In 1994, he seized the opportunity to fill the seat vacated by longtime Senator David Boren, who had resigned to become the president of the University of Oklahoma. Inhofe’s victory in the special election marked the beginning of his remarkable tenure as a U.S. Senator, a position he would hold for the next 28 years.
During his time in the Senate, Inhofe established himself as a staunch conservative, known for his unwavering support of defense spending and his vocal opposition to the mainstream scientific consensus on climate change. His reputation as a “firebrand” and a “tough campaigner” only served to solidify his influence within the Republican party and his home state of Oklahoma.
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As Oklahoma’s senior U.S. senator, Inhofe was a tireless advocate for the state’s five military installations, securing federal funding to support their operations and infrastructure. His commitment to the military was not merely rhetorical; Inhofe was a licensed pilot who would often fly himself to and from Washington, D.C., underscoring his personal connection to the armed forces.
Inhofe’s influence extended beyond the military realm, as he became a vocal proponent of congressional earmarks – the practice of directing federal funds to specific projects or initiatives. He argued that earmarks were essential for addressing the needs of his constituents, securing millions of dollars to clean up a former mining hub in northeast Oklahoma that had been on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund list for decades.
Perhaps one of the most defining aspects of Inhofe’s political legacy was his staunch denial of the scientific consensus on climate change. The senator, who once called it “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people,” made headlines in 2015 when he brought a snowball onto the Senate floor, claiming that the cold weather disproved the existence of global warming.
Inhofe’s unwavering stance on climate change, which was at odds with the overwhelming scientific evidence, made him a lightning rod for criticism from environmental advocates and climate scientists. However, his position resonated with many of his constituents in Oklahoma, a state heavily reliant on the oil and gas industry, further solidifying his support among conservative voters.
Inhofe’s political career intersected with the rise of Donald Trump, and the senator became a strong backer of the former president. During the Trump administration, Inhofe served as the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, leveraging his influence to support the administration’s military agenda.
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