Ed Jones (US politician)
Encyclopedia
Edward "Ed" Jones was a Democratic Congressman
from the state
of Tennessee
from 1969 to 1989.
, Tennessee
. He graduated from the University of Tennessee Junior College (now the University of Tennessee at Martin
) in 1932 and the University of Tennessee
in 1934 with degrees in agriculture
. For many years, he operated a farm in Yorkville. In 1934, he took a job as an agricultural inspector for the state of Tennessee. In 1944, Jones became an agricultural agent for the Illinois Central Railroad
, a job he held until 1969, except for a stint as Tennessee's agriculture commissioner from 1949 to 1953 under Governor Gordon Browning
. Additionally, he was a member of various agriculture-related boards and committees.
In March 1969 Jones won the Democratic nomination for a special election to replace Robert "Fats" Everett
, Congressman from the Eighth District in Northwest Tennessee, who had died in office. The election was unusual in that it was contested not only by the Republicans but also by the American Independent Party
of George Wallace
, who did very well in Northwest Tennessee in the previous year's presidential election. The three candidates almost split the vote evenly in the March 25 contest; Jones won with a slight plurality and was sworn in as soon as the results were certified. However, he was never again to face an election nearly this close.
Jones was re-elected to a full term with less opposition in 1970. In 1972 his district was renumbered the Seventh District due to Tennessee losing a district after the 1970 census
(it became the Eighth District again after the 1980 census). Jackson
, which had been the base of its own district represented by fellow Democrat Ray Blanton
, was added to Jones' new district. The resulting district was, if anything, even more Democratic than his previous district. To avoid a primary election, Blanton ran, unsuccessfully, for the United States Senate
against Republican Howard Baker
. Jones retained his seat easily even as Richard Nixon
won 90 of Tennessee's 95 counties, including most of his district. He was reelected completely unopposed in 1974.
In 1976, Martin
businessman and state representative
Larry Bates, an associate of high-profile East Tennessee
bank
er Jake Butcher
, ran against Jones in the Democratic primary
. This was the first (and as it turned out, only) serious challenge of any sort Jones faced. No other party put up a candidate, meaning that victory in the primary was tantamount to election
. Bates had a very conservative
record as a state representative, even by Tennessee Democratic standards. He ran well to the right of the moderate
Jones and spent a large amount of money by the standards of rural
West Tennessee
at the time. However, he made no real inroads in Jones' support and was heavily defeated. (Bates later moved to Memphis
and became a Republican and a right wing radio talk show
host.) After this, Jones coasted to five more terms (including a completely unopposed run in 1984), choosing not to run for a 10th full term (11th overall) in 1988.
Jones continued to operate his farm near Yorkville until shortly before his death, one of the few members of Congress in the late 20th century who was truly a farmer instead of merely listing it as an occupation on paper.
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...
from the 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 Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
from 1969 to 1989.
Biography
Jones was a native of YorkvilleYorkville, Tennessee
Yorkville is a city in Gibson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 293 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Yorkville is located at ....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. He graduated from the University of Tennessee Junior College (now the University of Tennessee at Martin
University of Tennessee at Martin
The University of Tennessee at Martin is a campus in the University of Tennessee system. Other campuses include the flagship campus in Knoxville, the Chattanooga campus, the Center for the Health Sciences in Memphis, and the Space Institute in Tullahoma...
) in 1932 and the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
in 1934 with degrees in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. For many years, he operated a farm in Yorkville. In 1934, he took a job as an agricultural inspector for the state of Tennessee. In 1944, Jones became an agricultural agent for the Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
, a job he held until 1969, except for a stint as Tennessee's agriculture commissioner from 1949 to 1953 under Governor Gordon Browning
Gordon Browning
Gordon Weaver Browning was an American politician who represented Tennessee in the United States Congress and was later Governor of Tennessee from 1937 to 1939 and again from 1949 to 1953.-Biography:...
. Additionally, he was a member of various agriculture-related boards and committees.
In March 1969 Jones won the Democratic nomination for a special election to replace Robert "Fats" Everett
Fats Everett
Robert Ashton "Fats" Everett was a Democratic Congressman from Tennessee from February 1, 1958 until his death.-Biography:Everett was a native of Obion County, Tennessee, being born on a farm near Union City...
, Congressman from the Eighth District in Northwest Tennessee, who had died in office. The election was unusual in that it was contested not only by the Republicans but also by the American Independent Party
American Independent Party
The American Independent Party is a right-wing political party of the United States that was established in 1967 by Bill and Eileen Shearer. In 1968, the American Independent Party nominated George C. Wallace as its presidential candidate and retired Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay as the vice...
of George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
, who did very well in Northwest Tennessee in the previous year's presidential election. The three candidates almost split the vote evenly in the March 25 contest; Jones won with a slight plurality and was sworn in as soon as the results were certified. However, he was never again to face an election nearly this close.
Jones was re-elected to a full term with less opposition in 1970. In 1972 his district was renumbered the Seventh District due to Tennessee losing a district after the 1970 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
(it became the Eighth District again after the 1980 census). Jackson
Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. The total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census. Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area...
, which had been the base of its own district represented by fellow Democrat Ray Blanton
Ray Blanton
Leonard Ray Blanton was the 44th Governor of Tennessee from 1975 to 1979. Blanton's administration was rife with corruption.-Early life and Congress:...
, was added to Jones' new district. The resulting district was, if anything, even more Democratic than his previous district. To avoid a primary election, Blanton ran, unsuccessfully, for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
against Republican Howard Baker
Howard Baker
Howard Henry Baker, Jr. is a former Senate Majority Leader, Republican U.S. Senator from Tennessee, White House Chief of Staff, and a former United States Ambassador to Japan.Known in Washington, D.C...
. Jones retained his seat easily even as Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
won 90 of Tennessee's 95 counties, including most of his district. He was reelected completely unopposed in 1974.
In 1976, Martin
Martin, Tennessee
Martin is a city in Weakley County, Tennessee, United States. Martin is the home of the University of Tennessee at Martin. The population was 10,515 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Martin is located at ....
businessman and state representative
Tennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
Larry Bates, an associate of high-profile East Tennessee
East Tennessee
East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee, one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law. East Tennessee consists of 33 counties, 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone, namely...
bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
er Jake Butcher
Jake Butcher
Jacob Franklin "Jake" Butcher was a U.S. banker and politician who built a financial empire in East Tennessee, was the Democratic Party nominee for governor of Tennessee in 1978 and the primary promoter of the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee, and who lost his business and his personal...
, ran against Jones in the Democratic primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. This was the first (and as it turned out, only) serious challenge of any sort Jones faced. No other party put up a candidate, meaning that victory in the primary was tantamount to election
Tantamount to election
"Tantamount to election" is a phrase to describe a situation in which one political party so dominates the demographics of a voting district, that the person winning the party nomination for a race will virtually be assured of winning the general election...
. Bates had a very conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
record as a state representative, even by Tennessee Democratic standards. He ran well to the right of the moderate
Moderate
In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who is not extreme, partisan or radical. In recent years, political moderates has gained traction as a buzzword....
Jones and spent a large amount of money by the standards of rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
West Tennessee
West Tennessee
West Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions of the State of Tennessee. Of the three, it is the one that is most sharply defined geographically. Its boundaries are the Mississippi River on the west and the Tennessee River on the east...
at the time. However, he made no real inroads in Jones' support and was heavily defeated. (Bates later moved to Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
and became a Republican and a right wing radio talk show
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
host.) After this, Jones coasted to five more terms (including a completely unopposed run in 1984), choosing not to run for a 10th full term (11th overall) in 1988.
Jones continued to operate his farm near Yorkville until shortly before his death, one of the few members of Congress in the late 20th century who was truly a farmer instead of merely listing it as an occupation on paper.