James Merrill Jeffords

A Representative and a Senator from Vermont; born in Rutland, Rutland County, Vt., May 11, 1934; attended public schools; B.S., Yale University 1956; LL.B., Harvard University 1962; admitted to the Vermont bar in 1962 and commenced practice in Rutland; served in the United States Navy 1956-1959 and later in the Naval Reserve, retiring as captain; served in Vermont senate 1967-1968; Vermont Attorney General 1969-1973; delegate to Vermont State Republican conventions 1964, 1968, 1972; elected as a Republican to the Ninety-fourth and to the six succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1975-January 3, 1989); elected to the United States Senate in 1988; reelected in 1994 and again in 2000 for the term ending January 3, 2007; switched to Independent party status effective June 6, 2001; chair, Committee on Labor and Human Resources (One Hundred Fifth Congress), Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (One Hundred Sixth Congress, One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 3, 2001; January 20, 2001-June 6, 2001]), Committee on Environment and Public Works (One Hundred Seventh Congress [June 6, 2001-January 3, 2003]); not a candidate for reelection in 2006. Mr. Jeffords married Elizabeth Daley twice, first in 1961 and, after their divorce in 1978, again in 1986. She died in 2007. In addition to his son Leonard, he is survived by a daughter, Laura, and two grandchildren.