Scoop’s Landslides

One of the most popular politicians Washington ever produced was Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson, the so-called Senator from Boeing.  He garnered more votes during his long career in the other Washington than anyone in state history before him.

Jackson was born in Everett on May 31, 1912.  He was only 28 years old when he started his congressional career in 1940, winning election as a representative from his home district.  After six terms in the House, Democrat Jackson defeated incumbent Republican Senator Harry P. Cain in 1952, and was off on an unbroken string of landslides.  He won 82% of the ballots in 1970, and topped one million votes received six years later.  Even as the state population grew and vote totals increased, no challenger ever won as many votes in opposition to Jackson as Cain had done in that first election.

On the national level, Jackson became a leading figure in the Senate and was outspoken in international affairs.  He was even considered by many pundits as the early favorite for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination, but his run stalled when former Georgia governor Jimmy Carter emerged as the darkest of horses in that spring’s primary season.  He died in Everett 8 months into his 6th term as senator on Sep 1, 1983.  He was remembered for his efforts to keep America strong economically and geopolitically.  He was also known for bipartisan cooperation. President Ronald Reagan eulogized him as “one of the greatest lawmakers of our century.”

SENATOR HENRY M. JACKSON’S 4,962,537 VOTES TO THE U.S. SENATE

PHOTO of a 1982 Scoop Jackson yard sign © Steve Campion.
PHOTO of Sen. Jackson in the public domain.

May 31st, 2013