Tom Cole

Tom Cole (born April 28, 1949) is a politician from the state of Oklahoma, currently representing Oklahoma's 4th Congressional District (map) in the U.S. House. As of 2005, Cole--a member of the Chickasaw Nation--is the only registered Native American in the House of Representatives. He actively serves on the Rules Committee and the Ethics Committee, is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and is a Deputy Majority Whip.

Although born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Cole is a fifth-generation Oklahoman, raised in Moore, Oklahoma. He graduated from Grinnell College in 1971 with a BA in History. His postgraduate degrees include an MA from Yale University (1974) and a PhD from the University of Oklahoma (1984), both in British History. Cole did research abroad as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow and was a Fulbright Fellow (1977-78) at the University of London. He was a college professor in history and politics before becoming a politician.

Cole is a major figure in contemporary Oklahoma politics. Following his mother Helen, who served as a state representative and senator, Cole served in the Oklahoma State Senate from 1988 to 1991 as a Republican, resigning mid-term to accept a job in Washington. From 1995 to 1999, he was the Oklahoma Secretary of State under Frank Keating, and assisted with the recovery efforts following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. He has also served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, first gaining the office by defeating Tom Guild.

Cole has been heavily involved in national politics as well, having served both as Executive Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee and as Chief of Staff of the Republican National Committee. He also spent two years working as a paid consultant for the United States Chamber of Commerce. But Cole's primary involvement in politics has been as a political consultant. His firm (Cole, Hargrave, Snodgrass and Associates) played a large part in the reconstruction of Oklahoma's political landscape, and backed a number of candidates that took office during the Republican Revolution of 1994. Among their clients have been Frank Keating, J.C. Watts, Tom Coburn, Frank Lucas, Mary Fallin, Wes Watkins, Steve Largent, Mississippi congressman Chip Pickering, and Hawaii governor Linda Lingle.

During his initial campaign for the House of Representatives in 2002, Cole received the endorsement of Watts, the popular outgoing congressman. This helped him win a hard-fought general election over Democratic nominee Darryl Roberts. Cole subsequently won an easy re-election campaign in 2004. He has announced his intention to run for a third term in 2006. His declared opposition to date consists of former State Department employee Hal Spake (D-Norman).

Cole has a wife, Ellen, and one son, Mason. He is a member of the United Methodist Church, and lives in Moore, Oklahoma.

Political Statements

In March 2004, Cole caused an uproar when he stated in a speech "What do you think Hitler would have thought if Roosevelt would've lost the election in 1944? He would not have thought American resolve was strengthening. What would the Confederacy have thought if Lincoln would have lost the election of 1864?" He went on to say "I promise you this, if George Bush loses the election, Usama bin Laden wins the election. It's that simple. It will be interpreted that way by enemies of the United States around the world." [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,113335,00.html

Local news outlets paraphrased the statement to read that Cole was comparing Senator Kerry to Hitler and to Osama bin Laden. Cole refused to retract his comments about bin Laden.

Election History

2002 Congressional Election, OK-4

Tom Cole (R) - 106,452 (53.83%)

Darryl Roberts (D) - 91,322 (46.17%)

2004 Congressional Election, OK-4

Tom Cole (R) - 198,985 (77.77%)

Charlene Bradshaw (I) - 56,869 (22.23%)

External links

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Political Statements

Election History

External links