Jim Jeffords

Jim Jeffords
United States Senator from Vermont
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Robert Stafford
Succeeded by	Bernie Sanders
Committee positions 1997–⁠2003 Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 Preceded by Bob Smith Succeeded by Jim Inhofe Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee In office January 20, 2001 – June 6, 2001 Preceded by Ted Kennedy Succeeded by Ted Kennedy In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2001 Preceded by Nancy Kassebaum Succeeded by Ted Kennedy
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's at-large district
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1989
Preceded by	Richard W. Mallary
Succeeded by	Peter Plympton Smith
20th Attorney General of Vermont
In office January 9, 1969 – January 3, 1973
Governor	Deane C. Davis
Preceded by	James L. Oakes
Succeeded by	Kimberly B. Cheney
Member of the Vermont Senate from Rutland County
In office January 4, 1967 – January 8, 1969 Serving with George W. F. Cook, Andrew Orzel, Ellery Purdy
Preceded by	George W. F. Cook Ellery Purdy William Burke
Succeeded by	Andrew Orzel Ellery Purdy Sanborn Partridge Robert West
Personal details
Born	James Merrill Jeffords (1934-05-11)May 11, 1934 Rutland, Vermont, U.S.
Died	August 18, 2014(2014-08-18) (aged 80) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Republican (before 2001) Independent (2001–2014)
Other political affiliations	Senate Democratic Caucus (2001–2007)
Spouses	Liz Daley ​ ​ (m. 1961; div. 1978)​ ​ ​ (m. 1986; died 2007)​
Children	2
Relatives	Olin M. Jeffords (father)
Education	Yale University (BS) Harvard University (JD)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1956–1959 (active) 1959–1990 (reserve)
Rank	Captain
Unit	USS McNair United States Navy Reserve
Battles/wars	1956 Suez Crisis 1958 Lebanon crisis
Jim Jeffords's voice Jeffords speaks on desertification Recorded June 17, 1998

James Merrill Jeffords (May 11, 1934 – August 18, 2014) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. senator from Vermont. Sworn into the Senate in 1989, he served as a Republican until 2001, when he left the party to become an independent and began caucusing with the Democrats. Jeffords retired from the Senate in 2007. Prior to serving in the Senate, he served as the U.S. representative for Vermont's at-large congressional district from 1975 to 1989.

The son of Olin M. Jeffords, who served as Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, James Jeffords was born in Rutland, Vermont. He graduated from Yale University, served for three years in the United States Navy, and then attended Harvard Law School, from which he received his degree in 1962. Jeffords practiced law in southern Vermont and became a resident of Shrewsbury, where he was active in local politics and government as a Republican, including serving as chairman of the town's Republican committee. He served one term in the Vermont Senate (1967–1969), and two as Attorney General of Vermont (1969–1973). He lost the 1972 Republican primary for Governor of Vermont, but won the election for Vermont's lone seat in the United States House of Representatives in 1974. He served in the House from 1975 to 1989; in 1988 he was the successful Republican nominee for the United States Senate seat held by the retiring Robert Stafford.

Jeffords served in the Senate from 1989 until 2007, winning reelection in 1994 and 2000. In 2001, he left the Republican Party to become an independent, and began to caucus with the Senate's Democrats. His switch changed control of the Senate from Republican to Democratic, the first time a switch had ever changed party control. During his Senate career, Jeffords served as chairman of the Public Works and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committees.

Jeffords did not run for reelection in 2006 and retired at the end of his term. He was succeeded by Bernie Sanders. Jeffords retired to Shrewsbury in 2007. After the death of his wife, he moved to the Washington, D.C. area to live closer to his children. He died in 2014 from complications associated with Alzheimer's disease, and was buried in Shrewsbury.