Childhood and Education Journey of Jay Rockefeller in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Jay Rockefeller. A timeline of key moments.

John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV is a retired American politician who served as a U.S. Senator for West Virginia from 1985 to 2015. Prior to his Senate career, Rockefeller served as the Governor of West Virginia from 1977 to 1985. His political career began with his work as a VISTA volunteer in Emmons, West Virginia, followed by his election to the West Virginia House of Delegates (1966-1968) and later as West Virginia's Secretary of State (1968-1973). He also served as president of West Virginia Wesleyan College (1973-1975). Upon the death of Senator Robert Byrd in 2010, Rockefeller became the state's senior U.S. Senator.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1908: Birth of Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller

In 1908, Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, Jay Rockefeller's uncle, was born.

1912: Birth of Winthrop Rockefeller

In 1912, Winthrop Rockefeller, Jay Rockefeller's uncle, was born.

June 18, 1937: Birth of John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV

On June 18, 1937, John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV was born. He later became a U.S. Senator from West Virginia.

1937: Birth of Jay Rockefeller

In 1937, John Davison Rockefeller IV, also known as Jay Rockefeller, was born in New York Hospital in Manhattan.

1955: Graduation from Phillips Exeter Academy

In 1955, Jay Rockefeller graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy.

1961: Graduation from Harvard

In 1961, Jay Rockefeller graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Far Eastern languages and history.

1967: Rockefeller Marries Sharon Lee Percy

In 1967, Rockefeller married Sharon Lee Percy, who would become the chief executive officer of WETA-TV.

1973: President of West Virginia Wesleyan College

In 1973, Rockefeller became the president of West Virginia Wesleyan College.

1975: Served as president of West Virginia Wesleyan College

From 1973 to 1975, Rockefeller served as the president of West Virginia Wesleyan College.

1975: End of College Presidency

In 1975, Rockefeller concluded his service as the president of West Virginia Wesleyan College.

1993: Voted Against NAFTA

In 1993, Rockefeller voted against the North American Free Trade Agreement, despite it being heavily backed by his uncle, David Rockefeller.

August 1995: Clinton Family Vacations at Rockefeller Ranch

In August 1995, President Bill Clinton and his family vacationed at the Rockefeller ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

1999: Rockefeller Family Founds the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI)

In 1999, Rockefeller and his family founded the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI) in Morgantown to advance medical and scientific understanding of Alzheimer's and other brain diseases.

2001: Low Contributions From AT&T

Between 2001 and the start of a lobbying effort, AT&T employees had contributed only $300 to the senator.

January 2002: Trip to Middle East

In January 2002, Rockefeller stated that he told heads of state in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria that George Bush had already decided to go to war against Iraq.

October 11, 2002: Voted for Iraq Resolution

On October 11, 2002, Rockefeller was among the 77 senators who voted for the Iraq Resolution authorizing the Iraq invasion.

2002: Middle East Visit and Concerns About Iraq

In 2002, Rockefeller visited several Middle Eastern countries to discuss U.S. military intentions and expressed concern for Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons program.

2003: Expressed Concerns About NSA

In 2003, Senator Rockefeller hand-wrote a letter to Vice President Dick Cheney expressing concerns about the legality of NSA's warrantless wire-tapping program.

November 2005: TV Interview

In November 2005 during a TV interview, Rockefeller stated.

December 30, 2005: Abuse Took Place

Rockefeller's vote gave a retroactive, nine-year immunity to U.S. officials who authorized, ordered, or committed acts of torture and abuse, permitting the use of statements obtained through torture to be used in military tribunals so long as the abuse took place by December 30, 2005.

September 28, 2006: Voted to Suspend Habeas Corpus

On September 28, 2006, Rockefeller voted to suspend habeas corpus provisions for those deemed "unlawful combatants."

October 17, 2006: Bill Became Law

On October 17, 2006, the bill suspending habeas corpus became law.

July 2007: Planned Legislation on TV Violence

In July 2007, Rockefeller announced plans to introduce legislation giving the FCC power to regulate TV violence.

July 16, 2007: New Law on TV Violence

According to the edition of July 16, 2007, of Broadcasting & Cable, the new law would apply to both broadcast as well as cable and satellite programming.

December 2007: Opposed Inquiry into Tape Destruction

In December 2007, Rockefeller opposed a special counsel or commission inquiry into the destruction of tapes related to CIA practices.

2007: Steering Senate Intelligence Committee

In 2007, Rockefeller began steering the Senate Intelligence Committee to grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies accused of assisting the NSA in monitoring communications.

February 29, 2008: Endorsed Barack Obama for President

On February 29, 2008, Rockefeller endorsed Barack Obama for president, citing Obama's judgment on the Iraq war and national security issues.

April 7, 2008: Criticized John McCain's Vietnam Experience

On April 7, 2008, in an interview for The Charleston Gazette, Rockefeller criticized John McCain's Vietnam experience.

June 5, 2008: Released Report on Iraq War Intelligence

On June 5, 2008, Rockefeller and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released the final two pieces of the Phase II report on Iraq war intelligence.

2008: State-of-the-Art BRNI Research Facility Opens at West Virginia University

In Fall 2008, a $30 million state-of-the-art BRNI research facility was opened at West Virginia University.

February 2010: Comment on President Obama

In February 2010, Rockefeller commented regarding President Obama.

July 2011: Called for Investigation into Phone Hacking

In July 2011, Rockefeller called for U.S. agencies to investigate alleged phone hacking at News Corporation's newspapers and requested an investigation into the hiring of Les Hinton.