Andrew Jacobs Jr.

Andrew Jacobs Jr. (February 24, 1932 – December 28, 2013) was an American lawyer and politician. A Democrat, he served as an Indiana state legislator and Congressman. Jacobs was a member of the United States House of Representatives for thirty years, beginning in the 1960s. His father, Andrew Jacobs, was also a congressman for one term.

For other uses, see Andrew Jacobs (disambiguation).

Andrew Jacobs Jr.
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana
In office
January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1997
Preceded byWilliam H. Hudnut III
Succeeded byJulia Carson
Constituency11th District (1975-1983)
10th District (1983-1997)
In office
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1973
Preceded byDonald C. Bruce
Succeeded byWilliam H. Hudnut III
Constituency11th District
Member of the
Indiana House of Representatives
from Marion County
In office
November 5, 1958 – November 9, 1960
Preceded byMulti-member district[1]
Succeeded byMulti-member district
Personal details
Born(1932-02-24)February 24, 1932
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Died December 28, 2013(2013-12-28) (aged 81)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)1. Kay Welsh
2. Martha Keys
3. Kimberly Hood Jacobs
ChildrenAndy and Steven[2]
Alma materIndiana University
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1950–1952
Battles/warsKorean War

Early life

Jacobs was born in Indianapolis, the son of Joyce Taylor (Welborn) and Andrew Jacobs,[3][4] and graduated from Shortridge High School in 1949. He served as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps in the Korean War, and was a disabled combat veteran. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business from Indiana University in 1955, and a LL.B. from Indiana University in 1958. Upon graduation he began a law practice and served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1959–1960.[5][6]

Political career

Jacobs served as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1959 to 1960. In 1964 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat in the overwhelming Democratic landslide of 1964. He was appointed to the House Judiciary Committee, on which he coauthored the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Jacobs was an active participant in the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 60s.

Jacobs was an early opponent of the Vietnam War, and led an all-night debate against American military involvement in Vietnam during the war, the first critical discussion of the Vietnam War in the House of Representatives. In his criticism of the Vietnam War, Andy Jacobs reportedly coined the term "War wimp" to a describe a politician who advocated war but who had avoided military service earlier in life.[7]

In the 1972 Congressional election, future Indianapolis Mayor Bill Hudnut defeated Jacobs. In the 1974 Democratic landslide, however, Jacobs defeated Hudnut, regaining his old seat in the House. Following the election he was appointed to the House Ways and Means Committee, on which he served until his retirement from Congress in 1997. He eventually served as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security.

In 1985, Jacobs introduced a proposal to adopt "America the Beautiful" as the U.S. national anthem in place of "The Star-Spangled Banner".[8]

Jacobs was involved in major Social Security reforms in the 1980s, which included making Social Security an independent government organization. He wrote legislation requiring physical bonds to exist representing the money Social Security had collected. He retired from Congress in 1997, with a reputation for bipartisan effort, compromise, and humor. He endorsed Julia Carson as his replacement. She served until her death in 2007, after which her grandson, André Carson, made a successful bid for her seat.[9][10]

Retirement and death

Following his retirement from Congress, Jacobs taught political science at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis. He wrote and published two memoirs criticizing American militarism. He was also a regular contributor to NUVO Magazine in Indianapolis.[5] He was a strong opponent of American military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 2000s.

Jacobs died on December 28, 2013, at his home in Indianapolis, aged 81.[11] He was survived by his third wife, television reporter Kim (Hood) Jacobs, and two sons.[12][13]

References
  1. "Offices by County". September 28, 2019.
  2. "Former longtime Indiana Congressman Andrew Jacobs Jr. dies at 81". NBC News. Associated Press. December 28, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  3. Jacobs Jr., Andrew (1999). The 1600 Killers: A Wake-up Call for Congress. ISBN 9781889388045.
  4. Miller, Gail Jackson (1998). "James Welborn of Muhlenberg County and His Descendants".
  5. "Former Indiana Congressman Andy Jacobs Jr. dies at 81". WCPO Cincinnati. December 28, 2013. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  6. McCarthy, Colman (December 30, 2013). "Andrew Jacobs Jr., 81, Indiana congressman and 'parsimonious progressive'". Washington Post. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  7. "Former Indiana Congressman Andrew Jacobs, 81, dies". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  8. "A Congressman Runs New Anthem up the Flagpole".
  9. Karim, Talib I. "Second Muslim Takes His Seat in the House of Representatives". The Muslim Link. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  10. Guttman, Nathan (March 16, 2011). "The 'Other Muslim' in Congress". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  11. "Former Congressman Andrew Jacobs Jr. dead at age 81". Chicago Tribune. December 28, 2013. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  12. "Andrew Jacobs Jr., 81, Ex-Congressman, Dies". New York Times. Reuters. December 28, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  13. Dobuzinskis, Alex and Peter Cooney (December 28, 2013). "Andrew Jacobs Jr. Dead: Former Indiana Congressman Dies At 81". Huffington Post. Reuters. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
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