James Albertus McClure, served from 1973 to 1991
James McClure was born in Payette, Idaho on December 27, 1924. McClure attended the public schools of Payette, Idaho. He entered the United States Navy in 1942. McClure graduated from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1950, and admitted to the bar that same year and commenced practice in Payette, Idaho.
He then became Prosecuting Attorney of Payette County in 1950, and continued to serve in that capacity until 1956. In 1953, he became the City Attorney of Payette and retained that position until 1966. In 1961, he was elected as a member of the State Senate. McClure was also a member of the Payette County Central Committee for fifteen years.
He was elected as a Republican to the Ninetieth Congress and reelected to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1967-January 3, 1973). He was not a candidate for reelection to the House of Representatives, but was elected in 1972 to the United States Senate. He was reelected in 1978 and again in 1984 and served from January 3, 1973, to January 3, 1991. McClure was not a candidate for re-election in 1990.
He was the chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Ninety-seventh through Ninety-ninth Congresses), Republican Conference (Ninety-seventh and Ninety-eighth Congresses).
He is currently engaged in mining consulting business in Washington, DC and is a resident of McCall, Idaho.
Bibliography
McClure, James. "Energy: A Positive Approach." In A Changing America: Conservatives View the '80s from the United States Senate, edited by Paul Laxalt and Richard S. Williamson, pp. 81-102. South Bend, IN: Regnery/Gateway, 1980.
Photos provided by the Idaho State Historical Society. Biographical information compiled by Congressional Research Service.