Thad Cochran

Thad Cochran is a senior Republican senator from the state of Mississippi. In the 2008 election, Cochran retained his senate seat, winning it with a wide margin of 24%.CNN: Mississippi Election Results

1. Born: December 7, 1937 in Pontotoc, Mississippi
2. Assumed office: December 27, 1978
3. Party: Republican
4. Spouse: Rose Clayton Cochran
5. Alma mater: University of Mississippi
6. Previous occupation: Lawyer
7. Has two children

Cochran grew up in Mississippi as a Democrat. He majored in psychology with a minor in political science at the University of Mississippi and got his law degree after a two year stint in the Navy. He changed his party to Republican sometime in the 1960s.

1. 1968: Head of the Richard Nixon presidential campaign in Mississippi
2. 1973-1978: Mississippi Representative, 4th district
3. 1978-present: Mississippi Senator
4. 1991-1996: Chairman, Senate Republican Conference

Cochran voted against the McCain Detainee Amendment, an act that addressed torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. He voted in favor of federal funding for stem cell research, a bill that was passed by Congress but vetoed by George W. Bush.

In both January and July of 2008, Cochran made comments to the press regarding John McCain's temperament. The quotes were controversial, coming from the presidential candidate's own Republican colleague.

• On McCain's campaign: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine."SunHerald.com: Cochran recounts McCain dustup with the Sandinistas (July 1, 2008)

• Recalling a 1987 diplomatic mission to Nicaragua: "John had reached over and grabbed this guy by the shirt collar and had snatched him up like he was throwing him up out of the chair to tell him what he thought about him or whatever."SunHerald.com: Cochran recounts McCain dustup with the Sandinistas (July 1, 2008)

• Committee Site: Republicans: Thad Cochran
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security: Ranking member: Thad Cochran
  • Subcommittee on Agriculture...: Republicans: Sen. Thad Cochran
  • Subcommittee on Defense: Republicans: Sen. Thad Cochran
  • Subcommittee on Energy & Water Development: Sen. Thad Cochran
  • Subcommittee on Interior...: Republicans: Sen. Thad Cochran
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services & Education: Thad Cochran

• Committee Site: Thad Cochran
  • Subcommittee on Nutrition and Food Assistance...: Sen. Thad Cochran
  • Subcommittee on Production and Price Competitiveness...: Thad Cochran
  • Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation...: Sen. Thad Cochran

• Committee Site: Republicans: Thad Cochran

• Official Site:
  • "Cochran Moves To Establish Mississippi Hills...Heritage Area" (November 1, 2007)
  • "Conferees Approve FY 2008 Funding For Labor, Health..." (November 1, 2007)
  • "Cochran Applauds Confirmation Of Judge Leslie Southwick" (October 24, 2007)
  • "Southwick Confirmed By U.S. Senate" (October 24, 2007)
  • "...Facility To Produce 1000 New Mine Resistant Vehicles" (October 19, 2007)
  • "Cochran, Lott Announce $1.14 Million For Waveland Utilities" (October 15, 2007)
  • "Senate Confirms Nomination Of Judge Sharion Aycock" (October 4, 2007)

• 1937, December 7: Born

• 1959: Received a B.A. from University of Mississippi

• 1959-1961: Member of the United States Navy

• 1964: Married Rose Clayton

• 1965: Graduated the University of Mississippi School of Law

• 1968: Headed Richard Nixon's Mississippi campaign

• 1972: Finished Charles Griffin's term in the U.S. House of Representatives

• 1974: Re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives

• 1976: Re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives

• 1978: Assumed U.S. Senate office

• 1984: Re-elected to the U.S. Senate office

• 1990: Re-elected to the U.S. Senate office

• 1996: Re-elected to the U.S. Senate office

• 2002: Re-elected to the U.S. Senate office

• 2003-2005: Chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee

• 2005: Chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee; voted against the McCain Detainee Amendment

• 2006: One of Time's "America's 10 Best Senators"; voted for Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act

• 2007: Voted against the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007