Bill Nelson: Difference between revisions
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In 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of Congress (and the first from the House) to travel into space. He went through NASA training, along with Senator [[Jake Garn]], of Utah. He was a [[Payload Specialist]] on [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']]'s [[STS-61-C]] mission, with six other astronauts, from January 12-18. Ten days after his return, on [[January 28]], [[1986]], the [[Space Shuttle Challenger|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'']] exploded shortly after lift-off. |
In 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of Congress (and the first from the House) to travel into space. He went through NASA training, along with Senator [[Jake Garn]], of Utah. He was a [[Payload Specialist]] on [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']]'s [[STS-61-C]] mission, with six other astronauts, from January 12-18. Ten days after his return, on [[January 28]], [[1986]], the [[Space Shuttle Challenger|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'']] exploded shortly after lift-off. |
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Some claim his advertisements and Congressional headshots, showing Nelson in his astronaut jumpsuit, consist of fraud as he was not a "career astronaut" and that he did not have "astronaut training." Nelson did participate in several months of extremely difficult training, crosstraining before astronaut selection to improve his chances. As well, he performed several experiments while in space. He also ate a grapefruit, a tribute to Florida citrus. |
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== 1990-2000 == |
== 1990-2000 == |
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Revision as of 04:53, 13 February 2007
Bill Nelson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from Florida | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2001– Serving with Mel Martinez | |
| Preceded by | Connie Mack III |
| Succeeded by | Incumbent (2013) |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | american |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Grace Cavert Nelson |
Clarence William "Bill" Nelson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | American |
| Space career | |
| Astronaut | |
Current occupation | U.S. Senator |
Previous occupation | Representative, U.S. House |
| Rank | Payload specialist |
Time in space | 6d 02h 03m |
| Selection | 1985 |
| Missions | STS-61-C |
Mission insignia | File:61-c-patch.jpg |
- For other people named Bill Nelson, see Bill Nelson (disambiguation).
Clarence William "Bill" Nelson (born September 29, 1942) is the senior U.S. Senator from Florida. Nelson is a Democrat. Nelson became the second sitting member of the United States Congress to fly in space when he flew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia as a Payload Specialist during NASA mission STS-61-C (January 12-18, 1988). Nelson has received a 100% rating from the National Abortion Rights Action League and high ratings from other left-of-center political action groups, indicating a liberal voting record in Congress.
Bill Nelson was born in Miami in 1942 to English-American parents. He attended the University of Florida for three years, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi, and then transfered to Yale University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1965. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1965 to 1971. During this time, Nelson studied at the University of Virginia, where he received his law degree in 1968.
Nelson married Grace Cavert in 1972; they have two children: Bill Nelson, Jr. and Nan Ellen Nelson.
Early career
Nelson worked as a fire marshal and later as a lawyer before beginning his political career in the Florida House of Representatives. Nelson served in the state house from 1972 to 1979.
U.S. House of Representatives
Nelson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978. He served in the U.S. House from 1979 to 1991.
In 1986, Nelson became the second sitting member of Congress (and the first from the House) to travel into space. He went through NASA training, along with Senator Jake Garn, of Utah. He was a Payload Specialist on Space Shuttle Columbia's STS-61-C mission, with six other astronauts, from January 12-18. Ten days after his return, on January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after lift-off.
1990-2000
In 1990, Nelson ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Florida. He lost to former U.S. Senator Lawton Chiles, who went on to win the general election. During the primary campaign, Nelson tried to make an issue out of Chiles' health and age, a strategy that backfired on him in a state with a large population of retirees and senior citizens.
From 1995 to 2000, Nelson was the Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner of Florida.
U.S. Senate
Election
In 2000, Nelson won the election for U.S. Senator from Florida, defeating then-Representative Bill McCollum, the Republican candidate. The election was to replace retiring Republican Senator Connie Mack.
Political actions and positions
Nelson has been a vocal opponent of oil drilling off Florida's coast. He supports allowing the government to negotiate for lower drug prices from pharmaceutical companies in the Medicare prescription drug program. He is generally regarded as a moderate, and was among the few Democrats to vote in favor of CAFTA. He has also voted in favor of tighter bankruptcy restrictions and abolishing the estate tax.
Although considered a moderate, Nelson has a 100% rating from the National Abortion Rights Action League. He voted against a bill prohibiting partial birth abortions, and a bill providing for criminal penalties for anyone harming an unborn child during the commission of a crime. [1]
Nelson had a 16 percent rating from the National Taxpayers Union in 2005, and a 9 percent rating in 2004, indicating that he is opposed to tax reduction and simplification. [2]
Nelson had an 80 percent rating from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 2006, an 88 percent rating in 2003-2004, and an 85 percent rating in 2003, indicating he supported legislation favorable to African Americans. He had a 75 percent rating from the Human Rights Campaign in 2003-2004, indicating he supports gay rights initiatives. [3]
Nelson had a 20 percent rating from the American Conservative Union in 2005 and a 4 percent rating in 2004. [4] He had an 80 percent rating from Americans for Democratic Action in 2003, 2004 and 2005, indicating a generally liberal or left-of-center voting record. [5]
2006 re-election campaign
Nelson's job approval ratings were 49 percent during the 2006 campaign, three percentage points higher than fellow Florida senator Mel Martinez, a Republican in a nominally red state.
Republican Representative Katherine Harris won the Republican primary, and faced Nelson in the November general election. In an interview with Sean Hannity on March 15, 2006, Harris claimed that Nelson was a member of the ideological far-left and had taken bribes. She did not state from whom, nor did she give any other specifics as to these allegations. Nelson is generally regarded as a moderate in Florida.[1]
James Dobson promised to launch "a battle from sea to shining sea" against Nelson's reelection if he participated in a filibuster of Bush's "strict constructionist" court nominees.[2] Dobson has been joined by other Republican activists, such as Randall Terry, because of his opposition to Samuel Alito and his refusal to join what were largely Republican efforts to block the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. The Schiavo incident prompted Brian Darling, a strategist in Mel Martinez's staff, to write the Schiavo memo that articulated a plan to use the Schiavo controversy as a campaign tool against Nelson in 2006. Darling resigned when it was traced to him, and Martinez apologized publicly to Nelson.[citation needed]
Nelson was reelected as Senator on November 7, 2006 with 60 percent of the vote. His victory is the largest margin by a Democratic candidate in the state in many years. [3][4][5]
Trip to Damascus
On December 13, 2006, Nelson went to Damascus and met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. This came following his appointment to the Senate Intelligence Committee. "He (Assad) stated that we in fact, have an interest, common interest, to stabilize Iraq. I think it is a crack in the door, and it is for discussions to continue," he said in a conference call from Amman, Jordan after meeting Assad in Damascus. The White House said that members of congress should not be going to Syria. "I think it is a real stretch to think that the Syrians don't know where we stand or what we think. We have made it clear and we will continue to make it clear," White House spokesman Tony Snow said.
References
- ^ http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/100USSenator060221State.htm
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20050311175154/http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050101-091244-8539r.htm
- ^ http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x11385.xml?ReleaseID=942
- ^ http://www.mason-dixon.com/news_text.cfm?news_id=237
- ^ http://strategicvision.biz/political/florida_poll_072606.htm
External links
- Official website
- Official Campaign website
- Voting record maintained by the Washington Post
- Spacefacts biography of Bill Nelson
- Bill Nelson on the Issues
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- 1942 births
- American astronauts
- American Episcopalians
- English Americans
- Beta Theta Pi brothers
- Florida lawyers
- Living people
- Members of the Florida House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Florida
- United States Army officers
- United States Senators from Florida
- Yale University alumni