Slade Gorton
| Slade Gorton | |
|---|---|
 |
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United States Senator from Washington |
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In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Daniel J. Evans |
| Succeeded by | Maria Cantwell |
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In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Warren Magnuson |
| Succeeded by | Brock Adams |
| 14th Attorney General of Washington | |
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In office 1969–1981 |
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| Governor |
Daniel J. Evans Dixy Lee Ray |
| Preceded by | John J. O'Connell |
| Succeeded by | Ken Eikenberry |
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives | |
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In office 1959–1969 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 8, 1928 Chicago, Illinois |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Sally Jean Clark (1958–2013, her death) |
| Residence | Clyde Hill, Washington |
| Alma mater |
Dartmouth College Columbia Law School |
| Religion | Episcopalian |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
| Service/branch |
United States Army United States Air Force United States Air Force Reserve |
| Years of service | 1945 – 1946; 1953 – 1956; 1956-1980 |
| Rank | Colonel |
Thomas Slade Gorton III (born January 8, 1928) is an American politician. A Republican, he was a U.S. Senator from Washington state from 1981 to 1987, and from 1989 to 2001. He held both of the state's Senate seats in his career and was narrowly defeated for reelection twice as an incumbent: in 1986 by Brock Adams, and in 2000 by Maria Cantwell after a recount. Gorton was twice both senior senator (1983–87, 1993–2001) and junior senator (1981–83, 1989–93). Since Gorton's 2000 re-election loss, no other Republican from Washington has been elected as a U.S. Senator.
Gorton was born in Chicago, Illinois and served in the United States Army from 1945 until 1946. He then attended and graduated from Dartmouth College. He graduated from Columbia Law School, and served in the United States Air Force from 1953 until 1956, continuing to serve in the Air Force reserves until 1980 when he retired as a Colonel. Meanwhile, he practiced law, and entered politics in 1958, being elected to the state legislature of Washington, in which he served from 1959 until 1969, becoming one of the highest-ranking members. He was then Attorney General of Washington from 1969 until he entered the United States Senate in 1981. During his three terms as Attorney General, Gorton was recognized for taking the unusual step of appearing personally to argue the state's positions before the Supreme Court of the United States and for prevailing in those efforts.
He married Sally Clark Gorton on June 28, 1958. On July 20, 2013, after 55 years of marriage, she died of breast cancer at the age of 80 surrounded by family and friends.
In 1980 he defeated longtime incumbent U.S. Senator and state legend Warren Magnuson by a 54% to 46% margin.
He was defeated by former Congressman and Carter administration Transportation Secretary Brock Adams.
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