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Robert William Packwood
United States Senator from Oregon
In office January 3, 1969 – October 1, 1995
Preceded by	Wayne Morse
Succeeded by	Ron Wyden
Born	September 11, 1932 (1932-09-11) (age 75) Portland, Oregon
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Georgie Packwood (divorced)
Religion	Unitarian

Robert William "Bob" Packwood (born September 11, 1932) is an American politician from Oregon and a member of the Republican Party. He was forced to resign from the United States Senate, under threat of expulsion, in 1995 after allegations of sexual harassment, abuse, and assault of women emerged.

Contents 1 Early life and career 1.1 Lawyer turned legislator 1.2 U.S. Senator 2 Road to resignation 2.1 Sexual misconduct allegations 2.2 Resignation or expulsion? 3 After the U.S. Senate 4 References 5 External links

Packwood was born in Portland, Oregon. He graduated from Willamette University in 1954 and from the New York University School of Law in 1957. He was admitted to the bar in 1957 and practiced law in Portland. He was a member of the Oregon Legislative Assembly from 1963 to 1968.

Packwood was elected to the Senate in 1968, defeating Wayne Morse. He was reelected in 1974, 1980, 1986 and 1992. Packwood chaired the powerful Senate Finance Committee from 1985 to 1987, when he was instrumental in passage of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, and again in 1995. He was chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, 1979-1980. His voting record was moderate. He was staunchly pro-choice and was often targeted by pro-life groups for his stance. He supported restrictions on gun owners and liberal civil rights legislation. In 1987 Packwood crossed party line to vote against the nomination of Robert Bork into the Supreme Court, and he was one of only two Republicans to vote against the nomination of Clarence Thomas into the court. In 1993 he was the only senator to vote against mandatory life imprisonment for persons convicted of a third violent felony.^[1]

In 1988, Packwood was dragged feet-first into the Senate Chamber for a quorum call.^[2]

Packwood's political career began to unravel in November 1992, when a Washington Post story detailed the claims of sexual abuse and assault by 10 women, chiefly former staffers and lobbyists.^[3] Packwood was able to delay publication of the story until after the election,^[4] in which he defeated Democrat Les AuCoin 52.1% to 46.5%. Despite having supported Packwood throughout his career for his generally liberal voting record, left-of-center interest groups, e.g. National Organization for Women, endorsed his opponent.^{[citation needed]}

As the situation developed, Packwood's diary became an issue. Wrangling over whether the diary could be subpoenaed and whether it was protected by the Fifth Amendment's protection against self-incrimination ensued. He did turn over 5000 pages to the Senate Ethics Committee but balked when a further 3200 pages were demanded by the committee. It was discovered that he had edited the diary, removing what were allegedly references to sexual encounters and the sexual abuse allegations made against him. Packwood then made what some of his colleagues interpreted as a threat to expose wrongdoing by other members of Congress. The diary allegedly detailed some of his abusive behavior toward women and, according to a press statement made by former Nevada Senator Richard Bryan, other possibly, criminal activities.^[5]

Saturday Night Live spoofed the Packwood Diaries, having him end every entry with, "I stuck my tongue down her throat and groped her breasts."

Notwithstanding public pressure for open and public hearings, the Senate ultimately decided against public hearings. With pressure mounting against him, Packwood finally announced his resignation from the Senate on September 7, 1995,^[6] after the Senate Ethics Committee unanimously recommended that he be expelled from the Senate for ethical misconduct. (The Ethics Committee membership is evenly divided between both parties.)

Soon after leaving the Senate, Packwood founded a lobbying firm called Sunrise Research Corporation. Among other projects, he played a key role in the 2001 fight to repeal the estate tax.^{[citation needed]}

• Congressional Biography
• Text of the Senate's resolution for investigation, May 17, 1995.

Preceded by Wayne Morse	United States Senator (Class 3) from Oregon 1969 – 1995 Served alongside: Mark Hatfield	Succeeded by Ron Wyden
Preceded by Ted Stevens	Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee 1977 – 1979	Succeeded by H. John Heinz III
Preceded by H. John Heinz III	Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee 1981 – 1983	Succeeded by Dick Lugar
Preceded by Bob Dole	Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance 1985 – 1987	Succeeded by Lloyd Bentsen
Preceded by Pat Moynihan	Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance 1995	Succeeded by Bill Roth

v • d • e United States Senators from Oregon

Class 2: D. Smith • Baker • Stark • Harding • Williams • Kelly • Grover • Dolph • McBride • Mitchell • Gearin • Mulkey • Bourne • H. Lane • McNary • Mulkey • McNary • Cordon • R. Neuberger • Lusk • M. Neuberger • Hatfield • G. Smith Class 3: J. Lane • Nesmith • Corbett • Mitchell • Slater • Mitchell • Simon • Fulton • Chamberlain • Stanfield • Steiwer • Reames • Barry • Holman • Morse • Packwood • Wyden

v • d • e Chairmen of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
Bridges • Brewster • Dirksen • Goldwater • Dirksen • Schoeppel • Goldwater • Morton • Murphy • Tower • Dominick • Brock • Stevens • Packwood • Heinz • Packwood • Lugar • Heinz • Boschwitz • Nickles • Gramm • D'Amato • McConnell • Frist • Allen • Dole • Ensign