U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords died this week at the age of 80. For most people in the U.S., he will be remembered as the former Republican who shifted the power of the Senate to the Democrats in 2001 when he left the party to become an independent. But his Vermont constituents remember him for much more.
James Jeffords was born in Rutland, Vermont in 1934. He attended Yale University and Harvard Law School and served in the U.S. Navy. He was elected to the Vermont state Senate in 1967 and in 1969 won the state attorney general’s race. In 1974, he was elected to the U.S. House, where he served until he won the Senate seat in 1988.
Jeffords retired from Congress in 2006 citing declining health. He was living in an assisted living facility in Washington, D.C. when he died on Monday.
Vermont Congressman Democrat Peter Welch calls Jeffords one of the best attorneys general in the history of Vermont. Welch said in Washington, Jeffords is considered a man of enormous accomplishment who is remembered fondly in both the House and Senate. "He had a character of granite. He had to make this decision that was cataclysmic in the world of politics to go from being a Republican to an Independent and then shift control of the United States Senate from the Republican party to the Democratic party. And he didn’t do it for any personal gain. He did it as an act of conscience. It was the way he thought he could best represent Vermont. He is a man of principle. He had character and modesty and accomplishment. He is, I think, emblematic of the best that we can expect to serve us in Montpelier or to serve us in Washington.”
In 2001, Jeffords left the Republican party, unhappy with the Bush White House and a rightward shift in the party, and became an independent. With that one act, the balance of power shifted to the Democrats. Vermont Republican Party Chair David Sunderland says it marked a pivotal moment in Jeffords’ career. “Regardless of how Vermont Republicans may feel about his decision, you have to applaud his courage and the confidence that he had in himself to make such a bold and impactful move. I think it’s an example of his independence, an example of his courage and that’s what he’ll be remembered for most.”
Sunderland adds that Jeffords’ greatest legacy is within Vermont. “He always put Vermonters and the state of Vermont first - above political parties, above unwritten rules within the political system. I think he’ll always be known as someone who served the state well and with distinction and did what he felt with his own personal convictions was the best thing for the state.”
Most describe Jeffords as down-to-earth and humble. Phil Scott began his state Senate career when James Jeffords was in the U.S. Senate. Scott is now the highest ranking Republican in Vermont, serving as lieutenant governor. “I always was struck by his honesty, his willingness to what was right and he crossed the lines of what the expectations were of him being a Republican. And I think that’s part of the legacy, part of the heritage, of real Republicans in terms of taking care of the environment, caring deeply about education, and doing what was best for Vermonters. I very much appreciated that and always thought he had a lot of integrity. That’s the part that I really admired about him.”
Middlebury College Professor Emeritus of Political Science Eric Davis says Jeffords identified a number of issues early in his career important to both him and Vermont. “Education, the environment, transportation issues in Vermont. I think those are the things that he’s probably most remembered for in Vermont. And then nationally an issue that was very important to him was services for disabled children. He was very important in several legislative efforts in that issue from the ‘70s through early 2000's when he retired from Congress.”
Vermont political analyst Chris Graff knew Jeffords from his first run for Congress until he retired. Graff recalls how Jeffords’ convictions often labeled him a maverick. “Jim Jeffords will always be known for his declaration of independence when he changed the power of the Senate in 2001. But for Vermont his career was much more far reaching. Some people even say his greatest impact was in his years as Vermont Attorney General. In the Congress, to me, he was much like the character Jefferson Smith in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. He was as humble and down-to-earth as could be. He maintained his idealism and optimism. He earned the title maverick. Jim Jeffords really was a true maverick. Never quite comfortable in the Republican Party.”
Lt. Governor Scott remembers early in his political career sitting at a diner in Montpelier chatting with Senator Jeffords. “He was just a regular down-to-earth Vermonter that wanted to help in any way he could and was willing to listen to any ideas you had. So he was just a true Vermonter. And he will probably go down, I would hope, with some of the greatest: Jeffords, Stafford, Aiken and Davis. When I think of Vermonters in Vermont politics those are the ones I think of.”
Jeffords was succeeded in the Senate by fellow independent Bernie Sanders.
The funeral for former U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords will be held Friday morning beginning at 11 a.m. at the Grace Congregational United Church of Christ in Rutland and is open to the public. There will be no calling hours and his burial will be private.
