Jay Rockefeller

**John D. Rockefeller IV** (born June 18, 1937) is a retired American  Democratic politician. He served as a United States senator of West Virginia from 1985 to 2015. Before becoming a U.S. Senator, he was Governor of West Virginia from 1977 to 1985.

In April 1992, he was the Democratic Party's finance chairman. He considered running for president, but decided not to after asking friends and advisors. He went on to strongly endorse Bill Clinton as the Democratic candidate.

He is the great-grandson of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. He is the only member of the Rockefeller family who was a government official to not be a Republican as the family dynasty are mostly left-wing Republicans.

He accused President Obama's critics of racism.

On January 11, 2013, Rockefeller announced that he would not seek reelection for the United States Senate in 2014.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Jay Rockefeller
- **image**: Jay Rockefeller official photo.jpg
- **jr/sr**: United States Senator
- **state**: West Virginia
- **term start**: January 15, 1985
- **term end**: January 3, 2015
- **predecessor**: Jennings Randolph
- **successor**: Shelley Moore Capito
- **office1**: Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senate Commerce Committee
- **term start1**: January 3, 2009
- **term end1**: January 3, 2015
- **predecessor1**: Daniel Inouye
- **successor1**: John Thune
- **office2**: Chair of the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senate Intelligence Committee
- **term start2**: January 3, 2007
- **term end2**: January 3, 2009
- **predecessor2**: Pat Roberts
- **successor2**: Dianne Feinstein
- **office3**: Chair of the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- **term start3**: June 6, 2001
- **term end3**: January 3, 2003
- **predecessor3**: Arlen Specter
- **successor3**: Arlen Specter
- **term start4**: January 3, 2001
- **term end4**: January 20, 2001
- **predecessor4**: Arlen Specter
- **successor4**: Arlen Specter
- **term start5**: January 3, 1993
- **term end5**: January 3, 1995
- **predecessor5**: Alan Cranston
- **successor5**: Alan Simpson (American politician), Alan Simpson
- **order6**: 29th Governor of West Virginia
- **term start6**: January 17, 1977
- **term end6**: January 14, 1985
- **predecessor6**: Arch A. Moore Jr.
- **successor6**: Arch A. Moore Jr.
- **office7**: 22nd Secretary of State of West Virginia
- **governor7**: Arch Moore
- **term start7**: January 13, 1969
- **term end7**: January 15, 1973
- **predecessor7**: Robert D. Bailey Jr.
- **successor7**: Edgar Heiskell
- **office8**: Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
- **term start8**: 1966
- **term end8**: 1968
- **birth name**: John Davison Rockefeller IV
- **birth place**: New York City, New York (state), New York, United States, U.S.
- **party**: Democratic Party (United States), Democratic (1966–present)
- **otherparty**: Republican Party (United States), Republican (before 1966)
- **children**: 4, including Justin Rockefeller, Justin
- **education**: Harvard University (Bachelor of Arts, BA)
International Christian University
Yale University
- **parents**: John D. Rockefeller III
Blanchette Ferry Hooker
- **relatives**: _See Rockefeller family_
- **signature**: Jay Rockefeller Signature.svg