All articles tagged with #packwood
Former Oregon Republican Sen. Bob Packwood, a long-time advocate for abortion rights who often bucked his party, died at 93. His career ended after a 1993-95 ethics investigation into sexual misconduct and staff harassment, which led to his resignation in 1995, followed by a lobbying career; his legacy remains defined by the scandal despite legislative achievements like the 1986 tax reform.
Bob Packwood, a longtime Oregon Republican who served in the U.S. Senate from 1969 to 1995, died at 93 in Rancho Mirage, California. He resigned in 1995 under the threat of expulsion after a Senate Ethics Committee report detailed a pattern of sexual harassment and abuse, including at least 18 unwanted advances toward staff and others connected to his office. The exhaustive probe marked a milestone in how the Senate confronted misconduct. Packwood was known for environmental legislation and tax reform, and earlier in his career challenged Nixon on Watergate and backed abortion rights. After leaving the Senate, he ran a lobbying firm and later briefly advised on tax reform. His death closes a controversial chapter that intersected with debates over accountability and gender in Washington.