Biography of Jim Exon

[Return to Exon Library Home Page]

J. James Exon Jr.

Jim Exon was born in South Dakota, on August 9, 1921, to John and Luella Exon.  Jim was raised in the rural community of Lake Andes, South Dakota. Jim moved to Nebraska and attended the University of Omaha from 1939-1942. He was awarded an honorary doctor of law degree by Creighton University in 1991. He volunteered for the U.S. Army Signal Corps and served two years overseas in New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan. He was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant in December of 1945 and served in the Army Reserve until 1949. Prior to leaving for the South Pacific,  Jim Exon married Patricia Pros of Omaha. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1993.

Following World War II, Jim Exon returned to Nebraska and started his business career in 1946 with the Universal Finance Corporation. In 1954 Pat and Jim founded Exon’s Incorporated, which grew into one of Nebraska’s best known office equipment companies.  The Exons have three children, Steve, Pam and Candy, three grandsons and five granddaughters. Throughout his career Jim Exon has been a member of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, and active in a wide range of professional and civic activities.

Jim Exon was introduced to politics at an early age by his parents and his grandfather who served as a county judge in South Dakota.  Campaigning for his grand father was his first experience in grass roots politics. Jim's parents were active leaders in the South Dakota Democratic Party.  Jim became a prominent leader of the Nebraska Democratic Party, serving as State Vice Chairman and National Committeeman.

In his first bid for public office, Jim Exon was elected Governor of Nebraska in 1970 and was re-elected in 1974 to a second term. He served as Governor of Nebraska longer than any other person in the state’s history. As Governor, he applied his business skills of fiscal responsibility to state government, where he balanced the state’s budget for eight consecutive years. In 1978, Governor Exon marked a milestone by being the only Governor Nebraskans have elected directly to the United States Senate. He was re-elected to a second term in 1984 and a third term in 1990. He continued his history of fiscal responsibility in the Senate, where he has returned almost four million dollars allocated to run his Senate office. The book Politics in America produced by Congressional Quarterly magazine said this about Exon: "Exon makes a real contribution to the Senate as a mirror of public opinion in America’s heartland. It is hard to think of anyone else in the chamber who seems as attuned to the questions and concerns of the typical middle-American. "  In the Senate, Exon is recognized nationally as a spokesman for fiscal responsibility, agriculture and rural America and an authority on national defense, commerce and transportation issues. Senator Exon serves on the following committees:

Senate Budget Committee

Strategic Forces Subcommittee (Ranking Member)

[Return to Exon Library Home Page]

Deficit reduction — Known as a fighter for fiscal responsibility, Senator Exon, as a Senior member of the Senate Budget Committee, authored and secured passage of the only spending reduction in 1994, a $13 billion real cut.

Communications Decency Act — Senator Exon is the author of the law which protects children from computer pornography by making it illegal to send indecent material to a child or to display it on-line n areas where kids can get to it. The law also strengthens and updates other protections against telecommunication harassment and pornography.

Clean-Up of Nuclear Weapons Facilities — Exon, as a senior member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, with jurisdiction over the U.S. Strategic command in Bellevue, oversees the U.S. nuclear arsenal and nuclear weapons production clean-up effort.

Railroad Safety — As a senior member of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Exon plays a key role in railroad safety.  A bill originated by Exon and passed in 1992 mandates high-tech braking devices for trains, authorizes funds for railroad safety and research programs and doubles the minimum penalty for safety violations.

Ethanol Fuels — Senator Exon is a leader in promoting ethanol fuels as a new market for agricultural products and as a way to strengthen our nation’s energy security.  In the Senate, he beat back an attack on new federal gasoline formulas and assured the expanded use of ethanol as a fuel additive.

Expanding Agriculture Markets — Senator Exon has fought to expand markets for U.S. food products by opposing restrictions on agricultural exports and by fighting for fair international trade agreements for Nebraska agriculture.

Nuclear Testing Moratorium — Senator Exon, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, co-authored historic legislation passed in 1992 requiring a nuclear testing moratorium and an end to all nuclear testing by 1996.

Rural Health — Senator Exon has fought for changes in numerous Medicare rules which treat rural areas unfairly, including making Medicare reimburse rural and urban doctors in Nebraska at the same rate. Exon also cosponsored legislation that made Medicare reimburse rural and urban hospitals at the same rate in 1995.

Crop Insurance — As a senior member of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Exon worked hard to ensure that funding for crop insurance reform would be available and helped the stalled bill win Senate passage in 1994.

Essential Air Service Program — Senator Exon authored the current Essential Air Service Law which ensures that rural areas continue to have commercial air service.

Two Forks Dam — In 1990, Exon won a three-year battle to block construction of the proposed Two Forks Dam in Colorado.  Exon fought the dam to protect Nebraska’s water interests and the EPA agreed with him, killing the proposed dam in 1990.

Exon-Florio Law — Passed in 1988, the Exon-Florio law gives the President authority to investigate and stop a foreign takeover of an American company if the take over threatens national security.  Under this law, hundreds of foreign takeovers have been reviewed for national security implications.

AMTRAK — Senator Exon is the Senate sponsor of legislation that keeps the nation’s only nationwide passenger railroad system operating.  Exon legislation passed in 1992 allows AMTRAK to establish new service routes across the U.S. The bill also promotes high-speed rail and encourages improved safety and training for AMTRAK employees.

American Gold Coin — Senator Exon sponsored the law which authorized the minting of the first regular issue U.S. gold coins in more than 50 years. These "American Eagle Gold Coins" have become popular gold investments, increasing investment in the U.S. economy.  Profits have reduced the national debt by over $180 million.

Truck Safety — Transportation legislation authored by Senator Exon has strengthened truck safety inspection efforts.  Exon has also supported making random drug and alcohol testing for transportation workers the law.

Undercharge Law — Senator Exon was the Senate sponsor of successful legislation to give relief to small businesses, charities and shippers from excessive shipping charges, saving billions in liability costs. The bill was signed into law in 1993.

Honorary Degrees

Jim Exon also has honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from University of Nebraska at Omaha, and Doane College, Crete, Nebraska. 

[Return to Exon Library Home Page]

 Site Created and Maintained by Nebraska Systems