Jim McClure (politician)

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James Albertus McClure (December 27, 1924 – February 26, 2011) was an American lawyer and Republican politician from Idaho who served in both the U.S. House and Senate. He represented Idaho in the House from 1967 to 1973 and in the Senate from 1973 to 1991.

Born in Payette, Idaho, McClure served in the U.S. Navy during World War II (1942–1946). He studied at Idaho State University (BA) and the University of Idaho College of Law (JD, 1950). He worked as Payette County prosecuting attorney (1950–1956) and as Payette city attorney (1953–1966), and he served in the Idaho State Senate (1961–1966).

In 1966, he won a seat in the U.S. House, defeating Democrat Compton White Jr., and was reelected in 1968 and 1970. In 1972, he won election to the U.S. Senate, defeating Bud Davis, and was reelected in 1978 and 1984. As Senate chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee from 1981 to 1987, he promoted energy independence and early electric-car ideas; he also led the Senate Republican Conference from 1981 to 1985.

McClure chose not to run for a fourth term in 1990; Republican Larry Craig succeeded him in 1991. After leaving office, he became a mining consultant and lobbyist, founding the firm McClure, Gerard, & Neuenschwander. Idaho named the College of Mines and Earth Resources building James A. McClure Hall in 1995, and Boise’s Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse was renamed in his honor in 2001. He was married to Louise Miller in 1950 and had three children, living in McCall, Idaho, later in life. McClure died in Garden City, Idaho, in 2011 after a series of strokes.