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Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#3/components#135","timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:57:32.353Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_4.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/209076","title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1970-2015"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1970-2015"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1970/2015"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"text":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4","United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party","United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia.","The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.","U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.","Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection.","Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center.","Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources","Rahall, Nick J., 1949-","Materials almost entirely in English."],"collection_title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"collection_ssim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"geogname_ssim":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"places_ssim":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"creator_ssm":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"creators_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"access_terms_ssm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Gift of Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II, 2015"],"access_subjects_ssim":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia."],"access_subjects_ssm":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["2089 Linear Feet 2089 record cartons; plaques, mobile office sign, framed photographs"],"extent_tesim":["2089 Linear Feet 2089 record cartons; plaques, mobile office sign, framed photographs"],"date_range_isim":[1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSome digital materials are available on our \u003ca href=\"https://rahall.lib.wvu.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eonline Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eU.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhen he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993). \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHis district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhile supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eTo promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eProud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSources: \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCama, Timothy. \"\u003ca href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/222908-rahall-loses-house-seat-in-west-virginia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/nick-rahall--WV-H.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016 \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000011\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\u003c/a\u003e\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWallace, Jim. \"\u003ca href=\"http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1963\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eA\u0026amp;M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMaterials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_8f256808487385caf174dfc6b5232d43\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_1f011dedf3ebd96ac2358da217630965\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. 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Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. 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For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#3/components#139","timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:57:32.353Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_4.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/209076","title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1970-2015"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1970-2015"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1970/2015"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"text":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4","United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party","United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia.","The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.","U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.","Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection.","Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center.","Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. 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No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Gift of Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II, 2015"],"access_subjects_ssim":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. 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Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSome digital materials are available on our \u003ca href=\"https://rahall.lib.wvu.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eonline Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eU.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhen he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993). \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHis district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhile supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eTo promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eProud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSources: \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCama, Timothy. \"\u003ca href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/222908-rahall-loses-house-seat-in-west-virginia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/nick-rahall--WV-H.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016 \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000011\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\u003c/a\u003e\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWallace, Jim. \"\u003ca href=\"http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1963\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eA\u0026amp;M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMaterials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_8f256808487385caf174dfc6b5232d43\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_1f011dedf3ebd96ac2358da217630965\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"persname_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources","Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"language_ssim":["Materials almost entirely in English."],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":2067,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:57:32.353Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01_c04_c140"}},{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01_c04_c64","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"WOWK at 6pm, 1993","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01_c04_c64#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01_c04_c64","ref_ssm":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01_c04_c64"],"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01_c04_c64","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01_c04","parent_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01_c04","parent_ssim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","I. Press, 1976/2014","D. Audiovisual, 1984/2003"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01_c04"],"title_filing_ssi":"WOWK at 6pm","title_ssm":["WOWK at 6pm"],"title_tesim":["WOWK at 6pm"],"normalized_title_ssm":["WOWK at 6pm, 1993"],"text":["WOWK at 6pm, 1993","Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","I. Press, 1976/2014","D. Audiovisual, 1984/2003","Box I.D. - 2","English."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","I. Press, 1976/2014","D. Audiovisual, 1984/2003"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","I. Press, 1976/2014","D. Audiovisual, 1984/2003"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1993"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["1993 February 12"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[3],"sort_isi":875,"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"collection_ssim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"containers_ssim":["Box I.D. - 2"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1993],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#3/components#63","timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:57:32.353Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_4.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/209076","title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1970-2015"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1970-2015"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1970/2015"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"text":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4","United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party","United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia.","The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.","U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.","Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection.","Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center.","Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources","Rahall, Nick J., 1949-","Materials almost entirely in English."],"collection_title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"collection_ssim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"geogname_ssim":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"places_ssim":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"creator_ssm":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"creators_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"access_terms_ssm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Gift of Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II, 2015"],"access_subjects_ssim":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia."],"access_subjects_ssm":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["2089 Linear Feet 2089 record cartons; plaques, mobile office sign, framed photographs"],"extent_tesim":["2089 Linear Feet 2089 record cartons; plaques, mobile office sign, framed photographs"],"date_range_isim":[1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSome digital materials are available on our \u003ca href=\"https://rahall.lib.wvu.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eonline Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eU.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhen he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993). \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHis district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhile supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eTo promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eProud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSources: \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCama, Timothy. \"\u003ca href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/222908-rahall-loses-house-seat-in-west-virginia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/nick-rahall--WV-H.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016 \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000011\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\u003c/a\u003e\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWallace, Jim. \"\u003ca href=\"http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1963\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eA\u0026amp;M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMaterials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_8f256808487385caf174dfc6b5232d43\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_1f011dedf3ebd96ac2358da217630965\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"persname_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. 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Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#3/components#177","timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:57:32.353Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_4.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/209076","title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1970-2015"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1970-2015"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1970/2015"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"text":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4","United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party","United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia.","The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.","U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.","Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection.","Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center.","Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources","Rahall, Nick J., 1949-","Materials almost entirely in English."],"collection_title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"collection_ssim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"geogname_ssim":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"places_ssim":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"creator_ssm":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"creators_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"access_terms_ssm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Gift of Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II, 2015"],"access_subjects_ssim":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia."],"access_subjects_ssm":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["2089 Linear Feet 2089 record cartons; plaques, mobile office sign, framed photographs"],"extent_tesim":["2089 Linear Feet 2089 record cartons; plaques, mobile office sign, framed photographs"],"date_range_isim":[1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSome digital materials are available on our \u003ca href=\"https://rahall.lib.wvu.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eonline Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eU.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhen he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993). \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHis district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhile supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eTo promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eProud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSources: \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCama, Timothy. \"\u003ca href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/222908-rahall-loses-house-seat-in-west-virginia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/nick-rahall--WV-H.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016 \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000011\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\u003c/a\u003e\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWallace, Jim. \"\u003ca href=\"http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1963\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eA\u0026amp;M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMaterials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_8f256808487385caf174dfc6b5232d43\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_1f011dedf3ebd96ac2358da217630965\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. 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For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#3/components#170","timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:57:32.353Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_4.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/209076","title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1970-2015"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1970-2015"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1970/2015"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"text":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4","United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party","United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia.","The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.","U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.","Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection.","Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center.","Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. 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No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Gift of Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II, 2015"],"access_subjects_ssim":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. 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Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSome digital materials are available on our \u003ca href=\"https://rahall.lib.wvu.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eonline Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eU.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhen he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993). \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHis district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhile supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eTo promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eProud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSources: \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCama, Timothy. \"\u003ca href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/222908-rahall-loses-house-seat-in-west-virginia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/nick-rahall--WV-H.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016 \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000011\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\u003c/a\u003e\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWallace, Jim. \"\u003ca href=\"http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1963\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eA\u0026amp;M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMaterials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_8f256808487385caf174dfc6b5232d43\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_1f011dedf3ebd96ac2358da217630965\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"persname_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. 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Press, 1976/2014","D. Audiovisual, 1984/2003"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01_c04"],"title_filing_ssi":"WOWK, Interview with Kenova Plant","title_ssm":["WOWK, Interview with Kenova Plant"],"title_tesim":["WOWK, Interview with Kenova Plant"],"normalized_title_ssm":["WOWK, Interview with Kenova Plant, 1984/1999"],"text":["WOWK, Interview with Kenova Plant, 1984/1999","Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","I. Press, 1976/2014","D. Audiovisual, 1984/2003","Box I.D. - 5","English."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","I. Press, 1976/2014","D. Audiovisual, 1984/2003"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","I. Press, 1976/2014","D. 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Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#3/components#169","timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:57:32.353Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_4.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/209076","title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1970-2015"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1970-2015"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1970/2015"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"text":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4","United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party","United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia.","The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.","U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.","Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection.","Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center.","Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. 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No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Gift of Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II, 2015"],"access_subjects_ssim":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. 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Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSome digital materials are available on our \u003ca href=\"https://rahall.lib.wvu.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eonline Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eU.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhen he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993). \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHis district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhile supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eTo promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eProud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSources: \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCama, Timothy. \"\u003ca href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/222908-rahall-loses-house-seat-in-west-virginia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/nick-rahall--WV-H.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016 \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000011\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\u003c/a\u003e\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWallace, Jim. \"\u003ca href=\"http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1963\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eA\u0026amp;M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMaterials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_8f256808487385caf174dfc6b5232d43\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_1f011dedf3ebd96ac2358da217630965\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"persname_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. 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Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#3/components#257","timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:57:32.353Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_4.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/209076","title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1970-2015"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1970-2015"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1970/2015"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"text":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4","United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party","United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia.","The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.","U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.","Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection.","Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center.","Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources","Rahall, Nick J., 1949-","Materials almost entirely in English."],"collection_title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"collection_ssim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"geogname_ssim":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"places_ssim":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"creator_ssm":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"creators_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"access_terms_ssm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Gift of Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II, 2015"],"access_subjects_ssim":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia."],"access_subjects_ssm":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["2089 Linear Feet 2089 record cartons; plaques, mobile office sign, framed photographs"],"extent_tesim":["2089 Linear Feet 2089 record cartons; plaques, mobile office sign, framed photographs"],"date_range_isim":[1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSome digital materials are available on our \u003ca href=\"https://rahall.lib.wvu.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eonline Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eU.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhen he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993). \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHis district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhile supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eTo promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eProud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSources: \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCama, Timothy. \"\u003ca href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/222908-rahall-loses-house-seat-in-west-virginia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/nick-rahall--WV-H.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016 \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000011\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\u003c/a\u003e\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWallace, Jim. \"\u003ca href=\"http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1963\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eA\u0026amp;M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMaterials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_8f256808487385caf174dfc6b5232d43\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_1f011dedf3ebd96ac2358da217630965\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"persname_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. 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Press, 1976/2014","D. Audiovisual, 1984/2003"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01_c04"],"title_filing_ssi":"WOWK, WOAY, and WSAZ","title_ssm":["WOWK, WOAY, and WSAZ"],"title_tesim":["WOWK, WOAY, and WSAZ"],"normalized_title_ssm":["WOWK, WOAY, and WSAZ, 1993"],"text":["WOWK, WOAY, and WSAZ, 1993","Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","I. Press, 1976/2014","D. Audiovisual, 1984/2003","Box I.D. - 2","English."],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","I. Press, 1976/2014","D. Audiovisual, 1984/2003"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","I. Press, 1976/2014","D. 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Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"language_ssim":["English."],"date_range_isim":[1993],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#3/components#58","timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:57:32.353Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_4.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/209076","title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1970-2015"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1970-2015"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1970/2015"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"text":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015","A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4","United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party","United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia.","The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.","U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.","Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection.","Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center.","Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources","Rahall, Nick J., 1949-","Materials almost entirely in English."],"collection_title_tesim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"collection_ssim":["Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, 1970/2015"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/4"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"geogname_ssim":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"places_ssim":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"creator_ssm":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"creators_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"access_terms_ssm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Gift of Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II, 2015"],"access_subjects_ssim":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia."],"access_subjects_ssm":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","United States Congressmen - West Virginia."],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["2089 Linear Feet 2089 record cartons; plaques, mobile office sign, framed photographs"],"extent_tesim":["2089 Linear Feet 2089 record cartons; plaques, mobile office sign, framed photographs"],"date_range_isim":[1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSome digital materials are available on our \u003ca href=\"https://rahall.lib.wvu.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eonline Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database.\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The majority of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are closed until 2030. Permission to access materials may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II database."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eU.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eNick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhen he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993). \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHis district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWhile supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eTo promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eProud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSources: \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCama, Timothy. \"\u003ca href=\"http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/222908-rahall-loses-house-seat-in-west-virginia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/nick-rahall--WV-H.\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016 \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"\u003ca href=\"http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000011\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eRahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\u003c/a\u003e\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWallace, Jim. \"\u003ca href=\"http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1963\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall.\u003c/a\u003e\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical / Historical"],"bioghist_tesim":["U.S. Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II served the people of West Virginia for nearly forty years. He began his political service in the early 1970s working in the cloak room of the U.S. Senate; as a staff member in the Senate Office of the Majority Whip from 1971-1974; and as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976. He was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 to represent West Virginia's Third District and was re-elected for nineteen terms, serving from January 3, 1977-January 2, 2015.","Nick Rahall II was born on May 20, 1949, in Beckley, West Virginia, to parents Nick Joe Rahall, the co-founder of the WWNR radio station, and Mary Alice. He is the grandson of Nicholos Rahall, an immigrant from Kefeir, Lebanon, who settled in Beckley in 1909 and was the co-founder of Rahall Communications, a radio broadcasting company with stations in West Virginia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Florida. Rahall graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley and then earned his bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1971. He also received some graduate education from George Washington University. He worked as a sales representative for his family's radio station while also serving as President of the Mountaineer Tour and Travel Agency and President of West Virginia Broadcasting in 1974.","In 1976, he entered the race for the West Virginia Fourth Congressional District and defeated incumbent Congressman Ken Hechler for the Democratic nomination. Hechler tried to reclaim his seat during the 1978 primary, but Rahall gathered support and endorsements from leading Democrats, such as Robert C. Byrd and House Speaker Tip O'Neill. A final challenge from Hechler occurred in 1990, resulting again in a victory for Rahall. Rahall then defeated former Supreme Court Justice Elliot \"Spike\" Maynard during the general election on November 2, 2010.  He was reelected to his nineteenth term in Congress on November 6, 2012 after defeating Republican Rick Snuffer. Rahall represented the Fourth District from 1977-1993 when it was redistricted to become part of the Third District. Rahall represented the Third District from 1993-2015.","When he entered Congress in 1977, Rahall was the youngest member at age 28. He focused on a number of issues, including foreign policy, energy, infrastructure, coal, and environment and tourism. He became well-known for his efforts to provide aid for the benefit of coal miners and those suffering from black lung disease, veteran's benefits, and mine health and safety. He held a number of leadership positions, including Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources (2007-2010), Vice Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources (1985-1993).","His district covered the southern region of West Virginia where coal was the dominant source of revenue. He introduced legislation to improve mine health and safety issues, as well as black lung benefits, and publicly opposed legislation to end mountaintop removal mining. His efforts to improve mine health and safety include sponsoring the 1992 Coal Act, along with Senators John D. Rockefeller IV, Robert C. Byrd, and others. In 2006, he was able to secure funding for the Mine Safety Technology Consortium located in Montgomery, a response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine Disaster.","While supporting the coal industry, Rahall also sought to preserve the environmental and historical resources of the state. In 1978, he introduced legislation establishing the New River Gorge National River as a unit of the National Park System in southern West Virginia. Ten years later, he worked to designate the Gauley River National Recreation Area and the Bluestone National Scenic River, creating the largest network of federally protected rivers in the eastern United States. In 1996, his leadership also established the National Coal Heritage Area in eleven southern West Virginia counties, which aims to preserve and interpret the structures and landscapes of the state's rich history of coal mining.","Rahall also led efforts in the area of transportation and infrastructure, developing federal highway and transit legislation. His efforts to improve West Virginia's infrastructure began in 1976 when he was first elected. He was integral to the development of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, which required specific planning factors to be implemented in regional transportation plans, as well as authorizing federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and public transit. He also established the Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI), headquartered at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. RTI has since become a leader in transportation research and economic development for the Appalachian Region.","To promote and diversify southern West Virginia's economic development, he became a front-runner for the Southern Highlands Initiative. This initiative aided in the development of industrial and business parks in the state's southern coal counties. Rahall also considered technological advancement a key component to West Virginia's economic development. He established the Nick J. Rahall, II High Technology Corridors Program, through which he promoted a sustainable approach to economic development by working with local communities to focus on small business and entrepreneurial advancement along major interstates. Rahall additionally helped to establish technology centers at Concord University in Athens, at Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, and at the Raleigh County Airport near Beckley.","Proud of his Lebanese-Protestant heritage, he worked to ensure positive relationships between the Middle East and the United States.  He soon became the senior of the few Arab-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He became well known for his expertise in foreign policy and was active in dealing with Middle Eastern affairs. He was the co-chair of the 1996 Arab-American tribute at the Democratic National Convention and a member of the board of directors for the American Task Force for Lebanon. He was nominated as an honorary of the Middle East Policy Council's National Advisory Committee and worked closely with several other D.C.-based organizations, such as the National Association of Arab-Americans, the Arab-American Institute, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Throughout his career, he accompanied and led a number of congressional delegation trips to the region. \nIn 2014, Rahall faced fellow Democrat Richard Ojeda in the primary election, coming out ahead with more than sixty-five percent of the vote, but he lost the general election to Republican Evan Jenkins.","Sources:","Cama, Timothy. \"Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years.\" The Hill. November 4, 2014. Accessed September 2016","\"Congressman Rahall to Al-Nashra.\" Al-Nashra. November-December 1996.","\"Nick Rahall.\" The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Accessed September 2016","\"Rahall, Nick Joe, II (1949-).\n\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 2017.","\"U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall: Representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District.\" The Spirit of Beckley: Congressman Nick J. Rahall II, 2007 Community Service Award. 2007.","Wallace, Jim. \"Nick Joe Rahall.\" e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. December 2015. Accessed September 2016."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eA\u0026amp;M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["A\u0026M 4118, Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II Papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Danielle Emerling, Christian Vieweg, Shannon Rowe, Dzondria Tarver, Ashley Brooker","The Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMaterials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_8f256808487385caf174dfc6b5232d43\"\u003eNick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["Nick Joe Rahall II (b.1949) represented West Virginia's Third District in the United States House of Representatives for nineteen terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served from January 3, 1977-January 3, 2015. From 2007-2011, he was chair of the Committee on Natural Resources. From 1971-1974, he was a staff member in the United States Senate Office of the Majority Whip, and he was a delegate to both the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions. The bulk of the Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II papers document his 38-year career in the United States House of Representatives."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_1f011dedf3ebd96ac2358da217630965\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources"],"persname_ssim":["Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Natural Resources","United States. Congress. House. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure","United States. 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Subcommittee on Mining and Natural Resources","Rahall, Nick J., 1949-"],"language_ssim":["Materials almost entirely in English."],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":2067,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:57:32.353Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_4_c01_c04_c59"}},{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1_c03_c05_c03_c103","type":"Item","attributes":{"title":"[WP] calls, 1985/2014","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1_c03_c05_c03_c103#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1_c03_c05_c03_c103","ref_ssm":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1_c03_c05_c03_c103"],"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1_c03_c05_c03_c103","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1_c03_c05_c03","parent_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1_c03_c05_c03","parent_ssim":["Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, 1960/2015, bulk 1985/2014","III. Press, 1960/2014","E. Audiovisual materials, 1960/2013, bulk 1984/2013","Micro-cassette"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1_c03","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1_c03_c05","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1_c03_c05_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"[WP] calls","title_ssm":["[WP] calls"],"title_tesim":["[WP] calls"],"normalized_title_ssm":["[WP] calls, 1985/2014"],"text":["[WP] calls, 1985/2014","Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, 1960/2015, bulk 1985/2014","III. Press, 1960/2014","E. Audiovisual materials, 1960/2013, bulk 1984/2013","Micro-cassette","Box III.E. - 28"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, 1960/2015, bulk 1985/2014","III. Press, 1960/2014","E. Audiovisual materials, 1960/2013, bulk 1984/2013","Micro-cassette"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, 1960/2015, bulk 1985/2014","III. Press, 1960/2014","E. Audiovisual materials, 1960/2013, bulk 1984/2013","Micro-cassette"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1985/2014"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["undated"],"level_ssm":["Item"],"level_ssim":["Item"],"component_level_isim":[4],"sort_isi":3251,"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"collection_ssim":["Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, 1960/2015, bulk 1985/2014"],"containers_ssim":["Box III.E. - 28"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["Access to audiovisual items may be arranged in the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reading room depending on the format. Advance notice is required."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"date_range_isim":[1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014],"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#4/components#2/components#102","timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:54:43.422Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_1.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/177420","title_ssm":["Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers"],"title_tesim":["Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers"],"unitdate_ssm":["1960-2015","1985-2014"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1960-2015"],"unitdate_bulk_ssim":["1985-2014"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1960/2015, bulk 1985/2014"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, 1960/2015, bulk 1985/2014"],"text":["Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, 1960/2015, bulk 1985/2014","A\u0026M 4050","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/1","United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","National security","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Democratic Party","United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Steel industry and trade","Wireless communication systems -- Law and legislation","Child welfare","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Health care reform -- United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States","The majority of the Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers are closed until 2035. Permission to access materials prior to 2035 may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online John D. Rockefeller database.","The papers are arranged into six subgroups, and each subgroup is further arranged into series. Digital materials received on external hard drives, USB flash drives, floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs are arranged in the appropriate series and reflect the arrangement of the paper records.","Senator John Davison (Jay) Rockefeller IV served the people and state of West Virginia for more than 50 years. Rockefeller came to West Virginia in 1964 as a VISTA volunteer in the small community of Emmons, an experience that shaped his extensive career in public service. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates (1966-1968); as Secretary of State of West Virginia (1968-1972); President of West Virginia Wesleyan College (1973-1976); and Governor of West Virginia (1977-1985). In 1984 he was elected to the United States Senate and was reelected four times, in 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008, before retiring in 2015.","Jay Rockefeller was born in New York, New York, on June 18, 1937, to philanthropists John Davison Rockefeller III and Blanchette Ferry Hooker. He is the great-grandson of John D. Rockefeller, founder of the Standard Oil Company, and nephew of businessman and politician Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller. Jay Rockefeller graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire, in 1955, and graduated from Harvard University in 1961 with a B.A. in Far Eastern Languages and History. In his junior year at Harvard, he attended the International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan, and he spent three years studying Japanese.","In 1964, Rockefeller joined the newly formed national service program Volunteers In Service to America (VISTA) aimed at fighting poverty. He served in Emmons, WV, a small mining community located in Boone and Kanawha Counties, for two years. His efforts in Emmons included starting a Little League baseball team, extending school bus service to the rural area, and providing transportation to dental clinics. He built a community center and obtained access to mobile health screenings for women.","Rockefeller entered politics in 1966 as a Kanawha County candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates. He changed his party affiliation to Democrat, breaking with the family's traditional affiliation with the Republican Party.","In 1967, Rockefeller married Sharon Lee Percy, daughter of U.S. Senator Charles Percy of Illinois. Their Chicago wedding was featured on the cover of Life magazine. They had four children: John Davison (Jamie) V, Valerie, Charles, and Justin Aldrich.","He ran for West Virginia Secretary of State in 1968, winning the election against Republican John Callebs. As Secretary of State, Rockefeller pushed for election law reform and broke up several county Democratic political machines. He was successful in making elections more transparent and in reducing instances of election fraud by removing the names of deceased people from the state's official list of registered voters.","Rockefeller announced his candidacy for governor of West Virginia in 1972 against incumbent Republican Governor Arch Moore. Moore won reelection by 72,000 votes.","Within months of his defeat, Rockefeller was named president of West Virginia Wesleyan College, located in Buckhannon, WV. Some of his biggest accomplishments include increasing enrollment, creating an active recruitment campaign, and streamlining operations. He submitted a letter of resignation to the College in 1975 to prepare for the next gubernatorial election, for which he campaigned throughout 1976.","Rockefeller's second run for governor was successful: he beat Republican candidate Cecil Underwood by more than 242,000 votes, the largest majority in state history. Natural disaster, strikes, and a worsening economy posed serious challenges during his years as governor. In the spring of 1977, major spring floods in the southern West Virginia counties of McDowell, Wayne, Logan, and Ming wiped entire towns away, and made safe housing above flood plains a focus of Rockefeller's administration.","The same year saw the beginning of the 111-day national Bituminous Coal Strike of 1977-1978 led by the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and the AFL-CIO. Rockefeller refused to call upon the National Guard to suppress the miners' strike. At its conclusion, President Jimmy Carter appointed Rockefeller to lead the first major federal study of coal mining in America in three decades. Rockefeller served as chair of the President's Commission on Coal and pushed for a national energy strategy that included Appalachian coal. He also created the West Virginia Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety, reorganized state agencies, and set up senior centers statewide.","In 1980, Rockefeller ran for a second term as governor, again facing Republican Arch Moore, and won by 64,000 votes. Rockefeller faced another challenging four years and worked to maintain the state's economy as the federal government cut funding in the midst of an economic downturn, industries struggled to remain open, and unemployment rates across the state rose.","At the end of his governorship, Rockefeller ran for the United States Senate as a Democrat against businessman John Raese of Morgantown, WV. Rockefeller won the 1984 election by four percentage points and went on to fill the seat left vacant after long-time Senator Jennings Randolph retired.","Rockefeller began his service in the U.S. Senate on January 15, 1985, and served until 2015. He became a leading champion for health care reform, an advocate for improving the lives of children and working families, and a supporter of the nation's soldiers, veterans, and senior citizens. He served as chair of the Committee on Veterans Affairs (1993-1994, 2001-2003); the Select Committee on Intelligence (2007-2009); the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (2009-2015); and the Committee on Finance Subcommittee on Medicare and Long-term Care (1989-1994, 2001-2003, 2007-2014). He also served as vice-chair of the Select Committee on Intelligence (2003-2006).","He held additional leadership positions as chairman on the Pepper Commission (1987-1990), the U.S. Senate Steel Caucus (1989-1994, 2013-2015, co-chair 1995-2013), the National Commission on Children (1989-1993), and the Democratic Technology and Communications Committee (1995-2003). He was also a member of several Senate groups, including the Steering Committee on Democratic Policy, the Alternative Fuels Council, and the Coal Caucus.","Influenced by his two years in Emmons, WV, Rockefeller championed health care issues, and health care reform throughout his Senate career. He supported measures to improve and modernize Medicare, expand access to health care, and increase health coverage for children, authoring the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). He introduced and co-sponsored more than 2,000 pieces of major health-related legislation and provided leadership and policy on health care reform for both the Clinton and Obama administrations. During the latter, he contributed to the successful passage of the Affordable Care Act and was a proponent of providing people with a not-for-profit insurance company backed by the government, commonly known as a public option.","He was appointed to the Senate Finance Committee and its Subcommittee on Medicare and Long-term Care (later known as the Subcommittee on Health Care) in 1987 and served as chairman of the Subcommittee and ranking member until his retirement. In 1987, he also was elected chair of the U.S. Bipartisan Commission on Comprehensive Health Care, also known as the Pepper Commission, when the commission's original leader, Representative Claude Pepper (D-FL), passed away. The Commission was charged with developing legislation that would provide Americans with comprehensive health and long-term care coverage.","In recognition of his contributions to improving the wellbeing of children and families and supporting education, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan appointed Rockefeller chair of the National Commission on Children. Recommendations made by the Commission centered on the creation of a Child Tax Credit, expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, and improvement to the federal approach to child welfare. As a member of the Finance Committee, he worked on the tax code to provide better financial support to the middle class and working poor. He sought to toughen child support enforcement laws, improve federal adoption and foster care services, and ensure a safe environment for children in the child welfare system with educational programs aimed at substance abuse prevention and treatment. He also worked for renewed investment in schools, school construction, and teachers, particularly those located in rural and impoverished areas.","Senator Rockefeller was an advocate for veterans' issues, serving on the Veterans' Affairs Committee for the entirety of his Senate career and acting as both chair and ranking minority member. He especially focused on expanding research and treatment for service-related illnesses, such as Gulf War Illness, Agent Orange, and issues relating to Atomic Veterans. He brought attention to treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the reform of the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.","Throughout his time in the Senate, Rockefeller was deeply involved with issues related to energy, the environment, coal miners, and mine safety. The first bill Rockefeller introduced in the Senate in 1985 was legislation intended to reduce the backlog of pending black lung cases, and he consistently worked to preserve the Black Lung Trust Fund while protecting coal jobs.","In 1992, he introduced the Coal Act to ensure retired miners received health benefits, and he threatened to keep the Senate in session over Christmas if they refused to pass the bill, which he described as a peak moment in his career. The Coal Act was passed as part of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, creating two new health care funds to protect the health benefits of all union coal miners, along with their widows and dependents. In 1995, the UMWA named him an honorary member, a distinction rarely bestowed on an elected official, because of his efforts on behalf of miners.","Following the January 2006 West Virginia Sago and Aracoma mine disasters, which together led to the deaths of 14 men, Rockefeller brought several senators from the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee to meet with families of the Sago mine workers. Rockefeller then joined Committee Chair Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Ranking Member Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in drafting the MINER Act, which was signed into law in June 2006, establishing important new mine safety regulations.","Senator Rockefeller served on the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, 2001-2014, during critical and difficult years for the SSCI and the intelligence community. In January 2001, then-Democratic leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) appointed Rockefeller to the Committee. Eight months later the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred. In the months following the attacks, the United States launched operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and in March 2003, invaded Iraq. These events changed the nature and conduct of intelligence oversight. During Rockefeller's tenure on the committee, and particularly during his time as vice chairman and chairman, he made significant contributions in key areas, including the 9/11 investigation; the Iraq War and flawed intelligence on weapons of mass destruction; intelligence community reform; surveillance oversight and reform; the CIA's detention and interrogation program; cybersecurity; and the intelligence authorization process.","Rockefeller also made significant contributions to communications policy. He co-authored the Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries, known as E-Rate, which was authorized as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, making telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools and libraries. In 2010, Rockefeller introduced the Public Safety Spectrum Act, which created FirstNet, a nationwide wireless broadband network for the nation's first responders. It was signed into law as part of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. He also supported net neutrality protections to keep the Internet open and free, and in 2011, he successfully led the Senate Floor against a resolution of disapproval of net neutrality rules.","He also championed the steel industry in West Virginia and the nation, earning him the nickname \"Senator Steel.\" Much of his work, launched largely through his position as co-chair of the Senate Steel Caucus, focused on providing income support and job training to laid-off employees and their families through Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), working with individual steel companies to mitigate the effects of closure and downsizing, and intervening in steel employee strikes. As a member of both the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Finance, Rockefeller also addressed concerns about American manufacturing; trade protections and relief for workers negatively impacted by trade; and tax credits supporting research and development and encouraging businesses to build and expand.","For the state of West Virginia, Senator Rockefeller made jobs and economic development a priority. In 1988 he founded the Discover the Real West Virginia Program (DRWV), later formalized as the Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation, which showcased business and investment opportunities in West Virginia. He launched the \"Project Harvest\" trade mission in 1995 to bring state and international business leaders and investors together. Rockefeller's early experiences in Japan and knowledge of the language and culture aided in attracting the Toyota company to the state, resulting in the opening of the Buffalo, WV, plant in 1996. In the ensuing years, more than 20 other Japanese companies followed. Further, he encouraged the growth of the West Virginia tourism and travel industry through legislation that conserved lands, designated scenic areas, and promoted better transportation infrastructure.","In January 2013, Senator Rockefeller announced that he would not seek reelection. In his retirement announcement, he reflected that \"public service demands, and deserves nothing less than every single thing that you have to bring to bear, and that is what I have given.\" As he prepared to leave the Congress in December 2014, his Senate colleagues offered tributes on the Senate Floor recognizing his impressive legislative record, distinguished career, and legacy of compassionate and conscientious service.","Sources:","Grimes, Richard S. \"Jay Rockefeller.\" The West Virginia Encyclopedia.","Jay: A Rockefeller's Journey. Produced by Suzanne Higgins and Russ Barbour. 2015. Online video. West Virginia Public Broadcasting.","\"A Record of Achievement for West Virginia: Energy and Environment Issues (Legacy on Energy, Environment and Coal Miners),\" 2014 May 30, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","\"Review of Senator John D. Rockefeller's Service on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: 2001-2015,\" 2014 December 17, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","\"Rockefeller, John Davison IV (Jay), (1937 - ).\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-present.","\"Senator Jay Rockefeller Retirement Announcement.\" 2013 January 11, 2013. Online video clip. C-SPAN.","\"Senator Rockefeller's Health Care Accomplishments: 99th-113th Congress Memorandum,\" 2014, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","\"Tributes to John D. Rockefeller.\" 2014 December 4. Congressional Record 160:147 p. S6343. Congress.gov.","\"Veterans' Legacy Memorandum,\" 2014 April 11, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\n \n\"West Virginia Wesleyan College Legacy Memorandum,\" 2014 October, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","\"A Record of Achievement for West Virginia: Diversifying West Virginia's Economy for the 21st Century (Your Legacy Memo on Jobs and Economic Growth in West Virginia),\" 2014, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","\"Your Legacy on FirstNet – Public Safety Spectrum Act,\" 2014 October 24, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","\"Your Legacy on Net Neutrality,\" 2014 October 3, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","Processed by Danielle Emerling, 2015-\nProcessing assistants: Ashley Brooker, Dzondria Tarver, Leo Gmeindl, Casey DeHaven, Joshua Childs","The Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection.","The bulk of the Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers document his 30-year career in the United States Senate with additional materials related to his earlier political career.  The records were maintained by Senator Rockefeller's Washington, DC, office and West Virginia state offices in Charleston, Beckley, Fairmont, and Martinsburg. Record formats include papers, audiovisual materials, born-digital resources, photographs, and memorabilia. The collection consists of approximately 2011 linear feet of paper records and two terabytes of electronic records.","The first subgroup, Constituent Services, reflects the work Senator Rockefeller and his staff performed for the state and people of West Virginia. It consists of constituent casework, issue mail, grant and project files, and academy files.","The second subgroup, Legislative files, is composed of materials related to legislative and committee work. Legislative staff files; subject files; correspondence; committee files; and legislative activities, voting records, and accomplishments comprise this subgroup.","The third subgroup, Press files, illustrates Senator Rockefeller's interactions with the media and outreach to the state of West Virginia and his constituents. It contains press staff files, speeches and statements, press releases, photographs, audiovisual materials, clippings, publications, and newsletters and mailings.","The fourth subgroup, Personal and Political files, consists of Legacy Memos, schedules, personal files and correspondence, campaign files, and trip files.","The fifth subgroup, Office files, contains a small number of office management files.","The sixth subgroup, Memorabilia, consists of a large collection of framed items, plaques, and objects, many of which Senator Rockefeller received as gifts during his service. It contains a large number of foreign gifts, particularly from Japan and Taiwan.","Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center.","John Davison (Jay) Rockefeller IV (b. 1937) represented West Virginia in the United States Senate for five terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-ninth Congress and served from January 15, 1985, to January 3, 2015. He was not a candidate for reelection in 2014. Rockefeller previously served in the West Virginia House of Delegates (1966-1968); as Secretary of State of West Virginia (1968-1972); president of West Virginia Wesleyan College (1973-1976); and Governor of West Virginia (1977-1985). From 1964-1966, he was a volunteer in the Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) program in Emmons, West Virginia. The bulk of the Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers document his 30-year career in the United States Senate with additional materials related to his earlier political career.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce","United States. Congress. Senate. Select Committee on Intelligence","United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Veterans' Affairs","United States. Congress. Pepper Commission","United States. National Commission on Children","Rockefeller, John D., IV (John Davison), 1937-","Rockefeller, Sharon Percy, 1944-","English\n."],"collection_title_tesim":["Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, 1960/2015, bulk 1985/2014"],"collection_ssim":["Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, 1960/2015, bulk 1985/2014"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 4050","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/1"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 4050","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/1"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","National security","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"geogname_ssim":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","National security","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"places_ssim":["United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century","West Virginia -- Politics and government","National security","West Virginia -- Politics and government","United States -- Politics and government","Democratic Party"],"creator_ssm":["Rockefeller, John D., IV (John Davison), 1937-"],"creator_ssim":["Rockefeller, John D., IV (John Davison), 1937-"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Rockefeller, John D., IV (John Davison), 1937-","Rockefeller, Sharon Percy, 1944-"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce","United States. Congress. Senate. Select Committee on Intelligence","United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Veterans' Affairs","United States. Congress. Pepper Commission","United States. National Commission on Children"],"creators_ssim":["Rockefeller, John D., IV (John Davison), 1937-","Rockefeller, Sharon Percy, 1944-","West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce","United States. Congress. Senate. Select Committee on Intelligence","United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Veterans' Affairs","United States. Congress. Pepper Commission","United States. National Commission on Children"],"access_terms_ssm":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Gift of Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, 2014-2015"],"access_subjects_ssim":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Steel industry and trade","Wireless communication systems -- Law and legislation","Child welfare","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Health care reform -- United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States"],"access_subjects_ssm":["United States. Congress -- History -- 20th century","United States. Congress -- Archives","Steel industry and trade","Wireless communication systems -- Law and legislation","Child welfare","Coal miners--West Virginia","Veterans--United States","Health care reform -- United States","Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- United States","Politicians -- United States"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["2011 Linear Feet record cartons","2 Terabytes"],"extent_tesim":["2011 Linear Feet record cartons","2 Terabytes"],"date_range_isim":[1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe majority of the Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers are closed until 2035. Permission to access materials prior to 2035 may be given at the donor's discretion. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSome digital materials are available on our \u003ca href=\"https://rockefeller.lib.wvu.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eonline John D. Rockefeller database.\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["The majority of the Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers are closed until 2035. Permission to access materials prior to 2035 may be given at the donor's discretion.","Materials previously made publicly available, such as speeches, press releases, photographs, press interviews, clippings, and publications are open for research.","The collection is stored off-site. Researchers should contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center prior to visiting to ensure materials are available.","Some digital materials are available on our online John D. Rockefeller database."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe papers are arranged into six subgroups, and each subgroup is further arranged into series. Digital materials received on external hard drives, USB flash drives, floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs are arranged in the appropriate series and reflect the arrangement of the paper records.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["The papers are arranged into six subgroups, and each subgroup is further arranged into series. Digital materials received on external hard drives, USB flash drives, floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs are arranged in the appropriate series and reflect the arrangement of the paper records."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSenator John Davison (Jay) Rockefeller IV served the people and state of West Virginia for more than 50 years. Rockefeller came to West Virginia in 1964 as a VISTA volunteer in the small community of Emmons, an experience that shaped his extensive career in public service. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates (1966-1968); as Secretary of State of West Virginia (1968-1972); President of West Virginia Wesleyan College (1973-1976); and Governor of West Virginia (1977-1985). In 1984 he was elected to the United States Senate and was reelected four times, in 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008, before retiring in 2015.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eJay Rockefeller was born in New York, New York, on June 18, 1937, to philanthropists John Davison Rockefeller III and Blanchette Ferry Hooker. He is the great-grandson of John D. Rockefeller, founder of the Standard Oil Company, and nephew of businessman and politician Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller. Jay Rockefeller graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire, in 1955, and graduated from Harvard University in 1961 with a B.A. in Far Eastern Languages and History. In his junior year at Harvard, he attended the International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan, and he spent three years studying Japanese.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1964, Rockefeller joined the newly formed national service program Volunteers In Service to America (VISTA) aimed at fighting poverty. He served in Emmons, WV, a small mining community located in Boone and Kanawha Counties, for two years. His efforts in Emmons included starting a Little League baseball team, extending school bus service to the rural area, and providing transportation to dental clinics. He built a community center and obtained access to mobile health screenings for women.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRockefeller entered politics in 1966 as a Kanawha County candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates. He changed his party affiliation to Democrat, breaking with the family's traditional affiliation with the Republican Party.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1967, Rockefeller married Sharon Lee Percy, daughter of U.S. Senator Charles Percy of Illinois. Their Chicago wedding was featured on the cover of Life magazine. They had four children: John Davison (Jamie) V, Valerie, Charles, and Justin Aldrich.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHe ran for West Virginia Secretary of State in 1968, winning the election against Republican John Callebs. As Secretary of State, Rockefeller pushed for election law reform and broke up several county Democratic political machines. He was successful in making elections more transparent and in reducing instances of election fraud by removing the names of deceased people from the state's official list of registered voters.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRockefeller announced his candidacy for governor of West Virginia in 1972 against incumbent Republican Governor Arch Moore. Moore won reelection by 72,000 votes.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWithin months of his defeat, Rockefeller was named president of West Virginia Wesleyan College, located in Buckhannon, WV. Some of his biggest accomplishments include increasing enrollment, creating an active recruitment campaign, and streamlining operations. He submitted a letter of resignation to the College in 1975 to prepare for the next gubernatorial election, for which he campaigned throughout 1976.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRockefeller's second run for governor was successful: he beat Republican candidate Cecil Underwood by more than 242,000 votes, the largest majority in state history. Natural disaster, strikes, and a worsening economy posed serious challenges during his years as governor. In the spring of 1977, major spring floods in the southern West Virginia counties of McDowell, Wayne, Logan, and Ming wiped entire towns away, and made safe housing above flood plains a focus of Rockefeller's administration.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe same year saw the beginning of the 111-day national Bituminous Coal Strike of 1977-1978 led by the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and the AFL-CIO. Rockefeller refused to call upon the National Guard to suppress the miners' strike. At its conclusion, President Jimmy Carter appointed Rockefeller to lead the first major federal study of coal mining in America in three decades. Rockefeller served as chair of the President's Commission on Coal and pushed for a national energy strategy that included Appalachian coal. He also created the West Virginia Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety, reorganized state agencies, and set up senior centers statewide.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1980, Rockefeller ran for a second term as governor, again facing Republican Arch Moore, and won by 64,000 votes. Rockefeller faced another challenging four years and worked to maintain the state's economy as the federal government cut funding in the midst of an economic downturn, industries struggled to remain open, and unemployment rates across the state rose.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAt the end of his governorship, Rockefeller ran for the United States Senate as a Democrat against businessman John Raese of Morgantown, WV. Rockefeller won the 1984 election by four percentage points and went on to fill the seat left vacant after long-time Senator Jennings Randolph retired.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRockefeller began his service in the U.S. Senate on January 15, 1985, and served until 2015. He became a leading champion for health care reform, an advocate for improving the lives of children and working families, and a supporter of the nation's soldiers, veterans, and senior citizens. He served as chair of the Committee on Veterans Affairs (1993-1994, 2001-2003); the Select Committee on Intelligence (2007-2009); the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (2009-2015); and the Committee on Finance Subcommittee on Medicare and Long-term Care (1989-1994, 2001-2003, 2007-2014). He also served as vice-chair of the Select Committee on Intelligence (2003-2006).\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHe held additional leadership positions as chairman on the Pepper Commission (1987-1990), the U.S. Senate Steel Caucus (1989-1994, 2013-2015, co-chair 1995-2013), the National Commission on Children (1989-1993), and the Democratic Technology and Communications Committee (1995-2003). He was also a member of several Senate groups, including the Steering Committee on Democratic Policy, the Alternative Fuels Council, and the Coal Caucus.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eInfluenced by his two years in Emmons, WV, Rockefeller championed health care issues, and health care reform throughout his Senate career. He supported measures to improve and modernize Medicare, expand access to health care, and increase health coverage for children, authoring the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). He introduced and co-sponsored more than 2,000 pieces of major health-related legislation and provided leadership and policy on health care reform for both the Clinton and Obama administrations. During the latter, he contributed to the successful passage of the Affordable Care Act and was a proponent of providing people with a not-for-profit insurance company backed by the government, commonly known as a public option.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHe was appointed to the Senate Finance Committee and its Subcommittee on Medicare and Long-term Care (later known as the Subcommittee on Health Care) in 1987 and served as chairman of the Subcommittee and ranking member until his retirement. In 1987, he also was elected chair of the U.S. Bipartisan Commission on Comprehensive Health Care, also known as the Pepper Commission, when the commission's original leader, Representative Claude Pepper (D-FL), passed away. The Commission was charged with developing legislation that would provide Americans with comprehensive health and long-term care coverage.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn recognition of his contributions to improving the wellbeing of children and families and supporting education, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan appointed Rockefeller chair of the National Commission on Children. Recommendations made by the Commission centered on the creation of a Child Tax Credit, expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, and improvement to the federal approach to child welfare. As a member of the Finance Committee, he worked on the tax code to provide better financial support to the middle class and working poor. He sought to toughen child support enforcement laws, improve federal adoption and foster care services, and ensure a safe environment for children in the child welfare system with educational programs aimed at substance abuse prevention and treatment. He also worked for renewed investment in schools, school construction, and teachers, particularly those located in rural and impoverished areas.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSenator Rockefeller was an advocate for veterans' issues, serving on the Veterans' Affairs Committee for the entirety of his Senate career and acting as both chair and ranking minority member. He especially focused on expanding research and treatment for service-related illnesses, such as Gulf War Illness, Agent Orange, and issues relating to Atomic Veterans. He brought attention to treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the reform of the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThroughout his time in the Senate, Rockefeller was deeply involved with issues related to energy, the environment, coal miners, and mine safety. The first bill Rockefeller introduced in the Senate in 1985 was legislation intended to reduce the backlog of pending black lung cases, and he consistently worked to preserve the Black Lung Trust Fund while protecting coal jobs.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn 1992, he introduced the Coal Act to ensure retired miners received health benefits, and he threatened to keep the Senate in session over Christmas if they refused to pass the bill, which he described as a peak moment in his career. The Coal Act was passed as part of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, creating two new health care funds to protect the health benefits of all union coal miners, along with their widows and dependents. In 1995, the UMWA named him an honorary member, a distinction rarely bestowed on an elected official, because of his efforts on behalf of miners.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFollowing the January 2006 West Virginia Sago and Aracoma mine disasters, which together led to the deaths of 14 men, Rockefeller brought several senators from the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee to meet with families of the Sago mine workers. Rockefeller then joined Committee Chair Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Ranking Member Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in drafting the MINER Act, which was signed into law in June 2006, establishing important new mine safety regulations.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSenator Rockefeller served on the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, 2001-2014, during critical and difficult years for the SSCI and the intelligence community. In January 2001, then-Democratic leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) appointed Rockefeller to the Committee. Eight months later the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred. In the months following the attacks, the United States launched operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and in March 2003, invaded Iraq. These events changed the nature and conduct of intelligence oversight. During Rockefeller's tenure on the committee, and particularly during his time as vice chairman and chairman, he made significant contributions in key areas, including the 9/11 investigation; the Iraq War and flawed intelligence on weapons of mass destruction; intelligence community reform; surveillance oversight and reform; the CIA's detention and interrogation program; cybersecurity; and the intelligence authorization process. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eRockefeller also made significant contributions to communications policy. He co-authored the Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries, known as E-Rate, which was authorized as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, making telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools and libraries. In 2010, Rockefeller introduced the Public Safety Spectrum Act, which created FirstNet, a nationwide wireless broadband network for the nation's first responders. It was signed into law as part of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. He also supported net neutrality protections to keep the Internet open and free, and in 2011, he successfully led the Senate Floor against a resolution of disapproval of net neutrality rules.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eHe also championed the steel industry in West Virginia and the nation, earning him the nickname \"Senator Steel.\" Much of his work, launched largely through his position as co-chair of the Senate Steel Caucus, focused on providing income support and job training to laid-off employees and their families through Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), working with individual steel companies to mitigate the effects of closure and downsizing, and intervening in steel employee strikes. As a member of both the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Finance, Rockefeller also addressed concerns about American manufacturing; trade protections and relief for workers negatively impacted by trade; and tax credits supporting research and development and encouraging businesses to build and expand.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eFor the state of West Virginia, Senator Rockefeller made jobs and economic development a priority. In 1988 he founded the Discover the Real West Virginia Program (DRWV), later formalized as the Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation, which showcased business and investment opportunities in West Virginia. He launched the \"Project Harvest\" trade mission in 1995 to bring state and international business leaders and investors together. Rockefeller's early experiences in Japan and knowledge of the language and culture aided in attracting the Toyota company to the state, resulting in the opening of the Buffalo, WV, plant in 1996. In the ensuing years, more than 20 other Japanese companies followed. Further, he encouraged the growth of the West Virginia tourism and travel industry through legislation that conserved lands, designated scenic areas, and promoted better transportation infrastructure.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn January 2013, Senator Rockefeller announced that he would not seek reelection. In his retirement announcement, he reflected that \"public service demands, and deserves nothing less than every single thing that you have to bring to bear, and that is what I have given.\" As he prepared to leave the Congress in December 2014, his Senate colleagues offered tributes on the Senate Floor recognizing his impressive legislative record, distinguished career, and legacy of compassionate and conscientious service.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSources: \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eGrimes, Richard S. \"\u003ca href=\"http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/110\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eJay Rockefeller.\u003c/a\u003e\" The West Virginia Encyclopedia. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/video/jay-rockefellers-journey-jay-rockefellers-journey/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eJay: A Rockefeller's Journey.\u003c/a\u003e Produced by Suzanne Higgins and Russ Barbour. 2015. Online video. West Virginia Public Broadcasting.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"A Record of Achievement for West Virginia: Energy and Environment Issues (Legacy on Energy, Environment and Coal Miners),\" 2014 May 30, A\u0026amp;M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Review of Senator John D. Rockefeller's Service on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: 2001-2015,\" 2014 December 17, A\u0026amp;M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000361\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\"Rockefeller, John Davison IV (Jay), (1937 - ).\"\u003c/a\u003e Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-present.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http://www.c-span.org/video/?310340-1/senator-jay-rockefeller-retirement-announcement\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\"Senator Jay Rockefeller Retirement Announcement.\"\u003c/a\u003e 2013 January 11, 2013. Online video clip. C-SPAN. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Senator Rockefeller's Health Care Accomplishments: 99th-113th Congress Memorandum,\" 2014, A\u0026amp;M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/113/crec/2014/12/04/160/147/CREC-2014-12-04.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\"Tributes to John D. Rockefeller.\"\u003c/a\u003e 2014 December 4. Congressional Record 160:147 p. S6343. Congress.gov.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Veterans' Legacy Memorandum,\" 2014 April 11, A\u0026amp;M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\n \n\"West Virginia Wesleyan College Legacy Memorandum,\" 2014 October, A\u0026amp;M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"A Record of Achievement for West Virginia: Diversifying West Virginia's Economy for the 21st Century (Your Legacy Memo on Jobs and Economic Growth in West Virginia),\" 2014, A\u0026amp;M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Your Legacy on FirstNet – Public Safety Spectrum Act,\" 2014 October 24, A\u0026amp;M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\"Your Legacy on Net Neutrality,\" 2014 October 3, A\u0026amp;M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical Note"],"bioghist_tesim":["Senator John Davison (Jay) Rockefeller IV served the people and state of West Virginia for more than 50 years. Rockefeller came to West Virginia in 1964 as a VISTA volunteer in the small community of Emmons, an experience that shaped his extensive career in public service. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates (1966-1968); as Secretary of State of West Virginia (1968-1972); President of West Virginia Wesleyan College (1973-1976); and Governor of West Virginia (1977-1985). In 1984 he was elected to the United States Senate and was reelected four times, in 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008, before retiring in 2015.","Jay Rockefeller was born in New York, New York, on June 18, 1937, to philanthropists John Davison Rockefeller III and Blanchette Ferry Hooker. He is the great-grandson of John D. Rockefeller, founder of the Standard Oil Company, and nephew of businessman and politician Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller. Jay Rockefeller graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire, in 1955, and graduated from Harvard University in 1961 with a B.A. in Far Eastern Languages and History. In his junior year at Harvard, he attended the International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan, and he spent three years studying Japanese.","In 1964, Rockefeller joined the newly formed national service program Volunteers In Service to America (VISTA) aimed at fighting poverty. He served in Emmons, WV, a small mining community located in Boone and Kanawha Counties, for two years. His efforts in Emmons included starting a Little League baseball team, extending school bus service to the rural area, and providing transportation to dental clinics. He built a community center and obtained access to mobile health screenings for women.","Rockefeller entered politics in 1966 as a Kanawha County candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates. He changed his party affiliation to Democrat, breaking with the family's traditional affiliation with the Republican Party.","In 1967, Rockefeller married Sharon Lee Percy, daughter of U.S. Senator Charles Percy of Illinois. Their Chicago wedding was featured on the cover of Life magazine. They had four children: John Davison (Jamie) V, Valerie, Charles, and Justin Aldrich.","He ran for West Virginia Secretary of State in 1968, winning the election against Republican John Callebs. As Secretary of State, Rockefeller pushed for election law reform and broke up several county Democratic political machines. He was successful in making elections more transparent and in reducing instances of election fraud by removing the names of deceased people from the state's official list of registered voters.","Rockefeller announced his candidacy for governor of West Virginia in 1972 against incumbent Republican Governor Arch Moore. Moore won reelection by 72,000 votes.","Within months of his defeat, Rockefeller was named president of West Virginia Wesleyan College, located in Buckhannon, WV. Some of his biggest accomplishments include increasing enrollment, creating an active recruitment campaign, and streamlining operations. He submitted a letter of resignation to the College in 1975 to prepare for the next gubernatorial election, for which he campaigned throughout 1976.","Rockefeller's second run for governor was successful: he beat Republican candidate Cecil Underwood by more than 242,000 votes, the largest majority in state history. Natural disaster, strikes, and a worsening economy posed serious challenges during his years as governor. In the spring of 1977, major spring floods in the southern West Virginia counties of McDowell, Wayne, Logan, and Ming wiped entire towns away, and made safe housing above flood plains a focus of Rockefeller's administration.","The same year saw the beginning of the 111-day national Bituminous Coal Strike of 1977-1978 led by the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and the AFL-CIO. Rockefeller refused to call upon the National Guard to suppress the miners' strike. At its conclusion, President Jimmy Carter appointed Rockefeller to lead the first major federal study of coal mining in America in three decades. Rockefeller served as chair of the President's Commission on Coal and pushed for a national energy strategy that included Appalachian coal. He also created the West Virginia Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety, reorganized state agencies, and set up senior centers statewide.","In 1980, Rockefeller ran for a second term as governor, again facing Republican Arch Moore, and won by 64,000 votes. Rockefeller faced another challenging four years and worked to maintain the state's economy as the federal government cut funding in the midst of an economic downturn, industries struggled to remain open, and unemployment rates across the state rose.","At the end of his governorship, Rockefeller ran for the United States Senate as a Democrat against businessman John Raese of Morgantown, WV. Rockefeller won the 1984 election by four percentage points and went on to fill the seat left vacant after long-time Senator Jennings Randolph retired.","Rockefeller began his service in the U.S. Senate on January 15, 1985, and served until 2015. He became a leading champion for health care reform, an advocate for improving the lives of children and working families, and a supporter of the nation's soldiers, veterans, and senior citizens. He served as chair of the Committee on Veterans Affairs (1993-1994, 2001-2003); the Select Committee on Intelligence (2007-2009); the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (2009-2015); and the Committee on Finance Subcommittee on Medicare and Long-term Care (1989-1994, 2001-2003, 2007-2014). He also served as vice-chair of the Select Committee on Intelligence (2003-2006).","He held additional leadership positions as chairman on the Pepper Commission (1987-1990), the U.S. Senate Steel Caucus (1989-1994, 2013-2015, co-chair 1995-2013), the National Commission on Children (1989-1993), and the Democratic Technology and Communications Committee (1995-2003). He was also a member of several Senate groups, including the Steering Committee on Democratic Policy, the Alternative Fuels Council, and the Coal Caucus.","Influenced by his two years in Emmons, WV, Rockefeller championed health care issues, and health care reform throughout his Senate career. He supported measures to improve and modernize Medicare, expand access to health care, and increase health coverage for children, authoring the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). He introduced and co-sponsored more than 2,000 pieces of major health-related legislation and provided leadership and policy on health care reform for both the Clinton and Obama administrations. During the latter, he contributed to the successful passage of the Affordable Care Act and was a proponent of providing people with a not-for-profit insurance company backed by the government, commonly known as a public option.","He was appointed to the Senate Finance Committee and its Subcommittee on Medicare and Long-term Care (later known as the Subcommittee on Health Care) in 1987 and served as chairman of the Subcommittee and ranking member until his retirement. In 1987, he also was elected chair of the U.S. Bipartisan Commission on Comprehensive Health Care, also known as the Pepper Commission, when the commission's original leader, Representative Claude Pepper (D-FL), passed away. The Commission was charged with developing legislation that would provide Americans with comprehensive health and long-term care coverage.","In recognition of his contributions to improving the wellbeing of children and families and supporting education, in 1988, President Ronald Reagan appointed Rockefeller chair of the National Commission on Children. Recommendations made by the Commission centered on the creation of a Child Tax Credit, expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, and improvement to the federal approach to child welfare. As a member of the Finance Committee, he worked on the tax code to provide better financial support to the middle class and working poor. He sought to toughen child support enforcement laws, improve federal adoption and foster care services, and ensure a safe environment for children in the child welfare system with educational programs aimed at substance abuse prevention and treatment. He also worked for renewed investment in schools, school construction, and teachers, particularly those located in rural and impoverished areas.","Senator Rockefeller was an advocate for veterans' issues, serving on the Veterans' Affairs Committee for the entirety of his Senate career and acting as both chair and ranking minority member. He especially focused on expanding research and treatment for service-related illnesses, such as Gulf War Illness, Agent Orange, and issues relating to Atomic Veterans. He brought attention to treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the reform of the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.","Throughout his time in the Senate, Rockefeller was deeply involved with issues related to energy, the environment, coal miners, and mine safety. The first bill Rockefeller introduced in the Senate in 1985 was legislation intended to reduce the backlog of pending black lung cases, and he consistently worked to preserve the Black Lung Trust Fund while protecting coal jobs.","In 1992, he introduced the Coal Act to ensure retired miners received health benefits, and he threatened to keep the Senate in session over Christmas if they refused to pass the bill, which he described as a peak moment in his career. The Coal Act was passed as part of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, creating two new health care funds to protect the health benefits of all union coal miners, along with their widows and dependents. In 1995, the UMWA named him an honorary member, a distinction rarely bestowed on an elected official, because of his efforts on behalf of miners.","Following the January 2006 West Virginia Sago and Aracoma mine disasters, which together led to the deaths of 14 men, Rockefeller brought several senators from the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee to meet with families of the Sago mine workers. Rockefeller then joined Committee Chair Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Ranking Member Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in drafting the MINER Act, which was signed into law in June 2006, establishing important new mine safety regulations.","Senator Rockefeller served on the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, 2001-2014, during critical and difficult years for the SSCI and the intelligence community. In January 2001, then-Democratic leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) appointed Rockefeller to the Committee. Eight months later the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred. In the months following the attacks, the United States launched operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and in March 2003, invaded Iraq. These events changed the nature and conduct of intelligence oversight. During Rockefeller's tenure on the committee, and particularly during his time as vice chairman and chairman, he made significant contributions in key areas, including the 9/11 investigation; the Iraq War and flawed intelligence on weapons of mass destruction; intelligence community reform; surveillance oversight and reform; the CIA's detention and interrogation program; cybersecurity; and the intelligence authorization process.","Rockefeller also made significant contributions to communications policy. He co-authored the Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries, known as E-Rate, which was authorized as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, making telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools and libraries. In 2010, Rockefeller introduced the Public Safety Spectrum Act, which created FirstNet, a nationwide wireless broadband network for the nation's first responders. It was signed into law as part of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. He also supported net neutrality protections to keep the Internet open and free, and in 2011, he successfully led the Senate Floor against a resolution of disapproval of net neutrality rules.","He also championed the steel industry in West Virginia and the nation, earning him the nickname \"Senator Steel.\" Much of his work, launched largely through his position as co-chair of the Senate Steel Caucus, focused on providing income support and job training to laid-off employees and their families through Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), working with individual steel companies to mitigate the effects of closure and downsizing, and intervening in steel employee strikes. As a member of both the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Finance, Rockefeller also addressed concerns about American manufacturing; trade protections and relief for workers negatively impacted by trade; and tax credits supporting research and development and encouraging businesses to build and expand.","For the state of West Virginia, Senator Rockefeller made jobs and economic development a priority. In 1988 he founded the Discover the Real West Virginia Program (DRWV), later formalized as the Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation, which showcased business and investment opportunities in West Virginia. He launched the \"Project Harvest\" trade mission in 1995 to bring state and international business leaders and investors together. Rockefeller's early experiences in Japan and knowledge of the language and culture aided in attracting the Toyota company to the state, resulting in the opening of the Buffalo, WV, plant in 1996. In the ensuing years, more than 20 other Japanese companies followed. Further, he encouraged the growth of the West Virginia tourism and travel industry through legislation that conserved lands, designated scenic areas, and promoted better transportation infrastructure.","In January 2013, Senator Rockefeller announced that he would not seek reelection. In his retirement announcement, he reflected that \"public service demands, and deserves nothing less than every single thing that you have to bring to bear, and that is what I have given.\" As he prepared to leave the Congress in December 2014, his Senate colleagues offered tributes on the Senate Floor recognizing his impressive legislative record, distinguished career, and legacy of compassionate and conscientious service.","Sources:","Grimes, Richard S. \"Jay Rockefeller.\" The West Virginia Encyclopedia.","Jay: A Rockefeller's Journey. Produced by Suzanne Higgins and Russ Barbour. 2015. Online video. West Virginia Public Broadcasting.","\"A Record of Achievement for West Virginia: Energy and Environment Issues (Legacy on Energy, Environment and Coal Miners),\" 2014 May 30, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","\"Review of Senator John D. Rockefeller's Service on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: 2001-2015,\" 2014 December 17, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","\"Rockefeller, John Davison IV (Jay), (1937 - ).\" Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-present.","\"Senator Jay Rockefeller Retirement Announcement.\" 2013 January 11, 2013. Online video clip. C-SPAN.","\"Senator Rockefeller's Health Care Accomplishments: 99th-113th Congress Memorandum,\" 2014, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","\"Tributes to John D. Rockefeller.\" 2014 December 4. Congressional Record 160:147 p. S6343. Congress.gov.","\"Veterans' Legacy Memorandum,\" 2014 April 11, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\n \n\"West Virginia Wesleyan College Legacy Memorandum,\" 2014 October, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","\"A Record of Achievement for West Virginia: Diversifying West Virginia's Economy for the 21st Century (Your Legacy Memo on Jobs and Economic Growth in West Virginia),\" 2014, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","\"Your Legacy on FirstNet – Public Safety Spectrum Act,\" 2014 October 24, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.","\"Your Legacy on Net Neutrality,\" 2014 October 3, A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eA\u0026amp;M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["A\u0026M 4050, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Danielle Emerling, 2015-\nProcessing assistants: Ashley Brooker, Dzondria Tarver, Leo Gmeindl, Casey DeHaven, Joshua Childs\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Danielle Emerling, 2015-\nProcessing assistants: Ashley Brooker, Dzondria Tarver, Leo Gmeindl, Casey DeHaven, Joshua Childs","The Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers are in process. The contents of this finding aid will be revised as progress is made on the collection."],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe bulk of the Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers document his 30-year career in the United States Senate with additional materials related to his earlier political career.  The records were maintained by Senator Rockefeller's Washington, DC, office and West Virginia state offices in Charleston, Beckley, Fairmont, and Martinsburg. Record formats include papers, audiovisual materials, born-digital resources, photographs, and memorabilia. The collection consists of approximately 2011 linear feet of paper records and two terabytes of electronic records.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe first subgroup, Constituent Services, reflects the work Senator Rockefeller and his staff performed for the state and people of West Virginia. It consists of constituent casework, issue mail, grant and project files, and academy files. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe second subgroup, Legislative files, is composed of materials related to legislative and committee work. Legislative staff files; subject files; correspondence; committee files; and legislative activities, voting records, and accomplishments comprise this subgroup. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe third subgroup, Press files, illustrates Senator Rockefeller's interactions with the media and outreach to the state of West Virginia and his constituents. It contains press staff files, speeches and statements, press releases, photographs, audiovisual materials, clippings, publications, and newsletters and mailings. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe fourth subgroup, Personal and Political files, consists of Legacy Memos, schedules, personal files and correspondence, campaign files, and trip files.  \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe fifth subgroup, Office files, contains a small number of office management files. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe sixth subgroup, Memorabilia, consists of a large collection of framed items, plaques, and objects, many of which Senator Rockefeller received as gifts during his service. It contains a large number of foreign gifts, particularly from Japan and Taiwan. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The bulk of the Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers document his 30-year career in the United States Senate with additional materials related to his earlier political career.  The records were maintained by Senator Rockefeller's Washington, DC, office and West Virginia state offices in Charleston, Beckley, Fairmont, and Martinsburg. Record formats include papers, audiovisual materials, born-digital resources, photographs, and memorabilia. The collection consists of approximately 2011 linear feet of paper records and two terabytes of electronic records.","The first subgroup, Constituent Services, reflects the work Senator Rockefeller and his staff performed for the state and people of West Virginia. It consists of constituent casework, issue mail, grant and project files, and academy files.","The second subgroup, Legislative files, is composed of materials related to legislative and committee work. Legislative staff files; subject files; correspondence; committee files; and legislative activities, voting records, and accomplishments comprise this subgroup.","The third subgroup, Press files, illustrates Senator Rockefeller's interactions with the media and outreach to the state of West Virginia and his constituents. It contains press staff files, speeches and statements, press releases, photographs, audiovisual materials, clippings, publications, and newsletters and mailings.","The fourth subgroup, Personal and Political files, consists of Legacy Memos, schedules, personal files and correspondence, campaign files, and trip files.","The fifth subgroup, Office files, contains a small number of office management files.","The sixth subgroup, Memorabilia, consists of a large collection of framed items, plaques, and objects, many of which Senator Rockefeller received as gifts during his service. It contains a large number of foreign gifts, particularly from Japan and Taiwan."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eMaterials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eMaterials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center. \u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Materials may contain sensitive or private information. Researchers may use data collected from these materials in the statistical aggregate or as an example to illustrate a theme. No identifying information should point to specific individuals or families mentioned in the files.","Materials produced by public servants while carrying out official duties are not copyrighted. Materials created outside of official duties, including diaries, personal correspondence, and campaign materials, are protected by copyright. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please contact the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_5d14eb4df51da22c7256b340d3bf4196\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eJohn Davison (Jay) Rockefeller IV (b. 1937) represented West Virginia in the United States Senate for five terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-ninth Congress and served from January 15, 1985, to January 3, 2015. He was not a candidate for reelection in 2014. Rockefeller previously served in the West Virginia House of Delegates (1966-1968); as Secretary of State of West Virginia (1968-1972); president of West Virginia Wesleyan College (1973-1976); and Governor of West Virginia (1977-1985). From 1964-1966, he was a volunteer in the Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) program in Emmons, West Virginia. The bulk of the Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers document his 30-year career in the United States Senate with additional materials related to his earlier political career.\u003c/abstract\u003e\n    "],"abstract_tesim":["John Davison (Jay) Rockefeller IV (b. 1937) represented West Virginia in the United States Senate for five terms. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-ninth Congress and served from January 15, 1985, to January 3, 2015. He was not a candidate for reelection in 2014. Rockefeller previously served in the West Virginia House of Delegates (1966-1968); as Secretary of State of West Virginia (1968-1972); president of West Virginia Wesleyan College (1973-1976); and Governor of West Virginia (1977-1985). From 1964-1966, he was a volunteer in the Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) program in Emmons, West Virginia. The bulk of the Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV papers document his 30-year career in the United States Senate with additional materials related to his earlier political career."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_ee7b69b7d85f8fa23b62c37a980adc85\" label=\"Physical Location \"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce","United States. Congress. Senate. Select Committee on Intelligence","United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Veterans' Affairs","United States. Congress. Pepper Commission","United States. National Commission on Children"],"names_coll_ssim":["United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce","United States. Congress. Senate. Select Committee on Intelligence","United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Veterans' Affairs","United States. Congress. Pepper Commission","United States. National Commission on Children","Rockefeller, Sharon Percy, 1944-","Rockefeller, John D., IV (John Davison), 1937-"],"persname_ssim":["Rockefeller, John D., IV (John Davison), 1937-","Rockefeller, Sharon Percy, 1944-"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce","United States. Congress. Senate. Select Committee on Intelligence","United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Veterans' Affairs","United States. Congress. Pepper Commission","United States. National Commission on Children","Rockefeller, John D., IV (John Davison), 1937-","Rockefeller, Sharon Percy, 1944-"],"language_ssim":["English\n."],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":7179,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:54:43.422Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_1_c03_c05_c03_c103"}},{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481_c03_c22","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Wreckage of Old Bomber, 1942/1996","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481_c03_c22#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481_c03_c22","ref_ssm":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481_c03_c22"],"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481_c03_c22","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481_c03","parent_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481_c03","parent_ssim":["William Archer, Journalist, Research Papers regarding McDowell and Mercer Counties, 1795/2020, bulk 1950/2010","Series 3. Subjects, 1795/2018, bulk 1853/2018"],"parent_ids_ssim":["wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481","wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481_c03"],"title_filing_ssi":"Wreckage of Old Bomber","title_ssm":["Wreckage of Old Bomber"],"title_tesim":["Wreckage of Old Bomber"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Wreckage of Old Bomber, 1942/1996"],"text":["Wreckage of Old Bomber, 1942/1996","William Archer, Journalist, Research Papers regarding McDowell and Mercer Counties, 1795/2020, bulk 1950/2010","Series 3. Subjects, 1795/2018, bulk 1853/2018","Box 1","Folder 30"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["William Archer, Journalist, Research Papers regarding McDowell and Mercer Counties, 1795/2020, bulk 1950/2010","Series 3. Subjects, 1795/2018, bulk 1853/2018"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["William Archer, Journalist, Research Papers regarding McDowell and Mercer Counties, 1795/2020, bulk 1950/2010","Series 3. 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For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"date_range_isim":[1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996],"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#21","timestamp":"2026-07-23T21:58:54.843Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481","ead_ssi":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481","_root_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481","_nest_parent_":"wvmturhc_repositories_2_resources_6481","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/WVU/repositories_2_resources_6481.xml","aspace_url_ssi":"https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/ark:/99999/206572","title_ssm":["William Archer, Journalist, Research Papers regarding McDowell and Mercer Counties"],"title_tesim":["William Archer, Journalist, Research Papers regarding McDowell and Mercer Counties"],"unitdate_ssm":["1795-2020","ca. 1950-2010"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["1795-2020"],"unitdate_bulk_ssim":["ca. 1950-2010"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1795/2020, bulk 1950/2010"],"normalized_title_ssm":["William Archer, Journalist, Research Papers regarding McDowell and Mercer Counties, 1795/2020, bulk 1950/2010"],"text":["William Archer, Journalist, Research Papers regarding McDowell and Mercer Counties, 1795/2020, bulk 1950/2010","A\u0026M 4388","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/6481","Bluefield (W. Va.)","African Americans  -- West Virginia -- McDowell County","African Americans  -- West Virginia -- Mercer County","Special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access born digital materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department.","William \"Bill\" Archer's papers represent his work as a journalist, historian, and musician. He grew up in Claysville, Pennsylvania. His parents provided roots in the Scotch-Irish heritage from his mother and Russian roots from his father, Carl Wesley Archer. After graduating from McGuffey High School in 1967, Archer attended West Virginia University where he graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor's degree in English. He also completed twelve hours of graduate work in English with WVU.","Although Archer's first writing job in southern West Virginia was with the Twin-State Marketer (Bluefield, VA) beginning in 1986, he contributed sporadically to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph beginning in 1983. In 1992, he joined the staff of the Bluefield paper and continued his work there as a reporter and senior editor until 2016. During this time, he was also a stringer from the State Journal, a West Virginia business publication, 1999-2003. Archer covered the news extensively not just in Bluefield but in adjacent counties in West Virginia and northwestern Virginia.","Due to Archer's important coverage of news events in Southern West Virginia and service to his community, he has received a number of awards:","1994\nFor his substantial contribution to news coverage, he received the Award of Excellence for Outstanding Editorial Achievement from Thomson Newspapers\n2000\nFor his coverage of the collapse of the First National Bank of Keystone Bank, he received the Outstanding Journalist Award from the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association\n2003\nThe Mercer County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People awarded him the Merit Award\nThe Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9696, awarded him two Distinguished Service Awards\n2007\nArcher was dubbed \"the consummate community newspaper reporter\" by a former publisher of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph when he was named a West Virginia History Hero by the Mercer County Historical Society\n2013\nHe received two awards the Shott Excellence in Media Award and the National Coal Heritage Area Research Documentation Award\n2015\nThe local American Legion awarded him the Distinguished Citizenship Award","Archer authored a number of local history books and approximately 125 magazine articles in addition to his newspaper reporting. The books, in the \"Images of America\" series from Arcadia Publishing, document the history of the cities of Bluefield, Princeton, and Welch. His county histories include Mercer County (WV), McDowell County (WV), and Bland County (VA). He has written numerous articles for Wonderful West Virginia, and also has contributed to Goldenseal, The West Virginia Encyclopedia, Appalachian Heritage, Coal People, and Virginia Cavalcade.","Archer's interest in the varied music of southern West Virginia is reflected in some of his writing, but he also wrote poetry and songs. He recorded and performed original music compositions with Karl Miller for more than thirty years. He wrote the lyrics for the musical \"Bramwell--100\" about the 100th anniversary of the town of Bramwell.","After retiring as a writer, Archere extended his service to the community as a Mercer County Commissioner for the 2017-2022 term. This time of his life postdates the donated materials in this collection.","William Archer and his wife Evonda continue to reside in Bluefield.","This collection (A\u0026M 4388) contains a partial copy of the Matewan Trial transcript.","See also:\nA\u0026M 3608, Matewan Trial Transcript\nPages 2012 to 3958  (February 12, 1921 – February 23, 1921)\nPlus 1 page of index of witnesses","Compare to:\nA\u0026M 4388, William Archer Papers, Box 8, Folders 1-7, Matewan Trial Transcript \nPages 1 to 11, list of witnesses, in Folder 1\nPages 3340 to 4671  (February 22, 1921 – February 28, 1921)","West Virgina Archives and History in Charleston, West Virginia appears to hold the entire transcript:\nMingo County, Case file State vs. Sid Hatfield et al., transcripts, jury selection, witness statements (originals and photocopies), 1921 January 19 to March 16, 15 boxes","The papers of William \"Bill\" Archer, newspaper journalist for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph and historian, document Archer's research and reporting of events in Southern West Virginia, predominantly Mercer and McDowell Counties. In addition to his reporting, Archer wrote a number of local history books as well as articles for publications other than the Bluefield paper.","The largest part of the collection, six boxes of records and three of artifacts, focuses on the historic collapse in 1999 of the First National Bank of Keystone in McDowell County; subsequent criminal and civil court cases; and Congressional oversight hearings.  Another significant part of the collection, two boxes of records and three of artifacts, focuses on John Forbes Nash Jr., 1994 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics and a Bluefield native.  The files document Nash's time in Bluefield and at Bluefield State College, his family, and his career.  The Nash files also include reporting and research materials about the book and film, A Beautiful Mind, about Nash's life and work.","Archer researched all aspects of coal country life.  Significant topics covered by him include music originating in the area, local African American culture and history, hometown heroes, disasters such as flooding and crashes, famous people connected to the area, court cases, coal mining and mining disasters, communities and their services, and transportation.  Of particular note, the collection documents Archer's trip to Japan in 1996 for the Interassociation for Ecology Symposia (INTECOL) on wood and forestry.","Photographs in the collection, mostly contemporary, detail many events during the time of Archer's reporting.  Of particular note are those by Melvin \"Mel\" Grubb, a long time photographer for The Bluefield Daily Telegraph. The collection also includes a number of other media formats such as films and recordings.","And finally, throughout the collection there are a large number of Archer's newspaper columns which demonstrate the process of writing newspaper stories beginning with interview notes and ending with the final articles.  Also included are his writings in other literary forms such as local histories, stories, poems, and songs. Some stories and a cookbook were written under the pseudonym Richard Lucas.","Twelve compact discs of performances by Archer and Miller are found in Box 28.  Particularly represented in the collection is Archer's work on the musical \"Bramwell--100\" about the 100th anniversary of the town of Bramwell. A compact disc of the music and narration is one of those in Box 28. Digital files of his compositions include 131 files consisting of the compact disk recordings as well as the text of an essay reflecting on music; and songs, written and performed by Archer and Karl Miller.","In addition to the compact discs, Box 28 also contains handwritten and typed Archer compositions and includes love songs to his wife Evonda.","The collection consists of the following series:","Series 1. Keystone Bank\nSeries 2. John Nash \nSeries 3. Subjects\nSeries 4. Photographs and Other Media\nSeries 5. Writings","Items transferred to the Rare Books Librarian:","Wilderness by Vance G. Martin","The Crozers of Upland by David A. MacQueen -- Rare book","Legendary Local of McDowell County by William Archer","The Bramwell Breeze 1911/1912","Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.","West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center","West Virginia and Regional History Center","First National Bank of Keystone (W. Va.)","Archer, William","Nash, John F., Jr., 1928-2015","English"],"collection_title_tesim":["William Archer, Journalist, Research Papers regarding McDowell and Mercer Counties, 1795/2020, bulk 1950/2010"],"collection_ssim":["William Archer, Journalist, Research Papers regarding McDowell and Mercer Counties, 1795/2020, bulk 1950/2010"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["A\u0026M 4388","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/6481"],"unitid_tesim":["A\u0026M 4388","Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","Previous Archival Resource Key","/repositories/2/resources/6481"],"repository_ssm":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"repository_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center"],"geogname_ssm":["Bluefield (W. Va.)"],"geogname_ssim":["Bluefield (W. Va.)"],"places_ssim":["Bluefield (W. Va.)"],"creator_ssm":["Archer, William"],"creator_ssim":["Archer, William"],"creator_persname_ssim":["Archer, William","Nash, John F., Jr., 1928-2015"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","First National Bank of Keystone (W. Va.)"],"creators_ssim":["Archer, William","Nash, John F., Jr., 1928-2015","West Virginia and Regional History Center","First National Bank of Keystone (W. Va.)"],"access_terms_ssm":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"access_subjects_ssim":["African Americans  -- West Virginia -- McDowell County","African Americans  -- West Virginia -- Mercer County"],"access_subjects_ssm":["African Americans  -- West Virginia -- McDowell County","African Americans  -- West Virginia -- Mercer County"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["20.75 Linear Feet 20 ft. 9 1/4 in. (13 record cartons, 15 in. each); (4 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 document case, 4 in.); (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.); (2 flat boxes, 1 1/2 in. each); (3 flat boxes, 3 in. each); (1 box, 6 1/2 in.); (1 box, 5 in.); (1 index card box, 4 1/4 in.)","8.98 Gigabytes 308 files, formats include .jpg, .iso, .wav, .doc, .txt"],"extent_tesim":["20.75 Linear Feet 20 ft. 9 1/4 in. (13 record cartons, 15 in. each); (4 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 document case, 4 in.); (1 document case, 2 1/2 in.); (2 flat boxes, 1 1/2 in. each); (3 flat boxes, 3 in. each); (1 box, 6 1/2 in.); (1 box, 5 in.); (1 index card box, 4 1/4 in.)","8.98 Gigabytes 308 files, formats include .jpg, .iso, .wav, .doc, .txt"],"date_range_isim":[1795,1796,1797,1798,1799,1800,1801,1802,1803,1804,1805,1806,1807,1808,1809,1810,1811,1812,1813,1814,1815,1816,1817,1818,1819,1820,1821,1822,1823,1824,1825,1826,1827,1828,1829,1830,1831,1832,1833,1834,1835,1836,1837,1838,1839,1840,1841,1842,1843,1844,1845,1846,1847,1848,1849,1850,1851,1852,1853,1854,1855,1856,1857,1858,1859,1860,1861,1862,1863,1864,1865,1866,1867,1868,1869,1870,1871,1872,1873,1874,1875,1876,1877,1878,1879,1880,1881,1882,1883,1884,1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eSpecial access restriction applies.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eResearchers may access born digital materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the \u003ca href=\"https://westvirginia.libanswers.com/wvrhc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center reference department\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Access"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["Special access restriction applies.","Researchers may access born digital materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center reference department."],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eWilliam \"Bill\" Archer's papers represent his work as a journalist, historian, and musician. He grew up in Claysville, Pennsylvania. His parents provided roots in the Scotch-Irish heritage from his mother and Russian roots from his father, Carl Wesley Archer. After graduating from McGuffey High School in 1967, Archer attended West Virginia University where he graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor's degree in English. He also completed twelve hours of graduate work in English with WVU. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAlthough Archer's first writing job in southern West Virginia was with the Twin-State Marketer (Bluefield, VA) beginning in 1986, he contributed sporadically to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph beginning in 1983. In 1992, he joined the staff of the Bluefield paper and continued his work there as a reporter and senior editor until 2016. During this time, he was also a stringer from the State Journal, a West Virginia business publication, 1999-2003. Archer covered the news extensively not just in Bluefield but in adjacent counties in West Virginia and northwestern Virginia. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eDue to Archer's important coverage of news events in Southern West Virginia and service to his community, he has received a number of awards: \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e1994\nFor his substantial contribution to news coverage, he received the Award of Excellence for Outstanding Editorial Achievement from Thomson Newspapers\n2000\nFor his coverage of the collapse of the First National Bank of Keystone Bank, he received the Outstanding Journalist Award from the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association\n2003\nThe Mercer County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People awarded him the Merit Award\nThe Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9696, awarded him two Distinguished Service Awards\n2007\nArcher was dubbed \"the consummate community newspaper reporter\" by a former publisher of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph when he was named a West Virginia History Hero by the Mercer County Historical Society\n2013\nHe received two awards the Shott Excellence in Media Award and the National Coal Heritage Area Research Documentation Award\n2015\nThe local American Legion awarded him the Distinguished Citizenship Award\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArcher authored a number of local history books and approximately 125 magazine articles in addition to his newspaper reporting. The books, in the \"Images of America\" series from Arcadia Publishing, document the history of the cities of Bluefield, Princeton, and Welch. His county histories include Mercer County (WV), McDowell County (WV), and Bland County (VA). He has written numerous articles for Wonderful West Virginia, and also has contributed to Goldenseal, The West Virginia Encyclopedia, Appalachian Heritage, Coal People, and Virginia Cavalcade.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArcher's interest in the varied music of southern West Virginia is reflected in some of his writing, but he also wrote poetry and songs. He recorded and performed original music compositions with Karl Miller for more than thirty years. He wrote the lyrics for the musical \"Bramwell--100\" about the 100th anniversary of the town of Bramwell. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAfter retiring as a writer, Archere extended his service to the community as a Mercer County Commissioner for the 2017-2022 term. This time of his life postdates the donated materials in this collection. \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWilliam Archer and his wife Evonda continue to reside in Bluefield.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Biographical Note"],"bioghist_tesim":["William \"Bill\" Archer's papers represent his work as a journalist, historian, and musician. He grew up in Claysville, Pennsylvania. His parents provided roots in the Scotch-Irish heritage from his mother and Russian roots from his father, Carl Wesley Archer. After graduating from McGuffey High School in 1967, Archer attended West Virginia University where he graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor's degree in English. He also completed twelve hours of graduate work in English with WVU.","Although Archer's first writing job in southern West Virginia was with the Twin-State Marketer (Bluefield, VA) beginning in 1986, he contributed sporadically to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph beginning in 1983. In 1992, he joined the staff of the Bluefield paper and continued his work there as a reporter and senior editor until 2016. During this time, he was also a stringer from the State Journal, a West Virginia business publication, 1999-2003. Archer covered the news extensively not just in Bluefield but in adjacent counties in West Virginia and northwestern Virginia.","Due to Archer's important coverage of news events in Southern West Virginia and service to his community, he has received a number of awards:","1994\nFor his substantial contribution to news coverage, he received the Award of Excellence for Outstanding Editorial Achievement from Thomson Newspapers\n2000\nFor his coverage of the collapse of the First National Bank of Keystone Bank, he received the Outstanding Journalist Award from the West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association\n2003\nThe Mercer County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People awarded him the Merit Award\nThe Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 9696, awarded him two Distinguished Service Awards\n2007\nArcher was dubbed \"the consummate community newspaper reporter\" by a former publisher of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph when he was named a West Virginia History Hero by the Mercer County Historical Society\n2013\nHe received two awards the Shott Excellence in Media Award and the National Coal Heritage Area Research Documentation Award\n2015\nThe local American Legion awarded him the Distinguished Citizenship Award","Archer authored a number of local history books and approximately 125 magazine articles in addition to his newspaper reporting. The books, in the \"Images of America\" series from Arcadia Publishing, document the history of the cities of Bluefield, Princeton, and Welch. His county histories include Mercer County (WV), McDowell County (WV), and Bland County (VA). He has written numerous articles for Wonderful West Virginia, and also has contributed to Goldenseal, The West Virginia Encyclopedia, Appalachian Heritage, Coal People, and Virginia Cavalcade.","Archer's interest in the varied music of southern West Virginia is reflected in some of his writing, but he also wrote poetry and songs. He recorded and performed original music compositions with Karl Miller for more than thirty years. He wrote the lyrics for the musical \"Bramwell--100\" about the 100th anniversary of the town of Bramwell.","After retiring as a writer, Archere extended his service to the community as a Mercer County Commissioner for the 2017-2022 term. This time of his life postdates the donated materials in this collection.","William Archer and his wife Evonda continue to reside in Bluefield."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003e[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], William Archer, Journalist, Research Papers regarding McDowell and Mercer Counties, A\u0026amp;M 4388, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"prefercite_tesim":["[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], William Archer, Journalist, Research Papers regarding McDowell and Mercer Counties, A\u0026M 4388, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThis collection (A\u0026amp;M 4388) contains a partial copy of the Matewan Trial transcript.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSee also:\u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nA\u0026amp;M 3608, Matewan Trial Transcript\u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nPages 2012 to 3958  (February 12, 1921 – February 23, 1921)\u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nPlus 1 page of index of witnesses\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eCompare to:\u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nA\u0026amp;M 4388, William Archer Papers, Box 8, Folders 1-7, Matewan Trial Transcript \u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nPages 1 to 11, list of witnesses, in Folder 1\u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nPages 3340 to 4671  (February 22, 1921 – February 28, 1921)\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eWest Virgina Archives and History in Charleston, West Virginia appears to hold the entire transcript:\u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nMingo County, Case file State vs. Sid Hatfield et al., transcripts, jury selection, witness statements (originals and photocopies), 1921 January 19 to March 16, 15 boxes\u003c/p\u003e  "],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Materials"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["This collection (A\u0026M 4388) contains a partial copy of the Matewan Trial transcript.","See also:\nA\u0026M 3608, Matewan Trial Transcript\nPages 2012 to 3958  (February 12, 1921 – February 23, 1921)\nPlus 1 page of index of witnesses","Compare to:\nA\u0026M 4388, William Archer Papers, Box 8, Folders 1-7, Matewan Trial Transcript \nPages 1 to 11, list of witnesses, in Folder 1\nPages 3340 to 4671  (February 22, 1921 – February 28, 1921)","West Virgina Archives and History in Charleston, West Virginia appears to hold the entire transcript:\nMingo County, Case file State vs. Sid Hatfield et al., transcripts, jury selection, witness statements (originals and photocopies), 1921 January 19 to March 16, 15 boxes"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe papers of William \"Bill\" Archer, newspaper journalist for the \u003ctitle\u003eBluefield Daily Telegraph\u003c/title\u003e and historian, document Archer's research and reporting of events in Southern West Virginia, predominantly Mercer and McDowell Counties. In addition to his reporting, Archer wrote a number of local history books as well as articles for publications other than the Bluefield paper.  \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe largest part of the collection, six boxes of records and three of artifacts, focuses on the historic collapse in 1999 of the First National Bank of Keystone in McDowell County; subsequent criminal and civil court cases; and Congressional oversight hearings.  Another significant part of the collection, two boxes of records and three of artifacts, focuses on John Forbes Nash Jr., 1994 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics and a Bluefield native.  The files document Nash's time in Bluefield and at Bluefield State College, his family, and his career.  The Nash files also include reporting and research materials about the book and film, \u003ctitle\u003eA Beautiful Mind\u003c/title\u003e, about Nash's life and work.  \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eArcher researched all aspects of coal country life.  Significant topics covered by him include music originating in the area, local African American culture and history, hometown heroes, disasters such as flooding and crashes, famous people connected to the area, court cases, coal mining and mining disasters, communities and their services, and transportation.  Of particular note, the collection documents Archer's trip to Japan in 1996 for the Interassociation for Ecology Symposia (INTECOL) on wood and forestry.  \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003ePhotographs in the collection, mostly contemporary, detail many events during the time of Archer's reporting.  Of particular note are those by Melvin \"Mel\" Grubb, a long time photographer for \u003ctitle\u003eThe Bluefield Daily Telegraph\u003c/title\u003e. The collection also includes a number of other media formats such as films and recordings.  \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eAnd finally, throughout the collection there are a large number of Archer's newspaper columns which demonstrate the process of writing newspaper stories beginning with interview notes and ending with the final articles.  Also included are his writings in other literary forms such as local histories, stories, poems, and songs. Some stories and a cookbook were written under the pseudonym Richard Lucas.  \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eTwelve compact discs of performances by Archer and Miller are found in Box 28.  Particularly represented in the collection is Archer's work on the musical \"Bramwell--100\" about the 100th anniversary of the town of Bramwell. A compact disc of the music and narration is one of those in Box 28. Digital files of his compositions include 131 files consisting of the compact disk recordings as well as the text of an essay reflecting on music; and songs, written and performed by Archer and Karl Miller.  \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eIn addition to the compact discs, Box 28 also contains handwritten and typed Archer compositions and includes love songs to his wife Evonda.  \u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eThe collection consists of the following series:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1. Keystone Bank\u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nSeries 2. John Nash\u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e \nSeries 3. Subjects\u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nSeries 4. Photographs and Other Media\u003clb\u003e\u003c/lb\u003e\nSeries 5. Writings \u003c/p\u003e  "],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents"],"scopecontent_tesim":["The papers of William \"Bill\" Archer, newspaper journalist for the Bluefield Daily Telegraph and historian, document Archer's research and reporting of events in Southern West Virginia, predominantly Mercer and McDowell Counties. In addition to his reporting, Archer wrote a number of local history books as well as articles for publications other than the Bluefield paper.","The largest part of the collection, six boxes of records and three of artifacts, focuses on the historic collapse in 1999 of the First National Bank of Keystone in McDowell County; subsequent criminal and civil court cases; and Congressional oversight hearings.  Another significant part of the collection, two boxes of records and three of artifacts, focuses on John Forbes Nash Jr., 1994 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics and a Bluefield native.  The files document Nash's time in Bluefield and at Bluefield State College, his family, and his career.  The Nash files also include reporting and research materials about the book and film, A Beautiful Mind, about Nash's life and work.","Archer researched all aspects of coal country life.  Significant topics covered by him include music originating in the area, local African American culture and history, hometown heroes, disasters such as flooding and crashes, famous people connected to the area, court cases, coal mining and mining disasters, communities and their services, and transportation.  Of particular note, the collection documents Archer's trip to Japan in 1996 for the Interassociation for Ecology Symposia (INTECOL) on wood and forestry.","Photographs in the collection, mostly contemporary, detail many events during the time of Archer's reporting.  Of particular note are those by Melvin \"Mel\" Grubb, a long time photographer for The Bluefield Daily Telegraph. The collection also includes a number of other media formats such as films and recordings.","And finally, throughout the collection there are a large number of Archer's newspaper columns which demonstrate the process of writing newspaper stories beginning with interview notes and ending with the final articles.  Also included are his writings in other literary forms such as local histories, stories, poems, and songs. Some stories and a cookbook were written under the pseudonym Richard Lucas.","Twelve compact discs of performances by Archer and Miller are found in Box 28.  Particularly represented in the collection is Archer's work on the musical \"Bramwell--100\" about the 100th anniversary of the town of Bramwell. A compact disc of the music and narration is one of those in Box 28. Digital files of his compositions include 131 files consisting of the compact disk recordings as well as the text of an essay reflecting on music; and songs, written and performed by Archer and Karl Miller.","In addition to the compact discs, Box 28 also contains handwritten and typed Archer compositions and includes love songs to his wife Evonda.","The collection consists of the following series:","Series 1. Keystone Bank\nSeries 2. John Nash \nSeries 3. Subjects\nSeries 4. Photographs and Other Media\nSeries 5. Writings"],"separatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eItems transferred to the Rare Books Librarian:\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle\u003eWilderness\u003c/title\u003e by Vance G. Martin\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle\u003eThe Crozers of Upland\u003c/title\u003e by David A. MacQueen -- Rare book\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle\u003eLegendary Local of McDowell County\u003c/title\u003e by William Archer\u003c/p\u003e","\u003cp\u003e\u003ctitle\u003eThe Bramwell Breeze\u003c/title\u003e 1911/1912\u003c/p\u003e  "],"separatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Separated Materials"],"separatedmaterial_tesim":["Items transferred to the Rare Books Librarian:","Wilderness by Vance G. Martin","The Crozers of Upland by David A. MacQueen -- Rare book","Legendary Local of McDowell County by William Archer","The Bramwell Breeze 1911/1912"],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/visit/permissions-and-copyright\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePermissions and Copyright page\u003c/a\u003e on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.\u003c/p\u003e  "],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Conditions Governing Use"],"userestrict_tesim":["Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_cf33e0a1b957c44f683ffcdbbe87924c\"\u003eWest Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: \u003ca href=\"https://wvrhc.lib.wvu.edu/\"\u003eWest Virginia \u0026amp; Regional History Center\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/physloc\u003e\n    "],"physloc_tesim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536  / URL: West Virginia \u0026 Regional History Center"],"corpname_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","First National Bank of Keystone (W. Va.)"],"names_coll_ssim":["First National Bank of Keystone (W. Va.)","Nash, John F., Jr., 1928-2015"],"persname_ssim":["Archer, William","Nash, John F., Jr., 1928-2015"],"names_ssim":["West Virginia and Regional History Center","First National Bank of Keystone (W. 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