American Politician. The former Democratic Representative from Texas moved with his family at age 5 from Louisianna in 1927. While in public schools, he worked as a carhop, grocery clerk, magazine salesman and a reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise. He attended Lamar University in Beaumont, then earned a degree in journalism from the University of Texas. Brooks served with the Marines in the Pacific in World War II and retired as a colonel from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1972. He received a law degree from the University of Texas and was a two-term Texas state legislator when he was elected to the U.S. House in 1952. Brooks was in the Dallas motorcade on Nov. 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated and was aboard Air Force One later that day when Johnson took the oath of office. In the iconic photograph of the swearing in, Brooks can be seen directly behind Mrs. Kennedy. He also served on the House Judiciary Committee where he strongly supported President Richard Nixon's impeachment and drafted the articles of impeachment the judiciary panel adopted. Nixon, who resigned Aug. 8, 1974, referred to him as "the executioner". Brooks would go on to become committee chairman. He was returned to office 20 more times and was on the verge of becoming the dean of the U.S. House when he was ousted in the Republican revolution of 1994. Brooks, who would have turned 90 on Dec. 18, died after a sudden illness.
American Politician. The former Democratic Representative from Texas moved with his family at age 5 from Louisianna in 1927. While in public schools, he worked as a carhop, grocery clerk, magazine salesman and a reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise. He attended Lamar University in Beaumont, then earned a degree in journalism from the University of Texas. Brooks served with the Marines in the Pacific in World War II and retired as a colonel from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1972. He received a law degree from the University of Texas and was a two-term Texas state legislator when he was elected to the U.S. House in 1952. Brooks was in the Dallas motorcade on Nov. 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated and was aboard Air Force One later that day when Johnson took the oath of office. In the iconic photograph of the swearing in, Brooks can be seen directly behind Mrs. Kennedy. He also served on the House Judiciary Committee where he strongly supported President Richard Nixon's impeachment and drafted the articles of impeachment the judiciary panel adopted. Nixon, who resigned Aug. 8, 1974, referred to him as "the executioner". Brooks would go on to become committee chairman. He was returned to office 20 more times and was on the verge of becoming the dean of the U.S. House when he was ousted in the Republican revolution of 1994. Brooks, who would have turned 90 on Dec. 18, died after a sudden illness.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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