Chuck Robb
Charles Spittal Robb (born June 26, 1939), commonly known as Chuck Robb, is an American politician, lawyer, and retired Marine Corps officer who served as the 64th Governor of Virginia from 1982 to 1986, following a term as Lieutenant Governor from 1978 to 1982, and as a United States Senator from Virginia from 1989 to 2001.[1][2] A Democrat, Robb commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1961, served two combat tours in Vietnam rising to captain, and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor.[1][3] After leaving active duty in 1970, he earned a law degree from the University of Virginia and entered Virginia politics, becoming the first governor elected after the restoration of consecutive terms.[2][4] Robb's governorship emphasized fiscal responsibility, education improvements, and economic growth, while his Senate career featured bipartisan efforts on defense and intelligence matters, including co-chairing the 2005 Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction.[5] His political trajectory was overshadowed by 1990s scandals alleging extramarital affairs and attendance at parties involving illegal drug use, to which he admitted marital indiscretions but denied personal drug involvement or knowledge of drugs at events he attended; these controversies contributed to his narrow 1994 re-election victory and 2000 defeat.[6][7] Robb is the husband of Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, eldest daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson, whom he married in 1967.[8]Background
Early life and education
Charles Spittal Robb was born on June 26, 1939, in Phoenix, Arizona, to James Spittal Robb, a Navy captain, and Frances Howard Woolley.[9][10] The family relocated to the Mount Vernon area of Fairfax County, Virginia, where Robb spent much of his childhood.[11][2] He attended public schools in Fairfax County and graduated from Mount Vernon High School.[12] Robb initially enrolled at Cornell University on an academic scholarship but transferred to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1961 and was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity.[1][13][12]Military Service
Marine Corps career and Vietnam
Following his graduation from Cornell University in 1961, Charles Spittal Robb was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.[1] He underwent 20 weeks of basic officer training at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, where he ranked first among 400 candidates and graduated with honors.[14] [11] Robb's initial assignments included duty as a White House social aide from 1961 to 1965, during which he met and later married Lynda Bird Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson.[11] Despite familial connections to the administration, Robb repeatedly requested combat deployment and was promoted to captain before arriving in Vietnam in the spring of 1968.[15] He commanded India Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, operating in Quang Nam Province near Da Nang, a region marked by intense Viet Cong activity and ambushes.[15] His unit conducted infantry patrols and engagements amid escalating U.S. involvement following the Tet Offensive.[15] Robb completed a 13-month combat tour in Vietnam, departing Da Nang in April 1969 for leave in Texas before a second tour.[16] [11] Across his two infantry combat deployments, he led rifle company operations in contested areas, earning the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for valor and meritorious service, as well as the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Silver Star.[17] [11] He attained the rank of major before separating from active duty in 1970 to attend law school at the University of Virginia.[1] [3]Political Career
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Charles Spittal Robb, a Democrat, won election as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia on November 8, 1977, defeating Republican A. Joseph Canada with 54.2% of the vote to Canada's 45.8%.[18] [11] He secured the Democratic nomination earlier that year in a three-way primary, positioning himself as a centrist candidate who appealed to moderates, conservatives, and African American voters through his U.S. Marine Corps service and familial ties to former President Lyndon B. Johnson.[11] Robb's victory made him the sole Democrat in statewide office amid Republican dominance in Virginia's executive branch.[11] Robb served from January 10, 1978, to January 12, 1982, presiding over the Virginia State Senate in a primarily ceremonial capacity as its president, with the power to cast tie-breaking votes when necessary.[11] [19] During this period under Republican Governor John N. Dalton, Robb emphasized bipartisan cooperation and contributed to revitalizing Democratic prospects in the state, establishing himself as the party's highest-ranking figure.[11] His tenure laid foundational efforts for the Democratic sweep of statewide offices in the 1981 elections.[11] No major controversies arose during his lieutenant governorship.[11]Governor of Virginia
Charles Spittal Robb was elected governor of Virginia in the November 3, 1981, gubernatorial election, defeating Republican nominee J. Marshall Coleman with 53.5% of the vote to Coleman's 46.4%.[20] This victory marked the first Democratic win for the office since 1965, ending a twelve-year Republican hold on the governorship. Robb, previously serving as lieutenant governor since 1978, campaigned on themes of fiscal responsibility and educational improvement, positioning himself as a moderate Democrat. He was inaugurated as the 64th governor on January 16, 1982, pledging to prioritize economic growth and state infrastructure.[21][22] During his single four-year term, limited by Virginia's constitutional prohibition on gubernatorial reelection, Robb emphasized fiscal conservatism, balancing the state budget without tax increases while allocating an additional $1 billion to education funding.[11] He styled himself as an "education governor," overseeing a rise in Virginia's national ranking for teacher salaries from 42nd to 31st and resisting proposed budget cuts to maintain educational investments amid economic pressures.[23] Robb also advanced economic development, contributing to the expansion of the Port of Hampton Roads, which emerged as one of the fastest-growing ports in the United States during his tenure, bolstering state infrastructure and trade.[1] On criminal justice, Robb supported reinstating active use of the death penalty, authorizing the first executions in Virginia in over two decades, a policy shift that aligned with public demands for tougher sentencing despite his Democratic affiliation.[11] This measure, coupled with prison system expansions, addressed rising incarceration needs but drew criticism from opponents who viewed it as politicized.[12] Overall, Robb's governorship focused on pragmatic governance, fostering bipartisan appeal through measurable improvements in fiscal health and public services, setting the stage for subsequent Democratic administrations in the state.[1]U.S. Senator from Virginia
Charles S. Robb served as a United States Senator from Virginia from January 3, 1989, to January 3, 2001, representing the Democratic Party.[24] He was first elected in the 1988 Senate election, defeating Republican Maurice A. Dawkins with 1,474,086 votes (71.25%) to Dawkins's 593,652 (28.69%).[25] During his tenure, Robb focused on national security, fiscal responsibility, and defense priorities, serving on key committees including Armed Services, Finance, Commerce, and Budget.[26] Robb advocated for a strong national defense, co-sponsoring multiple National Defense Authorization Acts, such as the FY 1992 bill (S.1507) and FY 2001 bill (S.2549). In 1991, he was one of only ten Democratic senators to vote in favor of the resolution authorizing force to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.[11] On fiscal matters, Robb promoted balanced budgets and was the only Senate Democrat to support the line-item veto legislation in the mid-1990s.[5] He won re-election in 1994 against Republican Oliver North, securing 45.6% of the vote to North's 42.9%, with independent Marshall Coleman receiving 11.4%.[27] In his 2000 re-election bid for a third term, Robb lost to former Republican Governor George Allen, who campaigned on tax cuts and smaller government, defeating Robb by approximately 52.9% to 47.0%.[28] Robb's Senate record emphasized bipartisan approaches to defense and economic policy, though his moderate stances drew criticism from both party flanks amid Virginia's shifting political landscape.[11]