LAMAMIMET

Robert William "Bob" Packwood was born on September 11, 1932, in Portland, Oregon, into a family with deep political roots; his great‑grandfather had served on the 1857 Oregon Constitutional Convention. He earned a bachelor's degree from Willamette University and a law degree from New York University, where he received the prestigious Root‑Tilden‑Kern scholarship. Packwood entered politics in the early 1960s, serving in the Oregon House of Representatives before winning election to the United States Senate in 1968. As a Republican, he cultivated a reputation as a social moderate and fiscal conservative, championing abortion rights and supporting civil‑rights legislation. He rose to prominence as chairman and later ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, where he helped craft the sweeping 1986 tax reform that lowered top rates and simplified deductions. His career was derailed in 1993 when more than two dozen women accused him of sexual harassment and assault, prompting a Senate Ethics Committee investigation. Facing possible expulsion, Packwood resigned in September 1995 and subsequently founded a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. Bob Packwood died on June 6, 2026, at the age of 93. While remembered for his legislative skill and bipartisan achievements, his legacy remains clouded by the misconduct allegations that ended his public service.