50 Facts About Tom Cotton

Early Life and Education

Tom Cotton's journey began in a small town in Arkansas, where he grew up on a family farm. His early life and education set the stage for his future in politics and military service.

1. Birth and Early Life: Tom Cotton was born on May 13, 1977, in Dardanelle, Arkansas. He grew up on his family’s cattle farm in Yell County, Arkansas, which has been in his family for seven generations.
2. Family Background: His father, Thomas Leonard "Len" Cotton, was a district supervisor in the Arkansas Department of Health. His mother, Avis (née Bryant) Cotton, was a schoolteacher who later became the principal of their district’s middle school.
3. Education: Cotton attended Dardanelle High School, where he played basketball and stood 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall, often playing center.
4. Harvard University: After graduating from high school in 1995, Cotton was accepted into Harvard College. He majored in government and was a member of the editorial board of The Harvard Crimson, often dissenting from the liberal majority.
5. Harvard Law School: Cotton graduated from Harvard College with an A.B. magna cum laude in 1998 after only three years of study. He then enrolled at Harvard Law School, graduating with his Juris Doctor in 2002.

Military Service

Cotton's commitment to his country led him to serve in the military, where he gained valuable experience and earned several decorations.

6. Military Service: On January 11, 2005, Cotton enlisted in the United States Army. He entered Officer Candidate School (OCS) in March 2005 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June. He completed the U.S. Army Ranger Course and Airborne School.
7. Combat Tours: Cotton served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In May 2006, he was deployed to Baghdad as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as a platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division. In October 2008, he was deployed to eastern Afghanistan, serving with the Train Advise Assist Command – East at its Gamberi forward operating base (FOB) in Laghman Province.
8. Decorations and Awards: During his military service, Cotton earned the Bronze Star, two Army Commendation Medals, a Combat Infantryman Badge, a Ranger tab, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and an Iraq Campaign Medal.
9. Post-Military Career: After leaving active duty in 2009, Cotton worked for management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. He later entered the Army Reserve (USAR) in July 2010 and was discharged in May 2013.

Political Career

Transitioning from military to politics, Cotton quickly made a name for himself in the U.S. House of Representatives and later in the Senate.

10. Political Career: Cotton ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and won the election. He served one term in the House from 2013 to 2015, pursuing a conservative agenda and voting against many of President Barack Obama’s initiatives.
11. Senate Election: In 2014, Cotton ran for the U.S. Senate and defeated the Democratic incumbent Mark Pryor. He began representing Arkansas in the Senate in 2015.
12. Marriage: During his Senate campaign, Cotton married Anna Peckham, an attorney.

Key Legislative Actions

Cotton has been involved in several significant legislative actions, often taking strong stances on controversial issues.

13. Open Letter to Iran: In March 2015, Cotton made headlines by writing an open letter to the leaders of Iran, which was signed by most Republican senators. The letter warned that any nuclear deal made with the Obama administration would require congressional approval. Despite this, Congress easily passed the proposed agreement, with Cotton being the only senator to vote against it.
14. Support for Donald Trump: During the 2016 presidential election, Cotton endorsed Donald Trump, who later won the general election. He subsequently supported a number of Trump’s policies, including a massive tax reform bill that passed in 2017.
15. Withdrawal from Iran Nuclear Deal: In 2017, Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, a decision Cotton applauded.
16. Impeachment Vote: In 2019, Trump was impeached by the House following allegations that he had extorted a foreign country to investigate one of his political rivals. The proceedings then moved to the Republican-controlled Senate, and in February 2020, Cotton voted for Trump’s acquittal; Trump was acquitted in a near party-line vote.
17. COVID-19 Relief Package: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cotton supported a $2 trillion relief package that was passed in March 2020.
18. Protests and Military Intervention: In the summer of 2020, protests erupted nationwide following high-profile incidents involving African Americans being killed by the police. Cotton controversially called for the U.S. military to be used to quell the unrest.
19. Re-election: In November 2020, Cotton was elected to a second term in the Senate.

Stance on Critical Race Theory

Cotton has been a vocal opponent of critical race theory and related educational policies, often taking legislative action to address these issues.

20. Critical Race Theory (CRT): Tom Cotton has been a vocal opponent of critical race theory and the 1619 Project. He was the first U.S. Senator to put forward a plan to stop toxic CRT, and he is the only Senator to have an anti-CRT provision pass the Senate.
21. Military Strength: Cotton has been pivotal in passing laws that give our troops pay raises and our veterans critical care. He took action when the Army rolled out its initiative to weaken physical fitness standards for troops, and the plan has been reversed.
22. Radical Nominees: In 2021, Joe Biden nominated David Chipman—a gun-grabbing radical and conspiracy theorist—to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Tom led the fight to stop this nomination.
23. Iran Nuclear Deal: Cotton was instrumental in exposing and withdrawing from Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran. He supported Trump’s decision to withdraw from the deal once Trump took office.
24. Keeping Criminals in Jail: Tom knows that hardened, career criminals should be behind bars. While other Republicans joined Democrats in pushing for reduced sentences, Tom stopped a plan that would have freed sex offenders from prison.
25. Repealing Obamacare’s Mandate: In 2017, Tom led the fight to repeal Obamacare’s individual mandate, saving working families from costly IRS tax penalties.

Committee Assignments and Legislative Proposals

Cotton's work in the Senate includes serving on key committees and introducing various bills.

26. Committee Assignments: Tom Cotton serves on several committees in the Senate, including the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Finance.
27. Introduced Bills: As of 2024, Tom Cotton has introduced several bills, including S.4484 to impose sanctions on foreign persons of the International Criminal Court, S.4459 to clarify classes of individuals born in the United States who are not nationals or citizens at birth, and S.4344 to repeal the firearm transfer tax.
28. Contact Information: Tom Cotton can be contacted through his Senate office at 326 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, or by calling (202) 224-2353.

Political Affiliation and Tenure

Cotton's political career has been marked by his affiliation with the Republican Party and his service in both the House and Senate.

29. Party Affiliation: Tom Cotton is a Republican and has been serving in the Senate since 2015.
30. House of Representatives Tenure: Before his election to the Senate, Cotton served one term in the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015, representing Arkansas’s District 4.
31. Senate Tenure: Tom Cotton has been serving in the Senate since 2015, representing Arkansas in the 114th to 118th Congresses.

Military Background

Cotton's military background continues to influence his political career and policy decisions.

32. Military Unit: During his time in the service, Cotton served with the 101st Airborne Division and a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Iraq and Afghanistan, respectively. He also served as a platoon leader with the Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery.
33. Leadership Style: Tom Cotton has been known for his strong leadership style, often advocating for conservative policies and opposing liberal initiatives. He has been vocal about his support for traditional values and limited government intervention.

Public Perception and Controversies

Cotton's career has not been without controversy, and public perception of him varies widely.

34. Public Perception: Tom Cotton has been a polarizing figure in American politics, with some viewing him as a champion of conservative values and others criticizing his stance on issues like critical race theory and military intervention in domestic protests.
35. Education Policy: Cotton has been critical of certain educational policies, particularly those related to critical race theory and the 1619 Project. He has proposed legislation to remove federal funding from school districts using these resources in teaching American history.
36. Historical Context: In his efforts to control the historical record about slavery, Cotton has been criticized for his lack of understanding of the complexities of American history. He has been accused of distorting historical facts to fit his political agenda.
37. Methodist Church Affiliation: Tom Cotton is a member of the United Methodist Church, which has historically been opposed to slavery. The church’s founders enacted legislation in 1784 that expelled any member who bought or sold slaves unless they intended to free them.
38. Slavery Debate: Cotton has been criticized for his remarks on slavery, particularly his statement that America’s founders called enslavement a “necessary evil.” He has since distanced himself from this statement but continues to be criticized for his handling of historical issues.
39. Public Statements: Tom Cotton has made several public statements that have garnered significant attention, including his call for military intervention in domestic protests and his opposition to critical race theory.

Legislative Achievements

Despite controversies, Cotton has achieved several legislative successes that have impacted various aspects of American life.

40. Legislative Achievements: Despite controversy, Tom Cotton has achieved several legislative successes, including passing laws that give troops pay raises and veterans critical care. He has also been instrumental in repealing Obamacare’s individual mandate.
41. Foreign Policy: Cotton has been active in foreign policy issues, including his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal and his support for imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court.
42. Judicial Nominations: He has led the opposition to several judicial nominations, including that of David Chipman to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
43. Gun Rights: Tom Cotton is a strong supporter of gun rights and has opposed measures aimed at restricting firearms. He has also introduced bills to repeal the firearm transfer tax.
44. Veterans’ Issues: He has been a vocal advocate for veterans’ issues, ensuring that they receive the critical care they deserve. His efforts have led to improvements in veterans’ healthcare and benefits.
45. Economic Policies: Cotton has supported several economic policies, including a massive tax reform bill that passed in 2017. He has also advocated for reducing government spending and lowering taxes.

Social Issues and Public Support

Cotton's stance on social issues and his ability to maintain public support in Arkansas have been key aspects of his political career.

46. Social Issues: He has taken strong stances on social issues, often opposing measures related to abortion, same-sex marriage, and immigration reform. His views on these issues have been shaped by his conservative upbringing and political ideology.
47. Public Support: Despite controversy, Tom Cotton has maintained significant public support in Arkansas. His re-election in 2020 reflects his ability to connect with voters in his home state.
48. Leadership in the Senate: As a junior senator, Tom Cotton has played a significant role in shaping the Republican agenda in the Senate. His leadership style has been characterized by strong advocacy for conservative policies.
49. International Relations: He has been involved in various international relations issues, including his support for imposing sanctions on foreign entities that threaten U.S. interests. His stance on these issues reflects his commitment to national security.
50. Future Prospects: As of 2024, Tom Cotton remains a prominent figure in American politics. His future prospects include continued advocacy for conservative policies and potential leadership roles within the Republican Party.

Tom Cotton: A Complex Figure in American Politics

Tom Cotton's journey from a small-town Arkansas farm to the U.S. Senate showcases his dedication to public service. With a background in military service, law, and politics, Cotton has made significant impacts, both praised and criticized. His strong stance on conservative values, opposition to critical race theory, and support for military intervention in domestic issues highlight his controversial yet influential role. Cotton's legislative achievements, like repealing Obamacare’s individual mandate and advocating for veterans' care, demonstrate his commitment to his principles. Despite the controversies, Cotton's influence in the Senate and his potential future in the Republican Party remain substantial. His story is a testament to the complexities of modern American politics, where dedication, controversy, and influence often intertwine.