tn_gov_HOOKER
JOHN JAY HOOKER
Age: 68 Born: August 24, 1930; Nashville, Tennessee Education: Vanderbilt University Law School (1957); University of the South Military: U.S. Army (1953-55) Family: Single; Four children Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee Religion: Presbyterian Career: Attorney (1958-present); Candidate for Senate (1976, 1994 & 1996); Chairman, United Press International (1983); Publisher, Nashville Banner (1979-80); Chairman, STP Corp. (1973-76); Co-founder, Hospital Corporation of America (1968); Candidate for governor (1966 & 1970) |
• Hooker is a perennial candidate who has sought statewide office five times previously and never won. He was considered a credible candidate in the 1960's and 1970's, but he has become increasingly marginalized. In 1966, he sought the Democratic nomination for governor but lost in the primary. He succeeded in winning the Democratic nomination in 1970, but he lost in the general election to Gov. Winfield Dunn (R). In 1976, he sought the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race but he was defeated by Jim Sasser, 43% to 30%. More recently, Hooker has run as a third party candidate -- in both the 1994 and 1996 Senate races, he ran as an independent and received less than 1% of the vote.
• A Nashville lawyer, Hooker opened his own law firm in 1958. At various times in his career, he also has been general counsel to the Nashville Tennessean, chairman of STP Corporation, and publisher of the Nashville Banner. He left the Banner in 1980 with almost $1.4 million in debt. In 1983 he acquired a 30% controlling interest in UPI, but he soon resigned as chairman due to a dispute with his partners. Over the years, he has had a series of failed business ventures, including Minnie Pearl's Chicken and Hooker Hamburgers. Hooker estimates he still owes about $750,000 in back taxes, including penalties and interest.
• Oten described as flamboyant, Hooker has hob-knobbed with the rich and famous, including the Kennedys, Muhammed Ali, former Tennessee Sen. Howard Baker, and Warren Beatty. He appeared in a bit role as a U.S. Senator in Beatty's 1982 Oscar-winning film 'Reds.'
• A longtime critic of the two-party system, Hooker was a key backer of Ross Perot's 1992 presidential bid, and Perot has credited Hooker with influencing his decision to run. Hooker also supported Colin Powell for president in 1996 and launched a petition drive to get Powell's name on the ballot in Tennessee.
• 1998 marks Hooker's sixth appearance on the ballot. He won this year's Democratic primary without actively campaigning. He decisively beat Michael Whitaker, whom many people thought was the strongest candidate, by 41% to 28%.