North Carolina representative Walter Jones dies at the age of 76

The representative of Walter Jones, a 24-year-old Republican congressman, cared for his dead heritage on Sunday at his 76th birthday

Jones – who faced no challenger last November – had already announced that this would be his last term. The North Carolina Republican, who has 13 terms, has not voted since September and was too ill to travel to Washington to attend a swearing-in ceremony last month.

The Story Continues (19659006) Jones was a fervent social conservative: a strong Catholic who fiercely opposed abortion and same-sex marriage. An independent trend that has pushed him to sever ties with his party more than any other Republican, on issues ranging from campaign funding to President Donald Trump's investigation into Russia.

"He was never afraid to take a position of principle," writes his office in a stateme Do not confirm his death. "Some may not have agreed with him, but all acknowledged that he had done what he thought was right." the deficit. He also contributed to the bombing efforts of repealing the GOP Obamacare. He rarely, if ever, would support bills to fund the government.

Jones's personal politics is sometimes far removed from the Pakistan government's doctrine: he favors the increase of the minimum wage and was one of only three House Republicans to have voted for the crackdown on Wall Street by President Barack Obama in 2009. [19659004] His opposition to former President John Boehner has already earned him a committee commission.

"I like to be a thorn in people's ass," Jones told Roll Call in 2015.

The most notorious conviction of republican orthodoxy, though, was the Jones' sudden overthrow of the Pentagon powers.

Once a staunch supporter of the US war against Iraq, Jones attempted to change the name from "fries" to "fries of freedom" in the congressional cafeteria after France invaded.

But two years after the vote authorizing the war, Jones declared a change of heart after mourning with military families at the funerals of their loved ones. He later became one of the most savage critics of the GOP war, repeatedly collaborating with the Democrats on plans to withdraw troops.

He is also one of only two Republicans to oppose the development of President George W. Bush's counterterrorism program. A group of young conservatives in 2013: "Lyndon Johnson is probably rotting in hell because of the Vietnam War, and he probably has to move for Dick Cheney."

Jones's very public retreat from a war-hawk finally drew many of the GOP's main opponents – particularly in a district harboring one of the most of the largest Marine Corps stations in the country – although none could overthrow it.

Jones was one of the first. the few "Gingrich revolutionaries" remaining in power after the 1994 GOP wave led by Newt Gingrich of Georgia. Speaking in a gentle voice with southern manners, the North Carolinian was already voted Best Congressman No. 1.

Before his election in 1994, Jones had presented himself to Congress and had been defeated as a democrat – the same party that elected his father. Walter Sr., a member of Congress for 26 years. Walter Jones, father, also died in the performance of his duties.

A former businessman, Mr. Jones lived until his death in the town of Farmville, in northwestern Colombia. During his congressional service, Jones was back and forth nearly 300 km every weekend.