Charlie Wilson (Texas politician)
Charlie Wilson | |
|---|---|
Wilson c. 1995 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – October 8, 1996 | |
| Preceded by | John Dowdy |
| Succeeded by | Jim Turner |
| Member of the Texas Senate from the 3rd district | |
| In office January 10, 1967 – January 3, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Martin Dies Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Don Adams |
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives | |
| In office January 8, 1963 – January 10, 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Burgess |
| Succeeded by | David W. Crews |
| Constituency | 6th district |
| In office January 10, 1961 – January 8, 1963 | |
| Preceded by | William D. Winston |
| Succeeded by | David W. Crews |
| Constituency | 18th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Nesbitt Wilson June 1, 1933 Trinity, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 10, 2010 (aged 76) Lufkin, Texas, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Jerry Carter
(m. 1973; div. 1983) Barbara Alberstadt
(m. 1999) |
| Alma mater | United States Naval Academy (BS) |
| Occupation |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1956–1960 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
Charles Nesbitt Wilson (June 1, 1933 – February 10, 2010) was an American politician and naval officer who was a 12-term Democratic Representative from Texas's 2nd congressional district. Wilson is best known for leading Congress into supporting Operation Cyclone, the largest-ever Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) covert operation, which during the Carter and Reagan administrations supplied military equipment to the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet–Afghan War. His behind-the-scenes campaign was the subject of the non-fiction book Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History by George Crile III and the subsequent film Charlie Wilson's War, in which he was portrayed by Tom Hanks.