Blab Politics
Former Oregon Senator Bob Packwood Dies at 93; Career Marred by Sexual Harassment Allegations
Former United States Senator Bob Packwood of Oregon died Saturday, June 6, 2026, at a residential care facility in southern California. The 93‑year‑old’s death was announced by his family in an obituary sent to the media, but no additional details were released.
Packwood was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968 and served until his resignation in 1995. During his 27‑year tenure he was known for his fiscal conservatism and his willingness to cross party lines on social issues. He was a leading Republican advocate for abortion rights and received praise from Planned Parenthood and other women’s groups.
In 1993, a Senate Ethics Committee investigation began after more than two dozen women, former employees and acquaintances alleged that Packwood had made unwanted sexual advances. The probe expanded to include claims that he had solicited jobs for his ex‑wife, used staff to intimidate accusers, and altered his personal diaries to obstruct the inquiry. The committee’s subpoena for the diaries was upheld by a 94‑6 Senate vote.
Packwood fought the investigation in federal court but was ultimately unsuccessful. He resigned in September 1995 amid the threat of expulsion. After leaving the Senate, he founded the lobbying firm Sunrise Research Corp., which earned $1.5 million a year by 1999. In a 2010 City Club of Portland address, he said he still spent about half his time lobbying in Washington.
The scandal that ended Packwood’s Senate career also reshaped his legacy. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, who succeeded him in 1996, said that while Packwood’s record on abortion rights and tax reform was notable, his treatment of women “overshadows it all.” Wyden added that Packwood’s “horrible history…will forever shadow his public record.”
Packwood’s most enduring legislative achievement was his role in the 1986 Tax Reform Act, which lowered the top federal income tax rate from 50 percent to 28 percent and eliminated many itemized deductions. The act remains a key reference point in discussions of U.S. tax policy.
At the time of his death, no new investigations or legal actions were pending. The obituary noted only that Packwood had lived in Portland and Washington, and that he was survived by his wife, Elaine Franklin, a former chief of staff and political consultant. The former senator’s career continues to be discussed in Oregon political circles, with his name frequently cited in debates over ethics and the treatment of women in government.
The obituary did not provide further details about the circumstances of his death or any ongoing family matters. As of now, the public record reflects a former senator whose legislative work was eclipsed by allegations of sexual misconduct that led to his resignation and a lasting impact on his reputation.
Packwood was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968 and served until his resignation in 1995. During his 27‑year tenure he was known for his fiscal conservatism and his willingness to cross party lines on social issues. He was a leading Republican advocate for abortion rights and received praise from Planned Parenthood and other women’s groups.
In 1993, a Senate Ethics Committee investigation began after more than two dozen women, former employees and acquaintances alleged that Packwood had made unwanted sexual advances. The probe expanded to include claims that he had solicited jobs for his ex‑wife, used staff to intimidate accusers, and altered his personal diaries to obstruct the inquiry. The committee’s subpoena for the diaries was upheld by a 94‑6 Senate vote.
Packwood fought the investigation in federal court but was ultimately unsuccessful. He resigned in September 1995 amid the threat of expulsion. After leaving the Senate, he founded the lobbying firm Sunrise Research Corp., which earned $1.5 million a year by 1999. In a 2010 City Club of Portland address, he said he still spent about half his time lobbying in Washington.
The scandal that ended Packwood’s Senate career also reshaped his legacy. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, who succeeded him in 1996, said that while Packwood’s record on abortion rights and tax reform was notable, his treatment of women “overshadows it all.” Wyden added that Packwood’s “horrible history…will forever shadow his public record.”
Packwood’s most enduring legislative achievement was his role in the 1986 Tax Reform Act, which lowered the top federal income tax rate from 50 percent to 28 percent and eliminated many itemized deductions. The act remains a key reference point in discussions of U.S. tax policy.
At the time of his death, no new investigations or legal actions were pending. The obituary noted only that Packwood had lived in Portland and Washington, and that he was survived by his wife, Elaine Franklin, a former chief of staff and political consultant. The former senator’s career continues to be discussed in Oregon political circles, with his name frequently cited in debates over ethics and the treatment of women in government.
The obituary did not provide further details about the circumstances of his death or any ongoing family matters. As of now, the public record reflects a former senator whose legislative work was eclipsed by allegations of sexual misconduct that led to his resignation and a lasting impact on his reputation.
