James "Jim" Guy Tucker, Jr. (born June 13, 1943) is an Arkansas political figure. He served as the 43rd Governor of Arkansas, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas,Arkansas Attorney General, and U.S. Representative. Tucker has been married to the former Betty Allen since 1975.
Tucker resigned the governorship and was replaced by Mike Huckabee on July 16, 1996, after his conviction for fraud during the Whitewater affair, although the conviction was not directly related to the investigation of Bill and Hillary Clinton's real estate and related business dealings.
Tucker was convicted of one count of conspiracy and one count of mail fraud in 1996 as part of Kenneth Starr's investigation of the Whitewater scandal. Tucker was tried with fellow defendants James B. McDougal and his wife Susan McDougal, the prosecution conducted primarily by OIC prosecutor Ray Jahn. Tucker chose not to testify in his own defense upon the advice of his attorney. Tucker received a lenient sentence of four years' probation and house detention in part because of his poor health.
Arkansas, like most other states, has a provision in its state constitution barring convicted felons from elective office. As a result, Tucker announced his pending resignation. As Lieutenant Governor, Mike Huckabee, a Republican, was preparing to be sworn in, Tucker rescinded his resignation[3] on several grounds, including his appeal because a juror on his trial was married to a man whose cocaine possession conviction Tucker had twice refused to commute. Furthermore, this juror was the niece of local activist Robert "Say" McIntosh, who had demonstrated against Tucker during the trial. He also contended, and an appellate court later agreed, that one of the statutes he allegedly violated was no longer operable. Arguing that his conviction was thus tainted, and that the Arkansas constitution was vague about his status as a convicted felon until his appeals had been exhausted. However, at the last minute he did resign, under the threat of impeachment by the legislature which had convened to witness Huckabee's swearing in.
Tucker, 52, who succeeded Clinton as governor, was convicted of conspiracy and mail fraud in real estate development schemes that eventually helped destroy McDougal's savings and loan. "I'm sure they tried to do the right thing," Tucker said of the jurors. "As it happens, they just did the wrong thing."
According to Mike Huckabee Tucker and Clinton never liked each other. What really bothered Tucker was that Clinton would hand unfinished business to him but never give him the inside information he needed to handle it well. It was a tough time. Increasingly as Clinton got into the presidential campaign, Tucker had more day-to-day impact on managing the government.
When Clinton moved to the White House after the 1992 election, Tucker was furious with him. Clinton left the state in a financial mess, which Tucker had to clean up.
Some people contend most of Tucker's problems came from his relationship with the McDougal's not the Clintons.
Tucker resigned the governorship and was replaced by Mike Huckabee on July 16, 1996, after his conviction for fraud during the Whitewater affair, although the conviction was not directly related to the investigation of Bill and Hillary Clinton's real estate and related business dealings.
Tucker was convicted of one count of conspiracy and one count of mail fraud in 1996 as part of Kenneth Starr's investigation of the Whitewater scandal. Tucker was tried with fellow defendants James B. McDougal and his wife Susan McDougal, the prosecution conducted primarily by OIC prosecutor Ray Jahn. Tucker chose not to testify in his own defense upon the advice of his attorney. Tucker received a lenient sentence of four years' probation and house detention in part because of his poor health.
Arkansas, like most other states, has a provision in its state constitution barring convicted felons from elective office. As a result, Tucker announced his pending resignation. As Lieutenant Governor, Mike Huckabee, a Republican, was preparing to be sworn in, Tucker rescinded his resignation[3] on several grounds, including his appeal because a juror on his trial was married to a man whose cocaine possession conviction Tucker had twice refused to commute. Furthermore, this juror was the niece of local activist Robert "Say" McIntosh, who had demonstrated against Tucker during the trial. He also contended, and an appellate court later agreed, that one of the statutes he allegedly violated was no longer operable. Arguing that his conviction was thus tainted, and that the Arkansas constitution was vague about his status as a convicted felon until his appeals had been exhausted. However, at the last minute he did resign, under the threat of impeachment by the legislature which had convened to witness Huckabee's swearing in.
Tucker, 52, who succeeded Clinton as governor, was convicted of conspiracy and mail fraud in real estate development schemes that eventually helped destroy McDougal's savings and loan. "I'm sure they tried to do the right thing," Tucker said of the jurors. "As it happens, they just did the wrong thing."
According to Mike Huckabee Tucker and Clinton never liked each other. What really bothered Tucker was that Clinton would hand unfinished business to him but never give him the inside information he needed to handle it well. It was a tough time. Increasingly as Clinton got into the presidential campaign, Tucker had more day-to-day impact on managing the government.
When Clinton moved to the White House after the 1992 election, Tucker was furious with him. Clinton left the state in a financial mess, which Tucker had to clean up.
Some people contend most of Tucker's problems came from his relationship with the McDougal's not the Clintons.