Cole, Thomas J. (Thomas Jeffery), 1949-

Thomas Jeffery Cole (born April 28, 1949) is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he has served as the U.S. Representative for Oklahoma's 4th congressional district since 2003.

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana and raised in Moore, Oklahoma, he graduated from Moore High School before earning a B.A. from Grinnell College, an M.A. from Yale University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. He did research abroad as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow and was a Fulbright Fellow (1977–78) at the University of London. He was a college professor in history and politics at Oklahoma Baptist University before joining the staff of U.S. Representatives Mickey Edwards. He later served as chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, a member of the Oklahoma State Senate, as executive director and chief of staff for the National Republican Congressional Committee, and Oklahoma Secretary of State.

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