Unsoeld, Jolene, 1931-

Jolene Unsoeld (born December 3, 1931) is an American mountaineer, educator, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Washington's 3rd Congressional district from 1989 to 1995.

Born Jolene Bishoprick in Corvallis, Oregon, she grew up in Oregon, Canada, and China before her family settled in Vancouver, Washington. From 1949 to 1951, Jolene Bishoprick attended Oregon State University in Corvallis. In college, she met mountaineer and environmental advocate William (Willi) Unsoeld; the two announced their engagement at the top of Mount Saint Helens before marrying in Vancouver, Washington. Jolene Unsoeld, also an accomplished mountaineer, became the first woman to climb Wyoming’s Grand Teton via its north face. Accompanying her husband to the Himalayas, she spent two years as director of the English Language Institute of Kathmandu, Nepal before returning stateside and settling in Olympia, Washington.

While living in the state capital, Jolene Unsoeld took an interest in politics as a self-described “citizen meddler,” serving as a self-appointed watchdog for special interest groups, she authored two editions of the book, Who Gave? Who Got? How Much?, which revealed major interest groups’ contributions to politicians in the Washington legislature. In 1984, Unsoeld won an open state legislature seat, where she specialized in environmental issues. From 1980 through 1988, she also served as a member of the Democratic National Committee. She successfully built upon support from her grassroots environmental activities to narrowly be elected to the U.S. House by less than 700 votes.

Throughout her three terms in Congress, Unsoeld was a devoted environmentalist, advocating restrictions on the timber industry and seeking a ban on oil and gas drilling off the coast of Washington state. She became best known for her eventual opposition to gun control and her work on the federal Freedom of Information Act. In her bid for reelection in 1994, Unsoeld lost to populist Republican Linda Smith in part thanks to a third-party candidate who supported gun control.

Since leaving Congress in January 1995, Unsoeld has continued to advocate environmental reform and government transparency. She resides in Olympia, Washington.