Charlie Wilsons Charlie Wilsons WarWar

Charles Nesbitt WilsonCharles Nesbitt Wilson

Member of the Member of the U.S. House of U.S. House of RepresentativesRepresentativesfrom Texas's 2from Texas's 2ndnd districtdistrict

In officeIn office01/03/1973 – 01/03/1973 – 10/08/199510/08/1995

DemocratDemocrat

Early life Early life

Charlie Wilson was born in the small town of Charlie Wilson was born in the small town of Trinity, Texas where he attended public Trinity, Texas where he attended public schools and graduated from Trinity High schools and graduated from Trinity High School in 1951.School in 1951.

While a student at Sam Huston State While a student at Sam Huston State University in Huntsville, Texas , he was University in Huntsville, Texas , he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, where appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he received a B.S. and graduated eighth from he received a B.S. and graduated eighth from the bottom of his class in 1956.the bottom of his class in 1956.

He received the second-highest number of He received the second-highest number of demerits in the Academy's history.demerits in the Academy's history.

Navy CareerNavy Career

1956 and 1960, Wilson served in the 1956 and 1960, Wilson served in the United States Navy.United States Navy.

He served for 4 years and was He served for 4 years and was assigned to assigned to

the Pentagon as part of an the Pentagon as part of an intelligence unit that evaluated the intelligence unit that evaluated the Soviet Union’s nuclear forces.Soviet Union’s nuclear forces.

Entry into politics Entry into politics

Wilson first entered politics as a Wilson first entered politics as a teenager (13) by running a teenager (13) by running a campaign against his next-door campaign against his next-door neighbor, city council incumbent neighbor, city council incumbent Charles Hazard. Charles Hazard.

He drove 96 black voters to the He drove 96 black voters to the polls.polls.

Hazard lost by 16 votes. Hazard lost by 16 votes.

Texas House of Texas House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

In 1961, at age 27, he was elected to In 1961, at age 27, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives.the Texas House of Representatives.

He was known as the liberal.He was known as the liberal. He fought forHe fought for

Regulation of utilities, Medicaid, tax Regulation of utilities, Medicaid, tax exemptions for the elderly, Equal exemptions for the elderly, Equal Rights, minimum wage, and pro-choice.Rights, minimum wage, and pro-choice.

U.S. House of U.S. House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

In 1972, Wilson was elected to the In 1972, Wilson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from U.S. House of Representatives from the Second District of Texas.the Second District of Texas.

He was re-elected 11 times. He was re-elected 11 times.

Soviet-Afghan war Soviet-Afghan war

1980- Wilson was a member of the 1980- Wilson was a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. on Defense.

He asked to increase “Black Project” He asked to increase “Black Project” funding for Afghanistan.funding for Afghanistan.

Over the years $1 billion went to Over the years $1 billion went to Afghan Mujahideen (Afghan Mujahideen (muǧāhidmuǧāhid ). ).

Afghan MujahideenAfghan Mujahideen loosely-aligned Afghan opposition groupsloosely-aligned Afghan opposition groups initially fought against the incumbent pro-initially fought against the incumbent pro-

Soviet Afghan government during the late Soviet Afghan government during the late 1970s. 1970s.

At the Afghan government's request, the At the Afghan government's request, the Soviet Union became involved in the war. Soviet Union became involved in the war.

The mujahideen insurgency then fought The mujahideen insurgency then fought against the Soviet and Afghan government against the Soviet and Afghan government troops during the Soviet War in Afghanistan.troops during the Soviet War in Afghanistan.

After the Soviet Union pulled out of the After the Soviet Union pulled out of the conflict in the late 1980s the mujahideen conflict in the late 1980s the mujahideen fought each other in the subsequent Afghan fought each other in the subsequent Afghan Civil War. Civil War.