View source for Jim Webb

{{Short description|American politician, military officer and author (born 1946)}}
{{Other people|James Webb}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name         = Jim Webb
|image        = Jim Webb official 110th Congress photo.jpg
|caption      = Official Senate portrait
|jr/sr        = United States Senator
|state        = [[Virginia]]
|term_start   = January 3, 2007
|term_end     = January 3, 2013
|predecessor  = [[George Allen (American politician)|George Allen]]
|successor    = [[Tim Kaine]]
|office1      = 66th [[United States Secretary of the Navy]]
|president1   = [[Ronald Reagan]]
|term_start1  = May 1, 1987
|term_end1    = February 23, 1988
|predecessor1 = [[John Lehman]]
|successor1   = [[William L. Ball|William Ball]]
|office2      = 1st [[Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs|Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs]]
|president2   = [[Ronald Reagan]]
|term_start2  = May 3, 1984
|term_end2    = April 10, 1987
|predecessor2 = ''Position established''
|successor2   = Stephen Duncan
|birth_name   = James Henry Webb Jr.
|birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1946|2|9}}
|birth_place  = [[St. Joseph, Missouri]], U.S.
|death_date   =
|death_place  =
|party        = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (since 2006)
|otherparty   = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (before 2006)
|spouse       = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Barbara Samorajczyk|1968|1979|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Jo Ann Krukar|1981|2004|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Hong Le Webb|2005}}}}
|children     = 6 (1 stepchild)
|education    = {{nowrap|[[United States Naval Academy]]}} ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])<br />[[Georgetown University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
|signature    = Webb signature.png
|website      = {{URL|jameswebb.com|Official website}}
|allegiance   = [[United States]]
|branch       = {{marines|United States}}
|serviceyears = 1968–1972
|rank         = [[File:US Marine O3 shoulderboard.svg|25px]] [[Captain (United States O-3)|Captain]]<ref>''Marine Corps Gazette'', Roles & Mission: A Time for Change March 1972 http://www.jameswebb.com/articles/military-and-veterans/roles-missions-time-for-a-change</ref>
|unit         = Delta Company, [[1st Battalion 5th Marines]]
|battles      = [[Vietnam War]]{{WIA}}
|mawards      = {{plainlist|
* [[File:Navy Cross ribbon.svg|border|23px]] [[Navy Cross]]
* [[File:Silver Star Medal ribbon.svg|border|23px]] [[Silver Star]]
* [[File:Bronze Star Medal ribbon.svg|border|23px]] [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Star]] (2)
* [[File:Purple Heart ribbon.svg|border|23px]] [[Purple Heart]] (2)
}}
|module       = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. Jim Webb Questions Former National Security Advisor James L. Jones on U.S. Strategic Interests in Pakistan.ogg|title=Jim Webb's voice|type=speech|description=Webb questions former [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] [[James L. Jones]] on U.S. strategic interests in Pakistan<br/>Recorded May 17, 2011}}
}}

'''James Henry Webb Jr.''' (born February 9, 1946) is an American politician and author. He has served as a [[United States senator]] from [[Virginia]], [[Secretary of the Navy]], [[Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs]], Counsel for the [[United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Ronald Reagan: Nomination of James H. Webb, Jr., To Be Secretary of the Navy |url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=33823&st=&st1= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192041/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=33823&st=&st1= |archive-date=2016-03-03 |website=www.presidency.ucsb.edu}}</ref> and is a [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] officer.

Outside of working in government, Webb has also worked as a journalist, filmmaker, and author of ten books. In addition, he taught literature at the [[United States Naval Academy]] and was a Fellow at the [[Harvard Institute of Politics]]. As a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], Webb announced on November 19, 2014, that he was forming an exploratory committee to evaluate a run for [[2016 United States presidential election|President of the United States in 2016]]. On July 2, 2015, he announced that [[Jim Webb 2016 presidential campaign|he would be joining the race for the Democratic nomination for president]], but stepped down from running in the primaries on October 20, 2015, stating that he was "not comfortable" with many political positions from the party's leadership.<ref name=PrimaryWithdrawal>{{cite web|title=A Statement from Jim Webb|last1=Webb|first1=Jim Jr.|date=2015-10-20|url=https://www.webb2016.com/news/a-statement-from-jim-webb/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027230545/https://www.webb2016.com/news/a-statement-from-jim-webb/|archive-date=2015-10-27|access-date=2020-08-22}}</ref>

In 2020, Webb was named the first distinguished fellow of [[University of Notre Dame]]'s International Security Center.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dame|first=Marketing Communications: Web // University of Notre|title=Former Senator and Secretary of the Navy James Webb named inaugural distinguished fellow at Notre Dame International Security Center|url=https://news.nd.edu/news/former-senator-and-secretary-of-the-navy-james-webb-named-inaugural-distinguished-fellow-at-notre-dame-international-security-center/|access-date=2021-02-08|website=Notre Dame News|date=March 17, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Webb was born in [[St. Joseph, Missouri]], to James Henry Webb, and his wife, Vera Lorraine (Hodges).<ref name=WARGS>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wargs.com/political/webb.html|title=The Ancestors of James Webb|last=Reitwiesner|first=William Addams|publisher=WARGS}}</ref> The second of four children and the older son, he grew up in a military family, moving frequently as his father's career in the [[United States Air Force]] required. The family crisscrossed the country, living in Missouri, Illinois, [[Texas]], Alabama, Nebraska, California, and Virginia, as well as in England, where his father was an exchange officer with the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref>{{cite book |first=James |last=Webb |title=I Heard My Country Calling: A Memoir |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=2014 |page=59 |isbn=978-1476741123}}</ref> His father flew [[B-17 Flying Fortress|B-17s]] and [[B-29 Superfortress|B-29s]] during World War II, and flew Air Force cargo aircraft during the 1948-49 [[Berlin airlift]]. After developing an inner ear disorder, [[Meniere's Disease]], he became a pioneer in the Air Force missile program, later serving as the commanding officer of the 1001st Missile Squadron at [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]]. Webb's parents are buried at the [[Arlington National Cemetery]].

Webb is descended from [[Ulster Scots people|Scots-Irish]] immigrants from [[Ulster]] who [[Immigration to the United States|emigrated]] in the mid-18th century to the British [[Thirteen Colonies|North American colonies]]. Webb's 2004 book ''Born Fighting: How the [[Scotch-Irish American|Scots-Irish]] Shaped America'' details his family history, noting that his ancestors fought in every major American war. A 2014 [[Television documentary|TV documentary]] on the [[Smithsonian Channel]], also entitled ''Born Fighting'', was adapted from Webb's book and is narrated by him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/sc/web/series/799/born-fighting|title=Born Fighting|work=Smithsonian Channel|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|access-date=December 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230043321/http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/sc/web/series/799/born-fighting|archive-date=December 30, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Webb attended more than a dozen schools across the U.S. and in England. After graduating from high school in [[Bellevue, Nebraska]], he attended the [[University of Southern California]] on a [[Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps]] scholarship from 1963 to 1964<ref name=bioguide-webb>{{cite web| work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000803 |title= WEBB, James H. (Jim), (1946 - ) |publisher=bioguide.congress.gov |access-date=September 15, 2015}}</ref> and he also was a member of [[Delta Chi]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Heller|first1=Chris|title=Greek Life: Which Lawmakers Pledged Fraternities?|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/pictures-video/greek-life-which-lawmakers-pledged-fraternities-pictures-20110913|website=Nationaljournal.com|publisher=National Journal Group Inc.|access-date=May 3, 2015}}</ref> In 1964, Webb earned appointment to the [[United States Naval Academy]] in [[Annapolis, Maryland]]. At Annapolis, Webb was a member of the Brigade Honor Committee and the Brigade Staff. When he graduated in 1968,<ref name=EPSusa>{{cite web|title=EPS Bernard L. Schwartz Syposium:The Economic and Security Future|url=http://www.epsusa.org/events/1114conf/participantbios.htm|publisher=Economists for Peace and Security|date=17 November 2014|access-date=3 May 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144046/http://www.epsusa.org/events/1114conf/participantbios.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> he received the Superintendent's Letter for Outstanding Leadership.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senator Webb accepting U.S. service academy applications|url=http://www.progress-index.com/article/20110721/News/307219939|website=The Progress-Index|publisher=Gatehouse Media, Inc|access-date=3 May 2015}}</ref> After his medical retirement from the Marine Corps due to injuries suffered in Vietnam, Webb enrolled in law school at [[Georgetown University]] where he earned a Juris Doctor and received the Horan Award for excellence in legal writing.<ref name=EPSusa/>

==Military service==
After graduating from the Naval Academy, Webb was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]] in the U.S. Marine Corps. Attending the [[The Basic School|Marine Corps Officer Basic School]] shortly after leaving Annapolis, he graduated first in his class. He was promoted to [[first lieutenant#United States|first lieutenant]] in the second half of his tour in Vietnam. He served as a [[Platoon#United States organization|platoon commander]] with [[Delta Company]], [[1st Battalion 5th Marines]]. He was awarded the [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] for heroism in Vietnam, the second-highest decoration in the Navy and Marine Corps. Webb also was awarded the [[Silver Star]], two [[Bronze Star Medal|Bronze Stars]], and two [[Purple Heart]]s.<ref name="Antle">{{cite magazine | last = Antle | first = W. James III | date = June 19, 2006 | url = http://www.amconmag.com/article/2006/jun/19/00016/ | title = A New Democrat: Jim Webb's populist Senate campaign shakes up Virginia's political establishment | magazine = [[The American Conservative]]}}</ref> After returning from Vietnam, he was assigned to [[Marine Corps Base Quantico|Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia]], as an instructor for [[Officer Candidates School (United States Marine Corps)|Officer Candidates School]] (OCS). He was then assigned to the Secretary of the Navy's office for the remainder of his active duty. His war wounds left him with shrapnel in his knee, kidney, and head. The injury to his knee led a medical board to recommend his medical retirement.

===Awards and decorations===
Known decorations and medals include: 
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Bronze Star BAR.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Purple Heart BAR.svg|width=106}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}}
|} 
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="3"|[[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]]
| colspan="3"|[[Silver Star]]
| colspan="3"|[[Bronze Star]]
| colspan="3"|[[Purple Heart]]
|-
| colspan="3"|[[Achievement Medal]]
| colspan="3"|[[Combat Action Ribbon]]
| colspan="3"|[[National Defense Service Medal]]
| colspan="3"|[[Vietnam Campaign Medal]]
|}

Webb received the Navy Cross for actions on July 10, 1969. The citation read:

{{blockquote|The Navy Cross is presented to James H. Webb, Jr., First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the [[South Vietnam|Republic of Vietnam]]. On July 10, 1969, while participating in a company-sized [[search and destroy]] operation deep in hostile territory, First Lieutenant Webb's platoon discovered a well-camouflaged bunker complex that appeared to be unoccupied. Deploying his men into defensive positions, First Lieutenant Webb was advancing to the first bunker when three enemy soldiers armed with hand grenades jumped out. Reacting instantly, he grabbed the closest man and, brandishing his [[M1911 pistol|.45 caliber pistol]] at the others, apprehended all three of the soldiers. Accompanied by one of his men, he then approached the second bunker and called for the enemy to surrender. When the hostile soldiers failed to answer him and threw a grenade that detonated dangerously close to him, First Lieutenant Webb detonated a [[M18 Claymore mine|claymore mine]] in the bunker aperture, accounting for two enemy casualties and disclosing the entrance to a tunnel. Despite the smoke and debris from the explosion and the possibility of enemy soldiers hiding in the tunnel, he then conducted a thorough search that yielded several items of equipment and numerous documents containing valuable [[Military intelligence|intelligence]] data. Continuing the assault, he approached a third bunker and was preparing to fire into it when the enemy threw another grenade. Observing the grenade land dangerously close to his companion, First Lieutenant Webb simultaneously fired his weapon at the enemy, pushed the Marine away from the grenade, and shielded him from the explosion with his own body. Although sustaining painful fragmentation wounds from the explosion, he managed to throw a grenade into the aperture and completely destroy the remaining bunker. By his courage, aggressive leadership, and selfless devotion to duty, First Lieutenant Webb upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.<ref name=HomeofHeroes>{{Cite web|url=http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/1_Citations/07_RVN-nc/nc_19rvn_usmcS.html|title=S–Z|work=Full Text Citations For Award of The Navy Cross: US Marine Corps Awards - Vietnam|publisher=HomeofHeroes.com|access-date=2006-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829180040/http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/1_Citations/07_RVN-nc/nc_19rvn_usmcS.html|archive-date=2006-08-29}}</ref>}}

His [[Silver Star]] citation read:

<blockquote>The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant James Henry Webb, Jr. (MCSN: 0-106180), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 9 May 1969, during Operation Muskogee Meadow, a six-man reconnaissance patrol from First Lieutenant Webb's platoon was ambushed and temporarily pinned down by a large North Vietnamese Army force concealed in a tree line four hundred meters in front of Company D's night defensive position. Immediately upon learning of the dangerous situation, First Lieutenant Webb organized a reaction force and proceeded to the point of contact to aid his beleaguered Marines. When his reaction unit came under enemy automatic weapons and rocket fire as it approached the ambush site, he executed a skillful evasive maneuver, established a base of fire, and continued to advance across the fire-swept terrain to the patrol's position. Rallying and encouraging his men, he directed his base of fire forward to a more advantageous position and led his assault team one hundred and fifty meters across on an open rice paddy in a bold attempt to recover several casualties lying in an open area directly in the line of enemy fire. As his Marines delivered a heavy volume of fire at hostile positions, First Lieutenant Webb repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire as he dashed into the open and pulled the casualties, one at a time, back to friendly lines. Then, consolidating his platoon, he initiated a sudden, vigorous attack which routed the enemy soldiers from their bunkers, disorganized their fire plan, and forced them to retreat from the area. His determination and bold fighting spirit inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in saving the lives of at least two Marines and undoubtedly thwarting the enemy's plan to launch a major attack against his unit's night position. By his leadership, extraordinary courage, and unflagging devotion to duty at great personal risk, First Lieutenant Webb upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.<ref>{{cite web |title=James Webb - Recipient - |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/4226#26301 |website=valor.militarytimes.com |access-date=5 April 2023 |language=en}}</ref></blockquote>

In 1980, Webb was interviewed for ''[[Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War]]'', a Canadian television [[Documentary film|documentary]] about the [[Vietnam War]]. In one segment, he discussed how hard it was to adjust to arriving in Vietnam. "we stepped off an air conditioned plane, where I just watched a first-run movie, and you know, this German stewardess says, 'have a nice war."<ref>{{Cite web |date=Mar 19, 2014 |title=Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War - Uneasy Allies [4/13] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA147JwhoKU&list=PL3H6z037pboFiRbJuCFSNxxZcu99vAihC&index=4 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

In the October 13, 2015, CNN Democratic Debate, when asked, "Which enemy are you most proud of?", Webb stated, "I'd have to say, the enemy soldier that threw the grenade that wounded me, but he's not around right now to talk to."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5IlFlVhBFL8| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015114540/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IlFlVhBFL8| archive-date=2015-10-15 | url-status=dead|title=YouTube|website=m.youtube.com}}</ref>

In a November 19, 2006 appearance on ''[[Meet the Press]]'', Webb told host [[Tim Russert]], "I'm one of these people who – there aren't many of us – who can still justify for you the reasons that we went into [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]], however screwed up the strategy got."<ref name="MTP20061119">{{Cite news|access-date=2007-01-04|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15751399|title=MTP Transcript for November 19: Jim Webb, Jon Tester, Ted Koppel, Robin Wright|work=Meet the Press|publisher=NBC News|date=November 19, 2006}}</ref>

==Post-military career==
[[File:James Webb, Assistant Secretary of Defense, official photo.JPEG|thumb|right|James Webb as Assistant Secretary of Defense, 1984.]]
Webb attended [[Georgetown University Law Center|Georgetown Law Center]] from 1972 to 1975, graduating with a [[Juris Doctor]] degree. While at Georgetown, he wrote his first book, ''Micronesia and U.S. Pacific Strategy''.<ref name="Webb1974">{{Cite book |title=Micronesia and U.S. Pacific Strategy: A Blueprint for the 1980s |last=Webb |first=James H. |isbn=0-275-08940-1 |publisher=Praeger Publishers Inc. |location=New York |year=1974 |url=https://archive.org/details/micronesiauspaci00webb }}</ref>

From 1977 to 1981, Webb worked on the staff of the [[U.S. House of Representatives|House]] Committee on Veterans Affairs. During this time, he also represented veterans [[pro-bono]]. Webb taught at the Naval Academy and was criticized for a 1979 article published in ''Washingtonian'' magazine, titled "Women Can't Fight"<ref name="Webb1979">{{cite magazine |last=Webb|first=James|date=November 1979|title=Women Can't Fight|magazine=Washingtonian| publisher=Washingtonian Magazine, Inc.|url=http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/mediapolitics/2182.html|access-date=2008-03-04}}</ref> (see "2006 Senate campaign" below). He attended the [[1980 Republican National Convention]] in Detroit and led the Pledge of Allegiance in the opening session.<ref>[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/GOP-CONVENTION-DAY-1-SESSION-2-REPUBLICAN-NATIONAL/6b7ae88d1cad4c3f92478bdb3d98e356?query=CELEBRITY+NEWS&current=17&orderBy=Relevance&hits=338&referrer=search&search=%2Fsearch%3Fquery%3DCELEBRITY%2520NEWS%26allFilters%3DABC%3ASource%2CPOLITICS%3AKeyword%2CUNIVERSITIES%3AKeyword%2CUNIVERSITY%2520OF%2520MICHIGAN%3AKeyword&allFilters=ABC%3ASource%2CPOLITICS%3AKeyword%2CUNIVERSITIES%3AKeyword%2CUNIVERSITY+OF+MICHIGAN%3AKeyword&productType=IncludedProducts&page=1&b=98e356 1980 Republican Convention Summary, Day 1 Session 2]</ref>
[[File:Jwebb.jpg|thumb|left|Portrait of Webb as Secretary of the Navy]]

During the [[Reagan Administration]], Webb served as the nation's first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs from 1984 to 1987. In 1987, he served as [[Secretary of the Navy]], becoming the first [[United States Naval Academy|Naval Academy]] graduate to serve as the civilian head of the Navy. As Navy Secretary, Webb pushed the appointment of [[Alfred M. Gray, Jr.]] as [[Commandant of the United States Marine Corps|Commandant of the Marine Corps]], hoping that Gray could reshape the Corps into the elite unit it once was.<ref name="Ricks1997">{{Cite book|last=Ricks|first=Thomas E.|title=Making the Corps|isbn=0-684-83109-0|year=1997|location=New York|publisher=Scribner|url=https://archive.org/details/makingcorps00rick_1}}</ref> Webb resigned in 1988 after refusing to agree to reduce the size of the Navy. Webb had wished to increase the Navy to [[600-ship Navy|600 ships]]. As revealed in ''[[The Reagan Diaries]]'', President [[Ronald Reagan]] wrote on February 22, 1988: "I don't think Navy was sorry to see him go."<ref name="Reagan">{{Cite book|title=The Reagan Diaries|last=Reagan|first=Ronald|isbn=978-0-06-087600-5|publisher=HarperCollins|year=2007|page=[https://archive.org/details/reagandiaries00reag/page/580 580]|url=https://archive.org/details/reagandiaries00reag/page/580}}</ref>

In a 1990 ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' opinion piece, Webb opposed further U.S. military escalation in [[Saudi Arabia]] during [[Operation Desert Shield (Gulf War)|Operation Desert Shield]] citing lack of a coherent strategy and consent from the United States Congress. He also warned against a permanent military presence in the Middle East.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/23/opinion/in-the-gulf-the-danger-of-a-diplomatic-solution-and-the-horrors-of-a-desert-war.html|title=In the Gulf, the Danger of a Diplomatic Solution ... And the Horrors of a Desert War|last=Webb|first=James|date=September 23, 1990|location=Arlington, Virginia|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 29, 2010}}</ref> Seven months before the beginning of the 2003 [[Iraq War]], Webb wrote an essay for ''[[The Washington Post]]'' in which he

{{blockquote|questioned whether an overthrow of [[Saddam Hussein|Saddam]] would "actually increase our ability to win the war against international terrorism" and pointed out that the measure of military success can be preventing wars as well as fighting them. He charged, "those who are pushing for a unilateral war in Iraq know full well that there is no exit strategy if we invade." He concluded, "the Iraqis are a multiethnic people filled with competing factions who in many cases would view a U.S. occupation as infidels invading the cradle of Islam.... In Japan, American occupation forces quickly became 50,000 friends. In Iraq, they would quickly become 50,000 terrorist targets."<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Scott|last=McConnell|author-link=Scott McConnell|date=December 4, 2006|url=http://www.amconmag.com/article/2006/dec/04/00006|title=Go Webb Go|magazine=[[The American Conservative]]}}</ref>}}

During the [[2004 U.S. presidential election|2004 presidential campaign]], Webb wrote an [[op-ed]] piece for ''[[USA Today]]'' in which he, as a military veteran, evaluated the candidacies of [[John Kerry]] and [[George W. Bush]]. He criticized Kerry for the nature of his opposition to the [[Vietnam War]] in the 1970s while affiliated with the [[Vietnam Veterans Against the War]], and accused Bush of using his father's connections to avoid service in Vietnam. Webb wrote that Bush had "committed the greatest strategic [[blunder (chess)|blunder]] in modern memory" with the [[2003 Invasion of Iraq|2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref name="Webb2004usat">{{Cite news|last=Webb|first=James|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2004-02-18-veterans-edit_x.htm|title=Veterans face conundrum: Kerry or Bush?|work=USA Today|date=2004-02-18|access-date=2006-10-29}}</ref>

Webb supported [[Nebraska]] Senator [[Bob Kerrey]]'s campaign for the [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1992|1992 Democratic presidential nomination]].<ref name="Antle" /> In 1994, he endorsed incumbent Democrat [[Charles Robb]] for reelection to his Senate seat, over Webb's former Naval Academy classmate [[Oliver North]]; like Webb, both Robb and North were decorated Marine veterans of the Vietnam war.<ref>{{cite news|title=Six Veterans Bash North, Push Robb for Senate|first=Kent Jr.|last=Jenkins |newspaper=The Washington Post|location=Washington, D.C.|date=October 8, 1994|page = B.01}}</ref> Webb subsequently endorsed Republican [[George Allen (U.S. politician)|George Allen]] over Robb in 2000,<ref>{{cite news|title=Can the Democrats Handle a Heretic?|first=Joe|last=Klein|magazine=Time|location=New York|date=June 12, 2006|volume=167|issue=24|page=25}}</ref> and then ran against Allen himself in 2006.

==United States Senate==

===2006 Senate campaign===
[[File:Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Senator Chuck Schumer, and former Senator Bob Kerrey campaign for Jim Webb's bid for U.S. Senate in 2006.jpg|thumb|Former President [[Bill Clinton]], Senate Minority Leader [[Harry Reid]], Senator [[Chuck Schumer]], and former Senator [[Bob Kerrey]] campaign for Jim Webb's bid for U.S. Senate]]
[[File:Jim Webb Rally.jpg|thumb|Then-Senator [[Barack Obama]], former Governors [[Doug Wilder]], [[Mark Warner]], and then-Governor [[Tim Kaine]] campaign for Jim Webb]]
{{Main|2006 United States Senate election in Virginia}}

In late 2005, a campaign to [[Draft (politics)|draft]] Webb to run for the [[United States Senate|Senate]] in 2006 began on the internet, promoted by [[netroots]] activists such as those at the blog [[Raising Kaine]]. On February 7, 2006, he announced that he would seek the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nomination for the 2006 Senate race against incumbent [[Virginia]] Senator [[George Allen (U.S. politician)|George Allen]].<ref name="Shear20060208">{{Cite news|last=Shear|first=Michael D.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/07/AR2006020701852.html |title=Reagan Navy Secretary Will Run for U.S. Senate |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2006-02-08|access-date=2006-10-29 |page=B05}}</ref>

In the Democratic primary on June 13, 2006, Webb faced longtime businessman and lobbyist Harris Miller. Webb won with 53.5% of the vote, in a race with low turnout.<ref name="PrimaryResults">{{Cite web|url=http://sbe.virginiainteractive.org/june2006/d_025.htm|title=Official Results: Primary Election, June 13, 2006|publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia|access-date=2006-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060620015747/http://sbe.virginiainteractive.org/june2006/d_025.htm|archive-date=June 20, 2006|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On August 11, 2006, an incident occurred in which Allen used the word ''[[Macaca (slur)|macaca]]'' to refer to Webb campaign associate [[S.R. Sidarth]], who was filming an event as a "tracker" for the Webb campaign. A poll the following week showed Webb gaining 10 percentage points. The race, which at one point looked like a sure win for Allen, became one of the most watched and closest races of the 2006 elections. Webb's entry into the race and primary victory changed the political landscape. Political analyst [[Larry Sabato]] said in May that "Jim Webb is George Allen's worst nightmare: a war hero and a Reagan appointee who holds moderate positions.... Allen tries to project a Reagan aura, but Webb already has it."<ref name="Donnelly2006">{{Cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1191863,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630090955/http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1191863,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2006|date=May 15, 2006|magazine=Time|title=Betting on a Novice in Virginia|last=Donnelly|first=Sally B.}}</ref>

On September 7, 2006, Webb released his first television advertisement, which included footage of a 1985 speech by [[Ronald Reagan]] that praised Webb's service as a Marine.<ref name="Shear20060908">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/07/AR2006090701596.html|title=Television Ad Shows Reagan Praising Webb In 1985 Speech|last=Shear|first=Michael D.|date=September 8, 2006|page=B8|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> The next day, the Chief of Staff for the [[Reagan Library]] wrote to Webb's campaign on behalf of former first lady [[Nancy Reagan]], urging them not to air the advertisement saying it was neither fair nor respectful because it gave the impression of an endorsement.<ref name="reagan">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/08/AR2006090801720.html|title=Nancy Reagan Asks Webb to Pull Ad With Her Husband|access-date=2008-05-22|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 9, 2006|last1=Shear|first1=Michael D.|first2=Tim|last2=Craig|page=B01}}</ref><ref name="wp0914">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/14/AR2006091401583.html|title=Editorial: Let Reagan Be Reagan|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 15, 2006|page=A18}}</ref> The Webb campaign disagreed, saying, "What Reagan said about Jim Webb, that belongs to Jim Webb, frankly."<ref name="reagan" /> The library said they ask all candidates to refrain from using the former president's image but declined to say if they would request the Allen campaign to remove the image of Reagan used on his campaign website.<ref name="reagan" />

Five female graduates of the [[United States Naval Academy]] held a press conference, decrying Webb's 1979 article, "Women Can't Fight." The women said Webb's article contributed to an atmosphere of hostility and harassment towards women at the academy. Webb was later endorsed by nine military women who stated that Webb is a "man of integrity" who "recognizes the crucial role that women have in the military today."<ref name="wt1018">{{Cite news |url=http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20061017-114853-2578r.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061102021546/http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20061017-114853-2578r.htm|archive-date=November 2, 2006|title=Military women support Webb as 'man of integrity'|last=McLaughlin|first=Seth|work=[[The Washington Times]]|date=October 18, 2006}}</ref>

In October 2006, the Allen campaign issued a press release quoting several passages from Webb's novels with sexual content, including graphic references to female anatomy and purported pedophilia, homosexuality and incest, citing a passage in which a Southeast Asian father ritually places the penis of his young son in his mouth. The press release said that the passages showed a "continued pattern of demeaning women".<ref name="Drudge">{{Cite web|access-date=2006-10-27 |url=http://www.drudgereport.com/flashaw.htm |archive-date=October 31, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061031204746/http://www.drudgereport.com/flashaw.htm |title=Allen's revenge: Exposes Underage Sex Scenes in Opponent's Novels |work=[[Drudge Report]] |url-status=dead }}</ref> Allen's campaign refused to tell a local radio news station, [[WTOP-FM]], whether it in fact had issued a news release on the matter.

In response, Jim Webb explained to ''The Washington Post'', "I actually saw this happen in a slum in Bangkok when I was there as a journalist."<ref name="WTOP">{{Cite news|url=http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=213&sid=956260|title=Jim Webb Defends Content of His Novels|publisher=WTOP-FM|date=October 27, 2006|access-date=2006-10-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926212041/http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=213&sid=956260|archive-date=September 26, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to an article on Raw Story, the conservative website ''[[CNS News]]'' cited a case in Nevada in which a Cambodian mother was arrested for a similar act. According to the CNS article, an office manager for the Cambodian Association of America confirmed it is a cultural norm in Thailand and Cambodia.<ref name="RAWSTORTY">{{cite web|url=http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Senator_Allen_releases_graphic_excerpts_from_1027.html|title=Senator Allen releases graphic excerpts from Dem challenger's novel|website=[[Raw Story]]|date=October 27, 2006|access-date=2016-01-01|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071042/http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Senator_Allen_releases_graphic_excerpts_from_1027.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On November 9, 2006, after AP and [[Reuters]] projected that Webb had won the seat, Allen conceded the election. Although the margin was narrow – less than half of 1% of the total vote and therefore small enough under Virginia law to allow demanding a recount – Allen stated that he would not challenge the result.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/10/us/politics/10elect.html|title=Democrats Gain Senate and New Influence|last=Broder|first=John|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 10, 2006|access-date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

===Senator-elect===
On November 15, 2006, Senate majority-leader-in-waiting [[Harry Reid]] assigned Webb to three committees: the committees on [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Foreign Relations]], [[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Veterans' Affairs]], and [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Armed Services]].<ref name="Maze2006">{{Cite news|url=http://www.airforcetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2358029.php|last=Maze|first=Rick|date=November 15, 2006|title=Webb to serve on key Iraq-related Senate panels|work=Air Force Times}}</ref>

"That same day, an op-ed authored by Webb appeared in the pages of ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. Titled 'Class Struggle: American workers have a chance to be heard'. The piece addressed the harmful economic inequality in the U.S., with the elites on one side and American workers on the other side. The article cites the "age of globalization and outsourcing, and with a vast underground labor pool from illegal immigration", as well as extravagant executive compensation, the detrimental effects of free trade and globalization, iniquitous tax cuts, speedily rising health care costs, and stagnation in income as the reasons for the increasing disparity between the elites and American workers.<ref name="Webb2006ojwsj">{{Cite news|url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110009246|title=Class Struggle: American workers have a chance to be heard|last=Webb|first=Jim|date=November 15, 2006|work= The Wall Street Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106023536/http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110009246|archive-date=January 6, 2010}}</ref>

====Exchange with President George W. Bush====
On November 28, 2006, at a White House reception for those newly elected to Congress, Webb did not choose to wait in the line to have his picture taken with the president,<ref>Webb, in an interview on [[The Brian Lehrer Show]], WNYC, May 21, 2014</ref> whom Webb often criticized during the campaign. The president approached Webb later and asked him, "How's your boy?", referring to Webb's son, a Marine serving in Iraq. Webb replied "I'd like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President." Bush responded, "That's not what I asked you. How's your boy?", Webb responded, "That's between me and my boy, Mr. President." ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' cited an anonymous source who claimed that Webb was so angered by the exchange that he confessed he was tempted to "slug" the president.<ref name="Heil2006">{{Cite news|url=http://hill6.thehill.com/under-the-dome/son-also-rises-in-testy-webb-bush-exchange-2006-11-29.html|title=Son also rises in testy Webb-Bush exchange|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|first=Emily|last=Heil|date=November 29, 2006|access-date=2006-12-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218102937/http://hill6.thehill.com/under-the-dome/son-also-rises-in-testy-webb-bush-exchange-2006-11-29.html|archive-date=December 18, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Webb later remarked in an interview, "I'm not particularly interested in having a picture of me and George W. Bush on my wall."<ref name="Shear20061129">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/28/AR2006112801582.html|title=In Following His Own Script, Webb May Test Senate's Limits|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Michael D.|last=Shear|date=November 29, 2006|access-date=2006-12-02}}</ref>

In response to the incident, some conservatives criticized Webb, including [[George Will]], who called Webb a "boor" and wrote, "[Webb] already has become what Washington did not need another of, a subtraction from the city's civility and clear speaking."<ref name="Will20061130">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/29/AR2006112901267.html|title=Already Too Busy for Civility|first=George F.|last=Will|author-link=George Will|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 30, 2006|access-date=2006-12-06}}</ref><ref name="washpost-passions">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/01/AR2006120101205.html|title=Remark By Webb Arouses Passions|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Michael D.|last=Shear|date=December 2, 2006|access-date=2006-12-05}}</ref> Others, such as conservative columnist and former Reagan speechwriter [[Peggy Noonan]], reserved their criticism for Bush, writing: "I thought it had the sound of the rattling little aggressions of our day, but not on Mr. Webb's side."<ref name="Noonan2006">{{Cite news|url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110009321|title=Grace Under Pressure|work=The Wall Street Journal|first=Peggy|last=Noonan|author-link=Peggy Noonan|date=December 2, 2006}} (subscription required)</ref>
[[File:Jim Webb with son Jimmy and George W. Bush 2008.jpg|thumb|right |Jim Webb with son Jimmy and George W. Bush in March, 2008]]

Webb was asked about the exchange in a January 4, 2007 appearance on ''[[Hardball with Chris Matthews]]''. He told [[Chris Matthews|Matthews]]:

{{blockquote|My feeling about that – first of all, it's been kind of a bit overblown. But I think when people are now seeing how [[John McCain]] is handling the situation with his son being in the [[USMC|Marine Corps]], perhaps they can understand a little bit more what I was having to go through during the entire campaign. I greatly respect my son's service and all of the people who are serving. At the same time, I have not commented, even to many of my friends, about the operational side. That's personal to me in terms of my feelings about it. And it was not a casual comment. As I said in the piece that you just ran, I think the best article that was written on that was by Peggy Noonan in ''The Wall Street Journal'' when she basically said that the lack of civility was not mine and I feel that way.<ref name=Matthews20070104>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16485135|title='Hardball with Chris Matthews' for January 4 – Guests: Jim Webb, Hilary Rosen, Susan Molinari, Trent Lott, Chaka Fattah, A.B. Stoddard, Chris Cillizza|date=January 5, 2007 |publisher=NBC News|access-date=2007-01-05}}</ref>}}

After his son returned from Iraq, Webb "buried the hatchet" with the president by setting up a private chat with his son, the president, and himself in the Oval Office.<ref name="Kumar20080321">{{Cite news|access-date=2008-05-11|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/20/AR2008032003421.html|title='Born Fighter' Settles Down To Collegial First Term – Sen. Webb Is a Surprise|last=Kumar|first=Anita|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 21, 2008|page=A01}}</ref>

===Tenure as Senator===
[[File:Jim Webb, leaning against pillar, 2007.jpg|thumb|left|Jim Webb in 2007]]
[[File:US Navy 071013-N-6512M-021 Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia, a former Secretary of the Navy, delivers remarks during the Navy Day celebration held at the U.S. Navy Memorial.jpg|thumb|Senator and former Secretary of the Navy Jim Webb delivers remarks during the [[Navy Day]] celebration held at the [[U.S. Navy Memorial]]]]
On January 3, 2007, Webb was sworn into the [[110th United States Congress|110th U.S. Senate]], accompanied by Sen. [[John Warner]], R-Va., a fellow former [[Secretary of the Navy]]; and former Virginia Democratic Sen. [[Chuck Robb]], who held the same seat before losing to Allen.
On his first day in the Senate, Webb introduced the [[Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008|Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act]], to expand benefits for military families, which he had written. The act replaces key provisions of the Montgomery [[G.I. Bill]] for recent veterans and "makes veterans benefits identical to those soldiers received following World War II". "With many of our military members serving two or three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is past time to enact a new veterans' education program modeled on the World War II era G.I. bill. This is exactly what our legislation does", Webb said. It became law on June 30, 2008, as part of the [[Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008]].<ref>{{cite web|title=H.R.2642 - Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/2642|website=Congress.gov|date=June 30, 2008|access-date=10 September 2016}}</ref>

In a January 4, 2007, appearance on ''[[The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer|The Situation Room]]'', Webb articulated his position on the [[Iraq War]]:

<blockquote>What we really need to do is to get into the arena where we can talk about a strategy, talk about the pluses and the minuses of the [[Iraq Study Group|Baker-Hamilton Commission]] and work toward a solution that, on the one hand, will allow us to remove our combat troops, but on the other, will increase the stability of the region, allow us to continue to fight against international terrorism and allow us, as a nation, to address our strategic interests around the world. And this is – this is one of the drawbacks that we've had with so many troops having been put into this constant rotational basis inside one country when we have a war against international terrorism that's global.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}</blockquote>

Asked by [[Wolf Blitzer]] if he would ever support the efforts of [[Dennis Kucinich]] to cut funding for the war, Webb said,

<blockquote>I – you know, I lived through Vietnam. I lived through it as a Marine and I know that those sorts of approaches, while they seem attractive on one level are really not that realistic. What we want to do – and I was talking with a number of senators today – is to try to get some of these so-called emergency legislation packages back into the committee process so that the committees can actually play.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/04/sitroom.04.html |series= THE SITUATION ROOM|title=Momentous day On Capitol Hill; Some Things May Get Lost In Shuffle Next Week On Capitol Hill; Jim Webb Interview; House Administration Committee Investigating Contested Florida House Race|publisher=CNN|date=January 4, 2007}}</ref></blockquote>

On January 23, 2007, Webb delivered the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Response to the State of the Union address|response]] to the president's [[2007 State of the Union Address|State of the Union address]], focusing on the economy and Iraq.<ref name="RawStory">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Democratic_response_to_Bush_State_of_0123.html|title=Webb's 'aggressive' Democratic response to Bush 'State of Union' speech [includes transcript of Webb's response]|work=The Raw Story|date=January 23, 2007|access-date=January 24, 2007|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906091030/http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Democratic_response_to_Bush_State_of_0123.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Webb's speech drew positive reviews, and was regarded as one of the stronger State of the Union responses in recent memory.<ref name="SOTU-Response">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2007/01/25/BL2007012500416_4.html|title=The Long Goodbye|last=Kurtz|first=Howard|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 25, 2005|access-date=2007-05-03|author-link= Howard Kurtz}}</ref>

On March 5, 2007, Webb introduced his second piece of legislation, {{USBill|110|S|759}}, intended to prohibit the use of funds for military operations in [[Iran]] without the prior approval of Congress. In a statement on the floor of the Senate, Webb said, "The major function of this legislation is to prevent this Administration from commencing unprovoked military activities against Iran without the approval of the Congress. The legislation accomplishes this goal through the proper constitutional process of prohibiting all funding for such an endeavor."<ref name="WebbPressRelease">{{Cite press release|publisher=Senator Jim Webb|url=http://www.webb.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=270138|title=Senator Jim Webb Introduces Bill Prohibiting Use of Funds for Military Operations in Iran|date=2007-03-05|access-date=2007-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070425203636/http://webb.senate.gov/newsroom//record.cfm?id=270138|archive-date=April 25, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On March 26, 2007, a senatorial aide of Webb, Phillip Thompson, was arrested for carrying Webb's loaded pistol as he entered the Russell Senate Office Building and for carrying unregistered ammunition. The weapon was discovered when Thompson went through an X-ray machine with a briefcase that contained a loaded pistol and two additional loaded magazines.<ref name="AP2007">{{Cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070326/ap_on_go_co/senate_arrest|title=Webb aide arrested for gun possession|agency=Associated Press|date=March 26, 2007}}</ref> Charges against the aide were dismissed after prosecutors concluded it could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Thompson was aware that the gun and ammunition were in the briefcase.<ref name="Cauvin2007">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/27/AR2007042702138.html|access-date=2007-05-14|title=Prosecutors Drop Gun Case Against Webb Aide|last=Cauvin|first=Henri E.|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 28, 2007}}</ref> Webb responded to his aide's arrest by reiterating his support for gun-owners' rights:<blockquote>I'm a strong supporter of the Second Amendment; I have had a permit to carry a weapon in Virginia for a long time; I believe that it's important; it's important to me personally and to a lot of people in the situation that I'm in to be able to defend myself and my family.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17819572 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129195506/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17819572/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 29, 2015 |title=Gun arrest gives Webb political opening: Virginia Democrat uses incident with aide to proclaim right to self-defense |first=Tom |last=Curry |publisher= NBC News |date=March 27, 2007 }}</ref></blockquote>

====2009 visit to Southeast Asia====
[[File:Jim Webb with Aung San Suu Kyi.jpg|thumb|Jim Webb with [[Aung San Suu Kyi]]]]
{{See also|Burma – United States relations}}
On August 14, 2009, Webb visited [[Myanmar]] (Burma), seeing its junta's leader, Gen. [[Than Shwe]], and also the pro-democracy leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]], who was under house arrest. During Webb's visit with Than Shwe, Webb negotiated the release and deportation of an imprisoned American, [[John Yettaw]].<ref name="ap15aug">{{Cite news|title=Senator wins release of US prisoner in Myanmar|agency=Associated Press|date=August 15, 2009|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hzXtyPYr-eVVrsJcBLfO_b_Nl3jQD9A3CL8G0}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Seth Mydans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/world/asia/17myanmar.html |title=American Held in Myanmar Is Released |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 16, 2009 |page=A4}}</ref> Upon his return to the U.S., Webb wrote an editorial titled "We Can't Afford to Ignore Myanmar" for ''[[The New York Times]]'', arguing for the easing of sanctions on the country. Webb stated that sanctions have isolated the country, thereby encouraging the ruling regime to turn to China and allowing "China to dramatically increase its economic and political influence in Myanmar, furthering a dangerous strategic imbalance in the region." Webb also noted that, unlike Myanmar, China does not allow opposition parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/opinion/26webb.html|title=We Can't Afford to Ignore Myanmar|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 25, 2009|author=Webb, Jim}}</ref> Webb has stated that he started the pivot to Asia during the Bush Administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/jim-webb-critiques-clinton-era-foreign-policy-116796.html|title=Jim Webb critiques Clinton-era foreign policy|work=[[Politico]]|date=April 8, 2015|author=Schreckinger, Ben}}</ref>

Webb visited [[Vietnam]] as part of a two-week trip to five Southeast Asian countries. Webb, who can speak Vietnamese, has had a continuous involvement in Asian and Pacific affairs that long predates his time in the Senate. In addition to his more recent visits as a member of the [[Senate Foreign Relations Committee]], Webb has worked and traveled throughout this vast region, from [[Micronesia]] to Burma, for nearly four decades, as a Marine Corps officer, a defense planner, a journalist, a novelist, a Department of Defense executive, and as a business consultant. He worked in the 1990s as a consultant for companies attempting to do business in Vietnam.<ref name="vietnam">{{cite news|title=TNS Jim Webb thăm Việt Nam|year=2009|work=BBC News |language=vi}}</ref>

====Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009====
[[File:Defense Secretary and Senators Ben Nelson and Jim Webb prior to a hearing before the ASC on the START treaty.jpg|thumb|left|Defense Secretary [[Robert M. Gates]] and Senators [[Ben Nelson]] and Jim Webb prior to a hearing]]
On March 26, 2009, Webb filed the [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.714: Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205171613/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:S.714: |date=February 5, 2016 }} (SB 714), which would create a blue ribbon commission to reevaluate the criminal justice system and drug policy and make recommendations for reform.<ref>{{cite news | last = Smith | first=Jordan|date=March 27, 2009|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2009-03-27/759715|title=Time to Fix Criminal Justice System: Sen. Jim Webb says broken system must be fixed|newspaper=The Austin Chronicle | access-date = December 5, 2009}}</ref> Noting that the United States houses 25% of the world's inmates despite having only 5% of the world's population, Webb proposed a comparison between U.S. incarceration policies and those of other developed nations.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Webb|first=Jim|date=March 29, 2009|url=http://parade.com/104227/senatorjimwebb/why-we-must-fix-our-prisons|title=Why We Must Fix Our Prisons|magazine=Parade|access-date = December 5, 2009}}</ref> At a [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs]] hearing, Webb described the [[criminal justice]] system as being in "... a profound, deeply corrosive crisis that we have largely been ignoring at our peril." He also criticized the lack of standards in prison administration and highlighted the justice system's negative impact on communities. The subcommittee chairman, Sen. [[Arlen Specter]] (D-PA), expressed support for the bill at the hearing and indicated his intent to move the bill to the full [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary]].<ref>{{YouTube|TSjrcFn_SBI|Highlights of Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on Sen. Webbs Criminal Justice Bill}}.</ref> By the end of June 2010, the bill had 39 cosponsors.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:s.00714: | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120714142847/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:s.00714: | url-status = dead | archive-date = July 14, 2012 | work = Bill Summary & Status, 111th Congress (2009 - 2010) | title = S.714: National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2010 | access-date = February 27, 2015 }}</ref>

In the fall of 2009, an amendment to SB 714 was proposed by Sen. [[Charles Grassley]] (R-IA) that would have prohibited the commission created by the bill from discussing or recommending the decriminalization or legalization of any substance prohibited under the [[Controlled Substances Act]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Crippes|first=Christina|date=November 9, 2009|url=http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/grassley-110909|title=Grassley proposing limits to federal drug study|newspaper=TheHawkEye|access-date=December 5, 2009}}</ref> The proposed amendment drew criticism from some in the online community. Grassley later rescinded the amendment and claimed in a ''[[Des Moines Register]]'' op-ed that he had proposed it to "start a debate on this important issue".<ref>{{citation|last=Grassley|first=Charles|date=November 21, 2009|url=http://m.desmoinesregister.com/detail.jsp?key=560211&rc=op&full=1|title=Guest column: Congress should debate drug policy|work=The Des Moines Register|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100102041517/http://m.desmoinesregister.com/detail.jsp?key=560211&rc=op&full=1|archive-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref> SB 714 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee by a voice vote on January 21, 2010.[https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-bill/714/all-actions?r=56&overview=closed&s=1#tabs] but no further action was ever taken.

====Retirement from the U.S. Senate====
On February 9, 2011, Webb announced that he would not run for re-election to his Senate seat in 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/259372/predicted-jim-webb-wont-run-reelection-2012|title=As Predicted, Jim Webb Won't Run for Reelection in 2012|first=Jim|last=Geraghty|date=February 9, 2011|magazine=National Review|archive-date=October 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020060033/http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/259372/predicted-jim-webb-wont-run-reelection-2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0211/Source_Webb_wont_seek_reelection.html|title=Webb won't seek reelection|first=Ben|last=Smith|work=[[Politico]]|date=February 9, 2011 }}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
[[File:US Navy 070927-N-3642E-140 Sen. James Webb, D-Va., questions Adm. Gary Roughead, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, after his testimony before the Committee on Armed Services during his confirmation hearing for appointment.jpg|thumb|Senator Webb questions in the Committee on Armed Services]]
*[[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland|Subcommittee on Airland]]
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel|Subcommittee on Personnel]] (Chairman)
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on SeaPower|Subcommittee on SeaPower]]
*[[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Committee on Foreign Relations]]
**[[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs|Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs]]
**[[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs|Subcommittee on African Affairs]]
**[[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs|Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs]] (Chairman)
**[[United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs|Subcommittee on European Affairs]]
*[[United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Committee on Veterans' Affairs]]
*[[Joint Economic Committee]]

==2008 vice presidential speculation==
{{Main|2008 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection}}
Webb was frequently mentioned as a possible [[VPOTUS|vice presidential]] Democratic nominee for [[Barack Obama]] in 2008 due to his military experience and moderate policy positions.<ref>{{Cite news|date= 2007-10-28|last=Murray|first=Shailagh|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/27/AR2007102701155.html|title= Webb Seen as a Potential 2008 Running Mate|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2008-05-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-05-22|url=http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11375813|title=Why not both?|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=2008-05-22}}</ref><ref name="RCP050908" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-05-22|last=Carlson|first=Margaret|author-link=Margaret Carlson|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aik0SUNrVznA&refer=home|title= Webb's Just the Reagan Democrat Obama Needs: Margaret Carlson|publisher=[[Bloomberg News]]|access-date=2008-05-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-05-22|last=Turner|first=Trish|author2=Oinounou, Mosheh|url=http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/22/obama-mccain-spar-over-gi-bills-education-incentives|title=Obama, McCain Spar Over GI Bill's Education Incentives|publisher=Fox News|access-date=2008-05-22|quote=I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did|author2-link=Mosheh Oinounou}}</ref> Although he said he was not interested in the vice presidency,<ref>{{cite magazine|date=2008-05-19|url=http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2008/05/sunday_snapshot_42.html|title=Veep Veep|magazine=[[National Journal]]|access-date=2008-05-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080525102142/http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2008/05/sunday_snapshot_42.html|archive-date=May 25, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> speculations about his being picked by Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee at the time, were still heard.<ref name="RCP050908">{{Cite web|date=2008-05-09|last=Pomper|first=Gerald|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/05/obama_should_pick_webb_for_run.html|title=Obama Should Pick Webb for Running Mate|publisher=[[Real Clear Politics]]|access-date=2008-05-22}}</ref>

On July 7, Webb effectively removed himself as a possible candidate for vice president in a statement made to ''[[Time Magazine|Time]]'', stating that he intended to serve his term in the Senate and "under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President."<ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-07-07|url=http://thepage.time.com/2008/07/07/cross-webb-off-obama-veep-list|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080710081031/http://thepage.time.com/2008/07/07/cross-webb-off-obama-veep-list/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 10, 2008|title=Cross Webb off Obama Veep List|magazine=Time|access-date=July 7, 2008}}</ref> Obama went on to choose fellow senator [[Joe Biden]] as his running mate.

==2016 presidential campaign==
[[File:Jim Webb 2016.svg|thumb| ]]
{{Main|Jim Webb 2016 presidential campaign}}

On November 19, 2014, Webb announced the formation of an [[exploratory committee]] in preparation for a possible bid for the [[Democratic Party presidential primaries, 2016|Democratic Party's nomination]] for [[President of the United States]] in [[2016 United States presidential election|2016]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/11/president-jim-webb/382977|title=President Jim Webb?|work=[[The Atlantic]]|date=November 20, 2014|access-date=November 20, 2014|last=Berman|first=Russell}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/jim-webb-2016-committee-113055.html|title=Jim Webb launches 2016 committee|work=[[Politico]]|access-date=2014-11-20|date=2014-11-20|last=Haberman|first=Maggie}}</ref> He made the announcement via a video posted on his website, as well as on [[YouTube]].<ref name="launches">{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/jim-webb-2016-committee-113055.html|title=Jim Webb launches 2016 committee|work=[[Politico]]|access-date=January 22, 2014|date=November 20, 2014|last=Haberman|first=Maggie}}</ref>

On June 15, 2015, Webb announced he would make a decision regarding a presidential bid by the end of the month.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/jim-webb-decide-2016-run-end-month-31785769|title=Jim Webb to decide 2016 run by end of month|access-date=June 16, 2015|work=ABC News|date=June 15, 2015}}</ref>
Webb made a formal announcement on July 2, 2015, through an open letter on his webb2016 website, that he would seek the Democratic Party's nomination for the presidency.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/jim-webb-announces-2016-presidential-bid/2015/07/02/92ec7168-20e5-11e5-84d5-eb37ee8eaa61_story.html|title=Jim Webb announces 2016 presidential bid|author=Rachel Weiner|date=July 2, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

On October 20, 2015, after failing to gain substantial support for his campaign ahead of the primaries, Webb announced that he would be dropping out of the Democratic presidential race in favor of a possible [[Independent politician|independent]] presidential run citing his "frustration with party leadership".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/jim-webb-quit-democratic-primary-n447736|title=Jim Webb to Quit Democratic Primary|author=Alex Seitz-Wald|date=October 20, 2015|work=NBC News}}</ref> On February 11, 2016, he ruled out making an independent presidential bid.<ref name="rulesout">{{cite web | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-sen-jim-webb-rules-out-independent-presidential-bid/ | title=Former Sen. Jim Webb rules out independent presidential bid | publisher=[[CBS News|CBSNews.com]] | date=February 11, 2016 | access-date=February 11, 2016 | author=Shabad, Rebecca}}</ref>

On March 4, 2016, Webb stated that he would not vote for [[Hillary Clinton]] in the 2016 presidential election and declined to rule out voting for [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/jim-webb-no-hillary-clinton-220255 | title=Jim Webb: I won't vote for Clinton, but I may for Trump | work=[[Politico]] | date=March 4, 2016 | access-date=March 8, 2016 | author=Collins, Eliza}}</ref>

==As an author==
[[File:Senator Jim Webb, Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass, former Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, former Senator John Warner, & journalist Andrea Mitchell at Ronald Reagan Centennial Roundtable.jpg|thumb|300px|Senator Jim Webb, [[Council on Foreign Relations]] President [[Richard N. Haass]], former Deputy Secretary of State [[John Negroponte]], former Senator [[John Warner]], and journalist [[Andrea Mitchell]] at [[Ronald Reagan]] Centennial Roundtable in 2011]]

===Books===
Webb's successful first novel, ''[[Fields of Fire (novel)|Fields of Fire]]'' (1978), drawn from personal experience, tells the story of a platoon of [[United States Marines]] in late 1960s Vietnam. Reviewers hailed its descriptions of infantry life and combat.<ref name="StoryTelling">{{Cite news|magazine=Time|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,912243,00.html
|title=Reviving the Story-Telling Art|date=October 30, 1978}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://augustafreepress.com/clintonistas-eye-jim-webb|title=Clintonistas have their eye on Jim Webb|work=Augusta Free Press|date=January 7, 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2015/01/05/team-hillary-keeping-an-eye-on-jim-webb-n1938882 "Hillary keeping an eye on Jim Webb"], townhall.com, January 5, 2014.</ref>

After five more novels, he wrote ''[[Born Fighting|Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America]]'' (2004), a personal view of [[Scots-Irish American|Scots-Irish]] and their place in American history and culture.

====Works====
[[File:Senator Jim Webb and Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, daughter of former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson and also former First Lady of Virginia, wife of Chuck Robb.jpg|thumb|Senator Jim Webb and [[Lynda Bird Johnson Robb]], daughter of former U.S. President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and also former First Lady of Virginia, wife of [[Chuck Robb]]]]
*''Micronesia and United States Pacific Strategy: Blueprint for the 1980s'' (1975)<ref>{{cite book|title=Micronesia and United States Pacific Strategy: Blueprint for the 1980s (Praeger special studies in international politics and government): James H. Webb: 9780275089405: Amazon.com: Books|isbn = 0275089401|last1 = Webb|first1 = James H.|date = October 1974| publisher=Praeger Publishers }}</ref>
*''[[Fields of Fire (novel)|Fields of Fire]]'' (1978) {{ISBN|0-553-58385-9}}
*''A Sense of Honor'' (1981) {{ISBN|1-55750-917-4}}
*''A Country Such as This'' (1983) {{ISBN|1-55750-964-6}}
*''Something to Die For'' (1992) {{ISBN|0-380-71322-5}}
*''The Emperor's General'' (1999) {{ISBN|0-553-57854-5}}
*''Lost Soldiers'' (2002) {{ISBN|0-440-24091-3}}
*''[[Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America]]'' (2004) {{ISBN|0-7679-1688-3}}
*''A Time to Fight: Reclaiming a Fair and Just America'' (2008) {{ISBN|0-7679-2835-0}}
*''I Heard My Country Calling: A Memoir'' (2015) {{ISBN|9781476741154}}

===Movies===
Webb wrote the story, and was the executive producer, for the 2000 film ''[[Rules of Engagement (film)|Rules of Engagement]]'', which starred [[Tommy Lee Jones]] and [[Samuel L. Jackson]].

[[Warner Brothers]] acquired Webb's script for ''Whiskey River''.<ref name="Wray2005">{{Cite web |access-date=2007-12-09 |url=http://movies.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1044494.php/Warner_Bros._drinks_from_Whiskey_River |title=Warner Bros. drinks from Whiskey River |last=Wray |first=James |date=August 29, 2005 |publisher=Monsters and Critics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821232053/http://movies.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1044494.php/Warner_Bros._drinks_from_Whiskey_River |archive-date=August 21, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The script concerns an American soldier who is injured in Iraq and returns to the United States. Before completing rehabilitation, he is called back to active duty. His father, in an attempt to save his son's life, kidnaps him.<ref name="Wray2005" />

In October 2006, while commenting on the need to break away from [[stereotype|stereotypical]] movie [[villain]]s, Webb stated, "[e]very movie needs a villain. [[List of ethnic slurs#T|Towel-heads]] and [[Redneck (stereotype)|rednecks]]—of which I am one ... became the easy villains in so many movies out there."<ref name="Copeland20061018">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/17/AR2006101701585_3.html |title=Don't Call Him Redneck: James Webb Hates the Expression, But Is Very Proud of the Culture |last = Copeland | first = Libby |date=October 18, 2006 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2006-10-21}}</ref>

===Articles===
Webb is a prolific writer and has written for many national journals including the ''[[Marine Corps Gazette]]'', ''[[Proceedings (magazine)|Proceedings]]'' of the United States Naval Institute, ''USA Today'', ''The New York Times'', ''The Washington Post'', and ''The Wall Street Journal''.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.jameswebb.com/articles/articles_main_page.htm |access-date=2007-02-03
|title=Articles Written by Jim Webb: MAIN PAGE
|work=jameswebb.com | publisher = James Webb Enterprises |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070202004623/http://www.jameswebb.com/articles/articles_main_page.htm |archive-date = 2007-02-02}}</ref>

==Personal life==
His first marriage was to Barbara Samorajczyk, a [[lawyer]] who has worked for various real estate and development companies in [[Washington, D.C.]], and [[Northern Virginia]]. She is a member of the [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland]], Council. They have one daughter, Amy, who was eight when they divorced in 1979. Webb and Samorajczyk have three grandchildren.<ref name="Timburg">{{Cite book|last=Timburg|first=Robert|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=89xm-0eIfG8C&pg=PA306|title=The Nightingale's Song|publisher=Touchstone|year=1995|isbn=978-0-684-82673-8|location=New York, New York|page=306|format=Paperback|access-date=2010-08-29}}</ref>

His second marriage was to Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs and health-care lobbyist Jo Ann Krukar in 1981;<ref name=Timburg/> in later years, long after their divorce, she also assisted in his 2006 Senate campaign. They have three children: Sarah, Jimmy, and Julia. Webb's son Jimmy was a rifleman and [[Sergeant#United States|sergeant]] in the [[United States Marine Corps]], and served a tour in [[Iraq]] with [[Weapons Company]], [[1st Battalion 6th Marines]].<ref name="Barnes2006">{{Cite news|last=Barnes|first=Robert|date=June 8, 2006|title=For Webb, Fighter is a Label that Sticks|page=Metro B01|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/409984868}}</ref><ref name="Shear2006">{{Cite news|last=Shear|first=Michael D.|date=September 1, 2006|title=VIRGINIA BRIEFING: Webb Puts Family Before Parade|page=B05|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/31/AR2006083101642.html|access-date=2006-09-02}}</ref> In tribute to his son, Jimmy, and to "all the people sent into harm's way", Jim Webb wore his son's old combat boots every day during his 2006 Senate campaign.<ref name="Toner2006">{{Cite news|last=Toner|first=Robin|date=September 18, 2006|title=As Senator Falters, a Democrat Rises in Virginia|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/18/us/politics/18webb.html|access-date=2006-10-28}}</ref>

Webb is currently married to Hong Le Webb, a [[Vietnamese-American]] securities and corporate lawyer for Murphy and McGonigle.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mmlawus.com/attorney/hong-le-webb/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623222152/https://www.mmlawus.com/attorney/hong-le-webb/ |archive-date=June 23, 2020 |title=Murphy & McGonigle - Hong Le Webb}}</ref> Hong Le was born in [[South Vietnam]] and came to the United States when she was seven, after the [[fall of Saigon]]. She grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. They married in October 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gowen|first=Annie|date=November 3, 2006|title=Webb's Wife Steps Into Onstage Role, Denouncing Criticism of Va. Candidate|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/02/AR2006110201673_2.html|access-date=May 6, 2010}}</ref> Hong Le and Jim Webb have one child together, Georgia LeAnh, born December 2006. Webb is also a stepfather to Hong Le's daughter from a previous marriage.<ref name="Argetsinger2006">{{Cite news|last1=Argetsinger|first1=Amy|last2=Roberts|first2=Roxanne|date=December 12, 2006|title=The Reliable Source – For Webb, Good Things Come in Threes: A New Job, Baby and House|page=C03|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/11/AR2006121101582.html}}</ref> Jim Webb speaks [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]].<ref>{{cite web|title=About Jim|url=http://www.bornfighting.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131132557/http://www.bornfighting.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=5|archive-date=January 31, 2009|access-date=2009-07-22|work=Born Fighting, Political Action Committee: Senator Jim Webb, Chair|publisher=Born Fighting PAC}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{Election box begin |title=[[2006 United States Senate election in Virginia]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (US)
  |candidate  = Jim Webb
  |votes      = 1,175,606
  |percentage = 49.6
  |change     = +1.91%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (US)
  |candidate  = [[George Allen (U.S. politician)|George Allen]] (incumbent)
  |votes      = 1,166,277
  |percentage = 49.2
  |change     = −3.05%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 |party = Independent Greens of Virginia
 |candidate = [[Gail Parker (American politician)|Gail Parker]]
 |votes = 26,102
 |percentage = 1.1
 |change =
}}
{{Election box candidate
 |party = Write-ins
 |candidate =
 |votes = 2,460
 |percentage = 0.1
 |change =
}}
{{Election box majority
 |votes = 9,329
 |percentage = 0.39%
 |change = −4.18%
}}
{{Election box turnout
 |votes = 2,370,445
 |percentage =
 |change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link
 |winner = Democratic Party (US)
 |loser = Republican Party (US)
 |swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Webb won election to the senate in [[2006 Virginia Senate election|2006]], defeating incumbent [[George Allen (U.S. politician)|George Allen]].<ref name="allen loses">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/10/AR2006111000191.html|title=Virginia Sen. Allen Concedes Defeat | last=Barakat |first=Matthew |date=November 10, 2006 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 13, 2010}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Democratic Party presidential candidates, 2016]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
<!-- {{Sister project links|Jim Webb}} -->
{{Commons}}
{{Wikiquote|Jim Webb}}
{{wikisource author}}

===Official===
* [http://www.jameswebb.com/ James Webb Enterprises]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141120130902/http://webb2016.com/ Webb 2016 Exploratory Committee] for President
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121222210404/http://www.webb.senate.gov/ United States Senator Jim Webb] Senate site (archived December 22, 2012)
* [https://wayback.archive-it.org/663/*/http://webb.senate.gov/ 2007 Archived Senate Web Site] part of [http://www.archive-it.org/public/collection.html?id=663 Virginia's Political Landscape, 2007 Web Archive Collection] at [http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/archival_web_collections Virginia Memory]
* [https://wayback.archive-it.org/934/*/http://webb.senate.gov/ 2008 Archived Senate Web Site] part of [http://www.archive-it.org/public/collection.html?id=934 Virginia's Political Landscape, 2008 Web Archive Collection] at [http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/archival_web_collections Virginia Memory]
* [https://wayback.archive-it.org/1295/*/http://webb.senate.gov/ 2009 Archived Senate Web Site] part of [http://www.archive-it.org/public/collection.html?id=1295 Virginia's Political Landscape, 2009 Web Archive Collection] at [http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/archival_web_collections Virginia Memory]
* [https://wayback.archive-it.org/1582/*/http://webb.senate.gov/ 2010 Archived Senate Web Site] part of [http://www.archive-it.org/public/collection.html?id=1582 Virginia's Political Landscape, 2010 Web Archive Collection] at [http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/archival_web_collections Virginia Memory]
* [https://wayback.archive-it.org/386/*/http://www.webbforsenate.com/ 2006 Archived Campaign Web Site] part of [http://www.archive-it.org/public/collection.html?id=386 Virginia Statewide Election Campaign Web Sites, 2006 Archive Collection] at [http://www.virginiamemory.com/collections/archival_web_collections Virginia Memory]
* [http://www.bornfighting.com Born Fighting PAC, Senator Jim Webb, Chair]
* [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/people/secnav/secnavs.html Secretaries of the Navy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820051137/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/people/secnav/secnavs.html |date=August 20, 2018 }} official list

===Resources===
* {{Curlie|Regional/North_America/United_States/Government/Legislative_Branch/Senate/Ex-Senators/Webb%2C_Jim_%5BD-VA%5D}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=w000803 | votesmart=60043 | fec=S6VA00127 | congress= }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/412249 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/412249_Jim_Webb Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00028058 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [http://www.legistorm.com/member/819/Sen_Jim_Webb.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/James_Webb.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n80-144890 Works by or about Jim Webb] in libraries ([[WorldCat]] catalog)
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/1914 Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* [http://www.charlierose.com/guest/view/9178 Appearances] on [[Charlie Rose (TV show)|''Charlie Rose'']]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm916136 Appearances] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]
* [http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/enwiki/w/james_h_webb_jr//index.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The New York Times]]''
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gIQAFaTw9O_topic.html Collected news and commentary] at ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* -->
* {{C-SPAN|1914}}

===Articles===
* [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90595861 Senator Jim Webb, Choosing His Battles], interview on [[Fresh Air]], May 20, 2008
* West, Paul. "[http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/6318.html Jim Webb: No More Combat Boots]", ''Washingtonian'', February 1, 2008.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929122822/http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/1_Citations/07_RVN-nc/nc_19rvn_usmcS.html Webb's Navy Cross citation]
* Webb, James H. [http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,Webb_112502,00.html "The Price of Duty"], ''PARADE Magazine'', May 27, 2001. URL accessed December 29, 2005
* Webb, James. [http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2004/edition_10-03-2004/featured_0 "Why You Need To Know The Scots-Irish"], ''PARADE Magazine'', October 3, 2004, adapted from his book ''[[Born Fighting]]''. URL accessed April 27, 2010
* Webb, James. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/18/opinion/18webb.html "Purple Heartbreakers], ''The New York Times'', January 18, 2006
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041204134350/http://www.nps.navy.mil/PAO/GuestSpeaker/Webb_James_Bio.htm About James H. Webb, Jr.], from the Naval Postgraduate School
* [http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/player.jhtml?ml_video=60117&ml_collection=&ml_gateway=&ml_comedian=&ml_runtime=&ml_context=show&ml_origin_url=/shows/the_colbert_report/index.jhtml&ml_playlist=&lnk= Interview on Comedy Central] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206094948/http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/player.jhtml?ml_video=60117&ml_collection=&ml_gateway=&ml_comedian=&ml_runtime=&ml_context=show&ml_origin_url=%2Fshows%2Fthe_colbert_report%2Findex.jhtml&ml_playlist=&lnk= |date=December 6, 2007 }}, [[The Colbert Report]], March 8, 2006
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130910083557/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10005066/ Jim Webb vs. George Allen] ''Meet the Press'', September 17, 2006
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/27/AR2006102701000.html Allen Blasts Webb Novels For Sex Scenes] Michael D. Shear and Tim Craig, ''The Washington Post'', October 28, 2006
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070926212806/http://www.richmond.com/news/output.aspx?Article_ID=4461612&Vertical_ID=127&tier=1&position=2] Wilder endorses Webb] Caine O'Rear, ''Richmond.com'', October 26, 2006
* [http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20061017-114853-2578r.htm Military women support Webb as 'man of integrity'] Seth McLaughlin, ''The Washington Times'', October 18, 2006
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,2092-2568465,00.html An angry man catches America's mood] ''The Times''
* [http://www.newcritics.com/blog1/2007/01/26/with-a-vietnamese-baby-on-your-mind/ Jim Webb & Graham Greene: With a Vietnamese Baby on Your Mind]
* [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/nora-ephron/bad-manners_b_35248.html Bad Manners] [[Nora Ephron]], ''Huffington Post'', November 30, 2006
* {{YouTube|hR5lV0Xs0CQ|Americans at War}} video
* [http://www.nybooks.com/articles/21530 The Jim Webb Story] profile on Webb and review of ''A Time to Fight'' from ''[[The New York Review of Books]]''

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