Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Ben Nighthorse Campbell is a notable figure in American politics, having served as a U.S. Senator from Colorado from 1993 to 2005. He has a diverse heritage, being the son of a Portuguese immigrant and a father of Scottish-Mexican descent, with connections to the Southern Cheyenne tribe. In 1980, he was officially recognized on the Northern Cheyenne tribal roll. Prior to his political career, Campbell had a varied life, serving as an Air Force military policeman during the Korean War, competing as a member of the U.S. Olympic Judo Team in 1964, and later becoming a successful jewelry maker known for American Indian designs.
His political journey began in the Colorado state legislature, where he served from 1983 to 1986, followed by a term in the U.S. House of Representatives starting in 1987. Campbell's election to the Senate marked a significant milestone, as he was the first Native American senator since Charles Curtis. Throughout his career, he was involved in various committees, including those focused on agriculture and interior affairs. Campbell's story reflects a blend of cultural identity, athletic achievement, and public service, making him a prominent figure in both Native American and American history.
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Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Senator
- Born: April 13, 1933
- Birthplace: Auburn, California
Category: Jeweler, politician
Tribal affiliation: Northern Cheyenne
Significance: Campbell, elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992, was successful in the jewelry business before winning elective office in Colorado
Ben Campbell was the son of Portuguese immigrant Mary Vierra and Albert Valdez Campbell, of Scottish-Mexican descent; his paternal grandmother is said to have been Yellow Woman, a Southern Cheyenne. He was entered on the Northern Cheyenne tribal roll in 1980.
After stints as an Air Force military policeman during the Korean War, a San Jose State University student, and a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic Judo Team, Campbell taught martial arts near Sacramento. Thereafter, he married, worked as a shop teacher, moonlighted in law enforcement, and began making jewelry with American Indian motifs. In 1970, he first announced his identity as a “closet Indian” and took the name “Nighthorse.” In 1977, with his jewelry business extremely successful, Campbell and his wife moved to a ranch near Durango, Colorado. They raised quarter horses and opened a gallery to display and sell his work. Campbell had become a millionaire by 1980.
Campbell was elected to the Colorado state legislature in 1983 and served until 1986. He was also an adviser to the Colorado Commission on International Trade and the Arts and Humanities. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1987. During his time in the House he was a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992; Campbell was the first Native American since Charles Curtis to be elected a U.S. senator.
Bibliography
Viola, Herman J. Ben Nighthorse Campbell: An American Warrior. New York: Orion Books, 1993.