Cooper, John Sherman (1901-1991), a Kentucky Republican, served in the United States Senate for more than 20 years from 1946 to 1973. In the Senate, Cooper strongly supported arms control legislation and opposed U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War (1957-1975). He was coauthor of the Cooper-Church amendment, which prohibited the use of U.S. ground combat forces in Cambodia without congressional approval. In 1974, Cooper became the first United States ambassador to East Germany, a post he held until he retired in 1976.
Cooper was elected to the Senate in 1946, 1952, and 1956 to fill vacancies resulting from resignations or deaths. He won election to full terms in 1960 and 1966. Cooper served as U.S. ambassador to India and Nepal in 1955 and 1956. He was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1928 to 1930 and a circuit judge from 1930 to 1938. He was born in Somerset, Kentucky, on Aug. 23, 1901. He died on Feb. 21, 1991.
