The state of Arkansas has already produced one president— Bill Clinton. If it ever produces a second one, the odds-on candidate right now would be Tom Cotton, currently the junior senator from that state.
The state of Arkansas has already produced one president — Bill Clinton. If it ever produces a second one, the odds-on candidate right now would be Tom Cotton, currently the junior senator from that state. Young in years but wise from life experience and a diverse military and professional background, Cotton — in four short years in Washington — has become one of the most forceful Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill
photos Eli Greengart
Dardanelle, Arkansas (population 4,700), bills itself as a city of historic homes, giant trees, and friendly people located in the shadow of Mount Nebo and on the banks of the Arkansas River.
Its most famous citizen, US Sen. Tom Cotton, described his birthplace as follows: “It’s very rural. Not a lot of money, not a ton of opportunity. Strong family ties, strong sense of community, and solidarity among everyone.”
But whatever opportunities have come his way, Tom Cotton has seized them. His career has swiftly taken him upstream, from the banks of the Arkansas River to the shores of the Charles River and a Harvard education. He honed his courage and leadership skills in battle in Iraq and Afghanistan, sharpened his business acumen at global consulting firm McKinsey & Company, and in four short years, scaled Washington’s political hierarchy with alacrity.
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