Isaac Newton Skelton IV (December 20, 1931 – October 28, 2013) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 4th congressional district from 1977 to 2011.

Skelton was born in Lexington, Missouri, a rural town with extensive Civil War history.

[1] In 1928, Skelton's father met Harry S. Truman, then a Jackson County judge, and the men became good friends.

Skelton served as chair of the House Armed Services Committee, having previously served as ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee since 1998 but was promoted to chairman following the 2006 midterm elections when Democrats regained control of Congress.

In 2005, for instance, he opposed Senator Kit Bond's efforts to keep open the 131st Air National Guard Fighter Wing in St. Louis County.

The wing was considered an "alert site" by the Defense Department, responsible for maintaining sovereignty over United States air space.

In its final report, the 9/11 Commission found that the lack of alert sites, and with their positions primarily on the nation's periphery, reduced the capability of the military to respond effectively to the 9/11 attacks.

He warned that the loss of the wing would compromise security over a vast area of the Midwestern United States.

[12] Representative Skelton, as the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee,[13] voted in favor of closure.

Skelton's spokeswoman, Jennifer Kohl, said the comment was not intended to be broadcast and was "said out of frustration in the heat of debate."

As late as 1983, during Skelton's third term, the 4th stretched as far west as Independence on Kansas City's eastern border.

Al Gore, John Kerry and Barack Obama all won less than 40 percent of the vote in the district even as Skelton skated to reelection.

In 2010, Skelton faced former Republican state Representative Vicky Hartzler of Harrisonville, who had been out of politics for more than a decade.

In the same year, the USAF Air University presented Skelton with an honorary Doctor of Law degree for his work in the advancement of military education.

Representatives Tim Murphy and Jim Marshall overturned near Baghdad Airport while on an official visit to Iraq.

Skelton and Murphy were airlifted to a U.S. Military hospital in Germany after complaining of neck pain.

On August 29, 2009, Skelton married Patty Martin, a longtime friend and widowed middle school counselor from his home town.