James Robert Jones (born May 5, 1939) is an American lawyer, diplomat, Democratic politician, a retired U.S.

[2] He worked as a legislative assistant to U.S. Representative Ed Edmondson and as Appointments Secretary to U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.

During his tenure in Congress, which lasted until 1987, Jones served four years as the Chairman of the House Budget Committee.

In 1965, Jones moved from Congress to the White House, where he served as Appointments Secretary (and de facto Chief of Staff) to U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.

After Johnson left office, Jones returned to Oklahoma and resumed his law practice in Tulsa.

Jones was priming for a rematch in 1972, but Belcher didn't have the stomach for another bruising contest and pulled out of the race in June.

Jones is the first and only Democrat to have represented Tulsa in Congress since Dixie Gilmer left office in 1951; he was re-elected six times, serving until January 1987.

As a member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, Jones secured House backing for a conservative tax cut in 1978.