Robert Nelson Clement (born September 23, 1943) is an American politician and academic administrator. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Tennessee's 5th congressional district from 1988 until 2003.

The son of Tennessee Governor Frank G. Clement, Clement had served on the board of directors at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and as president of Cumberland University before entering Congress.

Clement graduated from Hillsboro High School in Nashville. He went on to attend the University of Tennessee graduating in 1967. He served in the National Guard from 1969 to 1971 and also served in the reserves until 2001, retiring as a colonel.

Early career

Tennessee Public Service Commission

Clement considered buying a telephone company while he was studying at the University of Tennessee, but his father would not lend him the money. He gained knowledge about the Tennessee Public Service Commission, which was tasked with regulating phone companies and other utilities. Clement then became interested in working for the commission's staff.

In 1972, Clement ran against Hammond Fowler in the Democratic primary for the incumbent's seat and won. He won by a 3 to 1 margin which was the most lopsided defeat of a statewide incumbent in Tennessee history. He went on to win against Republican nominee Tom Garland in the general election in what was otherwise largely a good year for Republican candidates in Tennessee. (No Republican was ever elected to the Public Service Commission in the state during its existence which later played a factor in its abolition in 1996. At 29 he was (and still is) the youngest person ever elected to statewide office in Tennessee history.

Gubernatorial candidacy and TVA board membership

In 1978, Clement ran for the Democratic nomination for governor. He ran second in the primary narrowly behind Knoxville banker Jake Butcher, who had finished second in the Democratic gubernatorial primary four years previously.

Despite representing one of the most Democratic districts in the country, Clement had a reputation for working across party lines. This nonpartisan style dated back to his first campaign for the Public Service Commission. Clement was succeeded in the House by former Congressman Jim Cooper, who is also a son of a former Tennessee governor.

Post-congressional career

Clement received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Public Transit Association in 2023. Clements run a Nashville-based firm, Clement & Associates, that consults on policy issues related to energy, health, and education.

2006 mayoral candidacy

On February 15, 2006, Clement formed an exploratory committee for a possible run for mayor of Metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County in 2007. His supporters launched a campaign website well before his official announcement. Clement finished second in a crowded field including five major candidates, where the top three candidates finished only a few hundred votes apart. Clement faced former Metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County law department director Karl Dean in a runoff election on September 11, 2007.

Clement lost the election to Dean by a 52% (51,946) to 48% (47,347) margin.

Clement stated after the results were tallied that he had no plans to run for public office in the future.

Personal life

Clement is married to the former Mary Carson of Nashville. They have two children and Clement has two stepchildren.

Clement currently works as a realtor in Nashville and serves on the board of directors of the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum in Dickson, Tennessee. The museum is dedicated to the history of Dickson County, Tennessee as well as the life and legacy of Clement’s father, Governor Frank G. Clement, who was born in the museum (back when it was the Hotel Halbrook) on June 2, 1920.

See also

References

  • Election campaign website
  • Bob Clement Collection, University of Tennessee Knoxville Libraries

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