Jim Sasser

Jim Sasser
Official portrait, 1986
6th United States Ambassador to China
In office February 14, 1996 – July 1, 1999
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	J. Stapleton Roy
Succeeded by	Joseph Prueher
United States Senator from Tennessee
In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Bill Brock
Succeeded by	Bill Frist
Personal details
Born	James Ralph Sasser (1936-09-30)September 30, 1936 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	September 10, 2024(2024-09-10) (aged 87) Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Gorman ​ (m. 1962)​
Children	2
Education	University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University (BA, LLB)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	U.S. Marine Corps
Years of service	1957–1963
Unit	Reserve
Jim Sasser's voice Sasser describes the effects of the Gulf War on Iraq's imports and exports Recorded January 11, 1991

James Ralph Sasser (September 30, 1936 – September 10, 2024) was an American politician, diplomat, and attorney. A Democrat, Sasser served three terms as a United States senator from Tennessee from 1977 to 1995, and was Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. From 1996 to 1999, during the Clinton Administration, he was the United States Ambassador to China.