Charles Wilson

Charles Wilson was a United States Congressman from Texas who represented the State's 2nd Congressional District from 1973 to 1997. Wilson famously drummed up Congressional support for a significant, covert CIA operation that supplied the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. This effort was the focus of the 2007 film Charlie Wilson's War, starring Tom Hanks as Wilson.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: June 1, 1933 in Trinity, Texas
2. Assumed Office: 1973
3. Resigned: 1997
4. Spouse: Barbara Alberstadt
5. Political Party: Democrat
6. Had significant influence in the United States supporting the Afghan Mujahideen in conjunction with Joanne Herring
7. Alma Mater: United States Naval Academy
8. Previous Profession: Served in the United States Navy
9. Re-elected 11 times as a Congressional Representative
10. Elected to the Texas Senate in 1966
11. Navy rank: Lieutenant from 1956 to 1960
12. Key character in the book: Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001
13. Texas's 2nd Congressional District encompasses the southeastern portion of the state

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