John F. Nugent

John Frost Nugent (June 28, 1868 – September 18, 1931) was an attorney and Democratic politician from Idaho. He served three years in the United States Senate, from 1918 to 1921.

Born in La Grande in northeast Oregon while his parents were visiting, Nugent attended public schools in southwest Idaho at Silver City, where his father Edward was a judge. He worked in mines in Idaho and Australia, and read law. Nugent was admitted to the bar in 1898, commencing practice back in Silver City, and was prosecuting attorney of Owyhee County from 1899 to 1906.

Following the murder of former governor Frank Steunenberg in late 1905, Nugent joined Clarence Darrow in defending three members of the Western Federation of Miners:Charles Moyer, president of the union, Bill Haywood, its secretary, and George Pettibone, a former member. All three were acquitted, while prime suspect Harry Orchard was convicted and died at the state penitentiary in 1954.

In January 1918, Governor Moses Alexander appointed Nugent to the U.S. Senate to succeed Republican James Brady, who died in office. Nugent defeated former Governor Frank Gooding by 970 votes in a special election that November to finish the term. In the Senate, Nugent served as chairman of the Committee on Fisheries.