Following his mother Helen , who served as a state representative and senator , Cole served in the Oklahoma Senate from 1988 to 1991 , resigning mid-term to become Executive Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee . From 1995 to 1999 , he was Oklahoma 's Secretary of State under Governor Frank Keating , and assisted with the recovery efforts following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing . He resigned to become chief of staff to the Republican National Committee . He also served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party for much of the 1980s
Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
Tom Cole