Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jones once run as the Republican candidate against Senator Boren because no other Republican had the gall to step forward and run a certain-loser campaign?
You are correct and he never forgave the OK GOP for not getting behind him all the way including with money to beat Boren. He was never going to win that race IMHO but in his own mind he was unbeatable.
Someone said that Istook and Jones went to law school together but I have never checked it out.