Harkin, Tom, 1939-

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Thomas Richard Harkin (born November 19, 1939) is an American lawyer, author, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the U.S. Representative for Iowa's 5th congressional district from 1975 to 1985 and as U.S. Senator from Iowa between 1985 and 2015. He is the longest-serving senator to spend his whole tenure as a state's junior senator.

Born in Cumming, Iowa, Harkin graduated from Iowa State University and The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law. He served in the United States Navy as an active-duty jet pilot (1962–1967). In 1969, Harkin moved to Washington, D.C., and began work as an aide to Democratic U.S. Congressman Neal Smith. In 1972, the same year that he graduated from law school, Harkin returned to Iowa and immediately ran a losing campaign against incumbent Republican Congressman, William J. Scherle in Iowa's 5th congressional district. After his defeat, Harkin practiced law in Ames before seeking a rematch against Scherle in 1974. Thanks to the Watergate scandal, Harkin eked out a narrow victory. He went on to serve five terms in the House.

In 1984, Harkin won the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate and defeated freshman Republican Roger Jepsen by a surprisingly wide 11.8-point margin. He was re-elected in 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008. Sen. Harkin’s legacy policy priorities have included federal farm policy, civil rights for Americans with disabilities, childhood nutrition and food access, healthcare access and reform, labor issues, and access to and improvement of education. By the end of his time in the senate served as chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. He notably authored the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and was its chief sponsor in the Senate. Harkin was not a candidate for re-election in 2014.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Harkin, Tom. Letter to Sheila D. Creth. Washington, D.C. 1989 Jun. 7. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Records of Temporary Committees, Commissions, and Boards. 1893 - 2008. Motion Pictures and Video Recordings on Commission Activities and Related Issues. 1978 - 1995. Senator Tom Harkin (Iowa statement) National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Harkin, Tom. Tom Harkin : commercials , 1984-1992. University of Oklahoma, Political Community Archives
referencedIn William D. Ford Papers, 1955-1995, 1965-1995 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Gallagher, James V., 1933-. Papers of James V. Gallagher, 1964-1984. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Thomas R. Harkin Collection: Speeches Series, 1972-2014 Drake University, Cowles Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Staff Secretary. 1976 - 1981. Presidential Files. 1977 - 1981. 6/22/79 [2] Jimmy Carter Library
creatorOf Flansburg, James Sherman, 1932-. Papers of James S. Flansburg, 1962-1998. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Heady, Earl O. (Earl Orel), 1916-1986. Papers, 1943-1987. Iowa State University, Parks Library
referencedIn Papers of George Wald, 1927-1996 Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Thomas R. Harkin Collection: Legislative Working Files Series, 1974-2014. Drake University, Cowles Library
referencedIn Bogan, Gerald Leroy, 1912-1986. Papers of Gerald Bogan, 1947-1986. University of Iowa Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bogan, Gerald Leroy, 1912-1986. person
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Creth, Sheila D., person
associatedWith Drake University corporateBody
associatedWith Flansburg, James Sherman, 1932- person
associatedWith Ford, William D. (William David), 1927- person
associatedWith Gallagher, James V., 1933- person
associatedWith Heady, Earl O. (Earl Orel), 1916-1986. person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Iowa State University corporateBody
associatedWith Smith, Neal Edward, 1920- person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf The Catholic University of America Law School corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. House person
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate corporateBody
memberOf United States. Naval Reserve corporateBody
associatedWith University of Oklahoma. Political Commercial Archive. corporateBody
correspondedWith Wald, George. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Cumming IA US
West Des Moines IA US
Ames IA US
District of Columbia DC US
Subject
Advertising, political
Television advertising
Occupation
Authors
Lawyers
Legislative assistants
Naval officers
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Senators, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1939-11-19

Male

Americans

English

Information

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