Tom Harkin
United States Senator from Iowa
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1985 Serving with Chuck Grassley
Preceded by	Roger Jepsen
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Incumbent
Assumed office September 9, 2009
Preceded by	Ted Kennedy
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
In office January 4, 2007 – September 9, 2009
Preceded by	Saxby Chambliss
Succeeded by	Blanche Lincoln
In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Richard Lugar
Succeeded by	Thad Cochran
In office January 3 – January 20, 2001
Preceded by	Richard Lugar
Succeeded by	Richard Lugar
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 5th district
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1985
Preceded by	William J. Scherle
Succeeded by	Jim Ross Lightfoot
Personal details
Born	November 19, 1939 (1939-11-19) (age 71) Cumming, Iowa
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Ruth Harkin
Children	Amy Harkin Goodrich Jenny Harkin
Residence	Cumming, Iowa
Alma mater	Iowa State University (B.A.) The Catholic University of America (J.D.)
Occupation	Attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic
Website	Senator Tom Harkin
Military service
Service/branch	United States Navy/United States Navy Reserve
Years of service	1962-1989
Unit	Naval Air Facility Atsugi/Guantanamo Bay/Reserves

Thomas Richard "Tom" Harkin (born November 19, 1939) is the junior United States Senator from Iowa (1985–present) and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives (1975–1985).

Born in Cumming, Iowa, Harkin graduated from Iowa State University and the The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law. He served in the United States Navy as an active-duty jet pilot from 1962 to 1967. After serving as a congressional aide for several years he made two runs for the U.S. House of Representatives, losing in 1972 but winning in 1974. He went on to serve five terms in the House.

Harkin won a race for U.S. Senate in 1984 by a wide margin. He was an early frontrunner for his party's presidential nomination in 1992, but dropped out in support of eventual winner Bill Clinton. Now serving his fifth term, Harkin is chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. He is ranked as the most senior junior senator.

Early life, education and career

Harkin was born in Cumming, Iowa. His father, Patrick Harkin, an Irish American was a coal miner and his mother, Frances, was a Slovene immigrant who died when he was ten. He still maintains his childhood house, where he and his five siblings were raised without hot running water or a furnace. He attended Dowling Catholic High School which is currently located in West Des Moines, Iowa. Harkin attended Iowa State University on a Navy R.O.T.C. scholarship and was a member of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. He graduated with a degree in government and economics in 1962, and served in the United States Navy as an active-duty jet pilot from 1962 to 1967. Harkin was stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi in Japan, where he ferried aircraft to and from the airbase that had been damaged in the Vietnam War and in operational and training accidents. He was also stationed for a time at Guantanamo Bay, where he flew missions in support of U-2 planes reconnoitering Cuba. After leaving active duty in 1967, he spent three years in the Ready Reserves, and transitioned into the Naval Reserves in 1970. He retired in 1989 with the rank of commander.

Early political career

In 1969, Harkin moved to Washington, D.C., and began work as an aide to Democratic Congressman Neal Smith. During his work for Smith, he accompanied a congressional delegation that went to South Vietnam in 1970. Harkin published photographs he took during the trip and a detailed account of the "tiger cages" at Con Son Island prison in Life Magazine on July 17, 1970. The account exposed shocking, inhumane conditions and treatment to which prisoners were subjected. He received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law in 1972.

In 1972, the same year that he graduated from law school, Harkin returned to Iowa and immediately ran against an incumbent Republican Congressman, William J. Scherle. Scherle represented the southwestern portion of Iowa, which (with one brief exception) had not elected a Democrat to Congress since the end of the Great Depression. While winning a higher percentage of votes than any of Scherle's previous opponents, Harkin nevertheless lost the race.

After his 1972 defeat, Harkin practiced law in Ames before seeking a rematch against Scherle in 1974. In what was generally a bad year for Republicans due to the Watergate scandal, Harkin defeated Scherle by only 3,500 votes. He was reelected four more times from Iowa's 5th congressional district without serious difficulty.

U.S. Senate

Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
  • Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition, and Family Farms
  • Subcommittee on Production, Income Protection and Price Support
  • Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry and Credit
• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Defense
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
  • Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Chairman)
  • As Chair of the full committee, Harkin may serve as an ex officio member of all subcommittees.
• Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Harkin has served in the Senate longer than any Democrat in Iowa's history, and only Neal Smith has served in Congress longer among Iowa Democrats.

Political positions

Along with California Senator Barbara Boxer, Harkin is one of only two Senate Democrats to come out in favor of Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold's resolution to censure President George W. Bush.

Harkin (in addition to U.S. Senators Dick Lugar, Tim Johnson, Byron Dorgan, Joe Biden and Barack Obama), introduced the BioFuels Security Act (S. 2817/109th) on March 16, 2006.

Harkin came out in favor of the Fairness Doctrine during an interview with Bill Press. (February 11, 2009)

Harkin has been influential in increasing research into alternative medicine. He was instrumental in the creation of the U.S. Office of Alternative Medicine in 1992, which later became the NCCAM. His influence and results, however, have been criticized.

Harkin supported President Barack Obama's health reform legislation; he voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in December 2009, and he voted for the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

Social policy

Harkin is perhaps best known as an advocate for people with disabilities. He introduced the Americans with Disabilities Act into the Senate. Harkin delivered part of a speech in sign language so his deaf brother could understand

Sen. Tom Harkin speaks at a rally held by the Coalition for the Advancement of Stem Cell Research.

During his political career, Harkin has generally supported the Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade, which decided that a right to privacy under the due process clause in the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution extends to a woman's decision to have an abortion. He has opposed most efforts to place legal restrictions on Roe v Wade, including voting against a ban on late term abortion, while supporting contraception and education to reduce teen pregnancy. However, he is apparently attempting to get some STD-awareness programs de-funded. As of 2003^[update], Harkin received a 100 percent rating from NARAL, the pro-choice advocacy organization. He was very critical of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which places limits on taxpayer-funded abortions in the context of the November 2009 Affordable Health Care for America Act.

Sen. Tom Harkin holds a press conference regarding legislation to improve healthy eating habits.

Harkin has come out in favor of embryonic stem cell research. In July 2006, Harkin made a speech from the Senate floor in response to George W. Bush's veto of the embryonic stem cell research federal funding bill. His remarks were later criticized as "Catholic baiting" by the Catholic League.

In May 2009, Harkin announced he opposed any effort to overturn an Iowa Supreme Court decision in April 2009 that legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa. “We all grow as we get older; we learn things, we become more sensitive to people and people’s lives,” said Harkin. “The more I’ve looked at that, I’ve grown to think differently about how we should live. I guess I’ve got to the point of live and let live.”

On December 18, 2010, Harkin voted in favor of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.

Harkin has also been active in combating the worst forms of child labor. The Trade Development Act of 2000 "contains important child labor protections authored by Senator Harkin." After reports of child trafficking and child slavery associated with cocoa plantations in West Africa surfaced in the media, Harkin, along with U.S. Representative Eliot Engel and with the support of U.S. Senator Herbert Kohl, sponsored a voluntary agreement by major players in the cocoa and chocolate industry signed in 2001 and often referred to as the Harkin-Engel Protocol. The purpose of this "Protocol for the growing and processing of cocoa beans and their derivative products" was to bring practices in West Africa into line with Convention 182 of the International Labor Organization concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor. (Some difficulties in meeting the deadlines set in this Protocol have been encountered.) Harkin has worked in other ways to combat the import of child labor-made products.

Israel

Harkin is also a staunch supporter of Israel. He is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, which appropriates about $2 billion annually for military financing for Israel. In the Senate, he is the third-largest career recipient of pro-Israel Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions.

Immigration

In May 2006 Harkin voted in favor of Senate Bill 2611, also known as the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act. Among the bill's many provisions, it would increase the number of H1B visas, increase security along the southern United States border with Mexico, allow long-time illegal immigrants to gain citizenship with some restrictions, and increase the number of guest workers over and above those already present in the U.S. through a new "blue card" visa program.

Vietnam controversy

While running for his Senate seat in 1984, and again while running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992, Harkin has faced criticism for claiming that he had flown combat missions over North Vietnam. In a 1979 round table discussion with other Congressional military veterans, Harkin said of his service as a Navy pilot: "One year was in Vietnam. I was flying F-4s and F-8s on combat air patrols and photo-reconnaissance support missions". These comments were later published in a 1981 book by David Broder. After subsequent inquiries by Barry Goldwater and The Wall Street Journal, Harkin clarified that he had been stationed in Japan and sometimes flew recently repaired aircraft on test missions over Vietnam. His service flying F-4s and F-8s was later, while he was stationed at U.S. Naval Base Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

Political campaigns

Harkin speaks during the first night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, opening his speech using American Sign Language in reference to his involvement with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In 1984, Harkin won the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate and defeated freshman Republican Roger Jepsen by a surprisingly wide 11-point margin. He was reelected in 1990, 1996, 2002 and 2008.

1992 presidential campaign

Harkin ran for President in 1992 as a populist with labor union support. He criticized George H.W. Bush for being out of touch with working class Americans. Harkin was an early favorite in a small field of five candidates. Harkin won the Iowa caucus and those in Idaho and Minnesota (with help from Senator Paul Wellstone), but he ran poorly in New Hampshire and other primaries and ultimately lost the Democratic Party nomination to Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas. Harkin was the first Democratic primary contender to drop out and throw his support behind Clinton — a favor that led to a close relationship throughout the Clinton presidency.

Endorsements

• Senator Paul Wellstone (D-Minnesota)
• Commissioner of Agriculture Jim Hightower (D-Texas)
• Representative Lane Evans (D-Illinois)

Vice presidential speculation

In 1992 Harkin was on the short list of running mates for Bill Clinton, alongside Senator Al Gore, Congressman Lee H. Hamilton, Senators Bob Graham, Bob Kerrey, and Harris Wofford. Gore was ultimately chosen. In 2000, he was frequently mentioned as a candidate Gore was considering for his running-mate, alongside House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, Senators Bob Graham, Evan Bayh, John Kerry, and John Edwards. Gore ultimately selected Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.

In the 2004 election Harkin was not on Kerry's vice presidential consideration list, while Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack was. In 2008, there were reports that Harkin was vetted by Barack Obama to be a running mate. He neither confirmed nor denied the rumors.

Electoral history

Civil Air Patrol

Senator Harkin has dedicated 27 years of service to the Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary. He is currently the commander of the Congressional Squadron, a unique unit that gives active and retired members of Congress and congressional staff the opportunity to participate in CAP.

On 28 February 2011, Harkin introduced Senate Bill 418, which calls for recognition of Civil Air Patrol members who served during World War II. The bill would recognize WWII CAP "sub-chasers" with a single Congressional Gold Medal for their efforts in spotting several German U-boats and sinking two.

Today, Sen. Harkin is one of the more vocal supporters of the Civil Air Patrol. "CAP is getting into some interesting missions. The Deepwater Horizon disaster showed that volunteers could step up to support federal agencies and states at the same time. It was a good demonstration of CAP's ability to perform its mission during a national emergency."

Personal life

Senator Harkin married Minnesota native Ruth Raduenz in 1968 and has two daughters: Amy, born in 1976, and Jenny, born in 1981. Ruth Harkin is an attorney and was one of the first women in the United States to be elected as a prosecutor when, in 1972, she was elected to the office of county attorney of Story County, Iowa. She served as a deputy counsel for the U.S. Department of Agriculture before joining the Washington lobbying firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP, in 1983. In 1993, President Bill Clinton named her chairman and chief executive officer of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). Ruth Harkin left the government and became United Technologies' senior vice president for international affairs and government relations in April 1997, leading their Washington DC office. In 2002, Mrs. Harkin became a director of ConocoPhillips. Mrs. Harkin currently sits on the Iowa Board of Regents, the body responsible for overseeing the state's public universities.

Their daughter Amy appeared on the NBC daytime reality series Starting Over from 2003 to 2004. Although Harkin never appeared on the show, his voice was heard when his daughter spoke to him on the phone. She is currently a graduate student at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Fictionalized portrait

The character of Senator and former Wisconsin Governor Bart Nilson in the novel and film Primary Colors is loosely based on Harkin and his '92 Presidential bid.

Published works

• Harkin, Tom and Thomas, C. E. Five Minutes to Midnight: Why the Nuclear Threat Is Growing Faster Than Ever, Carol Publishing Corporation, 1990. ISBN 1-55972-042-5

See also

United States Navy portal

• 21st Century Democrats

Current elected statewide political officials of Iowa U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley · Tom Harkin State government Terry Branstad, Governor · Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor · Matt Shultz, Secretary of State · Tom Miller, Attorney General · Bill Northey, Secretary of Agriculture · David Vaudt, Auditor of State · Michael Fitzgerald, Treasurer of State Senate Jack Kibbie, President · Michael Gronstal, Majority Leader · Paul McKinley, Minority Leader House Kraig Paulsen, Speaker · Linda Upmeyer, Majority Leader · Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader Supreme Court (appointed - retention election) Marsha K. Ternus, Chief Justice · Mark S. Cady · Michael J. Streit · David Wiggins · Daryl L. Hecht · Brent R. Appel · David L. Baker AL • AK • AZ • AR • CA • CO  • CT • DE  • FL  • GA  • HI  • ID  • IL  • IN  • IA  • KS  • KY  • LA  • ME  • MD  • MA  • MI  • MN  • MS  • MO  • MT  • NE  • NV  • NH  • NJ  • NM  • NY  • NC  • ND  • OH  • OK  • OR  • PA  • RI  • SC  • SD  • TN  • TX  • UT  • VT  • VA  • WA  • WV  • WI  • WY

United States Senators from Iowa Class 2 Jones • Grimes • Howell • Wright • Kirkwood • McDill • J. Wilson • Gear • Dolliver • Young • Kenyon • Rawson • Brookhart • Steck • Dickinson • Herring • G. Wilson • Gillette • Martin • Miller • Clark • Jepsen • Harkin Class 3 Dodge • Harlan • Kirkwood • Harlan • Allison • Cummins • Stewart • Brookhart • Murphy • Gillette • Hickenlooper • Hughes • Culver • Grassley

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa 1st W. Thompson • Miller • Henn • A. Hall • S. Curtis • J. F. Wilson • McCrary • Stone • McCoid • B. Hall • Gear • Seerley • Gear • S. Clark • Hedge • Kennedy • Kopp • Eicher • Martin • Schwengel • Schmidhauser • Schwengel • Mezvinsky • Leach • Nussle • Braley 2nd Leffler • L. Clark • J. P. Cook • Thorington • Davis • Vandever • Price • Smyth • W. Wolf • Cotton • Tufts • Price • Farwell • Murphy • Hayes • G. Curtis • Lane • Rumple • Wade • Dawson • Pepper • Vollmer • Hull • Letts • B. Jacobsen • W. Jacobsen • Talle • L. Wolf • Bromwell • Culver • Blouin • Tauke • Nussle • Leach • Loebsack 3rd Allison • Donnan • Ainsworth • Burdick • Updegraff • Henderson • Birdsall • Pickett • Connolly • Sweet • Robinson • Willford • Gwynne • Gross • Grassley • Evans • Nagle • Lightfoot • Boswell 4th Grinnell • Loughridge • Walden • Pratt • Deering • Luman Hamlin Weller • Fuller • Sweney • Butler • Updegraff • Haugen • Biermann • Talle • Le Compte • Carter • Kyl • Bandstra • Kyl • N. Smith • Ganske • Latham 5th Kasson • G. Dodge • Palmer • J. Wilson • R. Clark • W. G. Thompson • J. Wilson • Frederick • Kerr • J. Hamilton • Cousins • Good • Cole • Thruston • Le Compte • Cunningham • N. Smith • Scherle • Harkin • Lightfoot • Grandy • Latham • King 6th A. Hubbard • Pomeroy • Orr • Loughridge • Sampson • Weaver • Cutts • J. C. Cook • Cutts • J. C. Cook • Weaver • Lacey • White • Lacey • D. Hamilton • Kendall • Kirkpatrick • Ramseyer • Dowell • Utterback • Dowell • Goodwin • Cunningham • Gilchrist • James Dolliver • Coad • Hoeven • Greigg • Mayne • Bedell • Grandy 7th Kasson • Cummings • E. Gillette • Kasson • H. Smith • Conger • Hays • Hull • Prouty • Dowell • Wearin • Jensen • Hansen • Scherle 8th McDill • Sapp • Hepburn • Anderson • Flick • Hepburn • Jamieson • Towner • Evans • Thurston • Gilchrist • Hoeven 9th Orr • Oliver • Carpenter • Pusey • Lyman • Reed • Bowman • Hager • McPherson • W. Smith • Green • Vincent • Swanson • G. Gillette • Harrington • Narey 10th Holmes • Jonathan Dolliver • Conner • Woods • Dickinson • Gilchrist 11th Struble • Perkins • Thomas • E. Hubbard • Scott • Steele • Scott • Boies • Campbell AL Hastings and Leffler Terr Chapman • A. Dodge