John Culver | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator fromIowa | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Harold Hughes |
| Succeeded by | Chuck Grassley |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1975 | |
| Preceded by | James E. Bromwell |
| Succeeded by | Mike Blouin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Chester Culver (1932-08-08)August 8, 1932 Rochester, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | December 26, 2018(2018-12-26) (aged 86) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Ann Cooper (divorced)Mary Jane Checchi |
| Children | 5, includingChet |
| Education | Harvard University (BA,JD) Emmanuel College, Cambridge |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1955–1958 |
| Rank | Captain |
John Chester Culver (August 8, 1932 – December 26, 2018) was an American politician, writer, and lawyer who was elected to both theUnited States House of Representatives (1965–1975) andUnited States Senate (1975–1981) fromIowa. He was a member of theDemocratic Party. His sonChet Culver served as the 41stgovernor of Iowa (2007–2011).
Culver was born inRochester, Minnesota, on August 8, 1932, the son of Mary C. (Miller) and William C. Culver. He moved as a child with his family toCedar Rapids, Iowa.
Culver graduated from bothHarvard University andHarvard Law School. As an undergraduate, he played fullback on theHarvard Crimson football team with future U.S. SenatorTed Kennedy. He was drafted by theChicago Cardinals in the 27th round of the1954 NFL draft.[1] Rather than try out for professional football after graduating, Culver attendedEmmanuel College, Cambridge, as the Lionel de Jersey Harvard Scholar.
After his return to the U.S., he served in the military as a captain in theUnited States Marine Corps from 1955 to 1958.
In 1978 Culver was inducted into the Harvard Football Hall of Fame.
Culver became active in politics, working as a legislative assistant for Senator Ted Kennedy, his former Harvard classmate, in 1962. He began his law practice in Iowa a year later. In1964, he ran againstRepublican U.S. RepresentativeJames E. Bromwell. With PresidentLyndon Johnson's landslide victory, many Democrats, including Culver, were carried to victory.[2]
In1974, Culver ran for the U.S. Senate, narrowly defeatingDavid M. Stanley with 52% of the vote for the seat left open by the retirement ofHarold E. Hughes. Culver served one term in the Senate, from 1975 until 1981. WithRonald Reagan's national victory as president, Culver was defeated in1980 by RepublicanChuck Grassley, taking 46% of the vote to Grassley's 53%.[2]
In 2000, Culver co-wroteAmerican Dreamer, the first comprehensive biography ofHenry A. Wallace.
Culver was a featured speaker at the August 28, 2009, memorial service forTed Kennedy, speaking as his Harvard classmate and teammate, Senate colleague, and longtime friend.[3]
Until January 31, 2011, Culver was the interim director of theInstitute of Politics at theJohn F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was succeeded by formerKentuckySecretary of StateTrey Grayson. Culver remained on the board of advisers as director emeritus.[4]
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John Culver and his wife had five children, includingChet, who served asgovernor of Iowa from 2007 to 2011.
At the time of his death, Culver was recently retired from the firm ofArent Fox in Washington, D.C., where he had established the government affairs practice.[5] After leaving the Senate, he lived and worked in the capital with his wife, Mary Jane Checchi.
Culver died on December 26, 2018, at age 86.[6]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's 2nd congressional district 1965–1975 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator fromIowa (Class 1) 1974,1980 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Iowa 1975–1981 Served alongside:Dick Clark,Roger Jepsen | Succeeded by |
| New office | Chair of the Senate Operations Commission 1975–1976 | Position abolished |
| Class 2 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | ||
