Leonard Boswell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Lightfoot |
| Succeeded by | Tom Latham |
| President of theIowa Senate | |
| In office January 11, 1993 – January 3, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Gronstal |
| Succeeded by | Mary Kramer |
| Member of theIowa Senate | |
| In office 1985–1997 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leonard Leroy Boswell (1934-01-10)January 10, 1934 |
| Died | (2018-08-17)August 17, 2018 (aged 84) Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Graceland College |
| Profession | Farmer |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Bronze Star (2) Soldier's Medal |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1956-1976 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Leonard Leroy Boswell (January 10, 1934 – August 17, 2018) was an American politician who served as theU.S. representative forIowa's 3rd congressional district from 1997 to 2013, a district based inDes Moines. A member of theDemocratic Party, he was defeated for reelection in 2012 by 4th district incumbentTom Latham, who decided to run against him after redistricting. Boswell left Congress in January 2013.
Boswell was born inHarrison County, Missouri, the son of Margaret and Melvin Boswell.[1] He was raised on a farm and educated atGraceland University inLamoni, Iowa.[2]
Boswell spent twenty years in theUnited States Army. He was firstdrafted in the Army in 1956 as aprivate. He later graduated from Artillery Officers Candidate School, eventually rising to the rank oflieutenant colonel. During his military career, he earned twoDistinguished Flying Crosses, twoBronze Stars, theSoldier's Medal, and various other awards and decorations. He served two one-year tours of duty as an assault helicopter pilot inVietnam. He also served twoNATO tours of duty inEurope, first for four years inGermany, and later three years inPortugal. Additionally, he taught at theArmy Command and General Staff College.[3]
Boswell was elected to theIowa Senate in 1984 and served three terms in that body. In 1986, he ran for theUnited States House of Representatives, but was narrowly defeated by Scott Hughes of Council Bluffs in the Democratic primary. He was President of the Iowa Senate from 1993 to 1996. He was the Democratic nominee forLieutenant Governor of Iowa in 1994, asBonnie Campbell's running mate.[4][5]
In the 111th Congress, Boswell voted with Democratic leadership more often than 131 members, or 49%, of the Democratic Caucus.[6]
In a debate in 2012, Boswell said that he opposes an extension of theBush tax cuts and supports tax increases for those with high incomes. Boswell criticized his opponent for signing a pledge not to raise taxes. Boswell said, "If you look at this trickle-down theory, I don't see where that's been a historical success."[7]
Boswell supported theAffordable Care Act. In a 2012 debate, Boswell defended his vote in favor of theAffordable Care Act. He said, "Obamacare … is actually working. I think the people out across Iowa as they talk to me about it, the parts of it that have really been important to them, they're appreciative of."[7]
Boswell authored H.R. 327, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, which was signed into law in 2007 and provides mental health services and support for veterans.[2]
Boswell voted to expand funding for theState Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and voted twice to override the President's veto of SCHIP legislation. cap and trade legislation for carbon emissions, and h[8]
Boswell has voted to double Pell Grants and supported the 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act, providing the largest increase in college aid since the GI bill. He voted for the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001.
On October 10, 2002, Boswell voted in favor of authorizing theinvasion of Iraq.[9]
In 2001 Boswell voted for the USA PATRIOT Act, and for its reauthorization in 2005.
In 2008 he supported passing the FISA bill granting telecommunications companies immunity from prosecution for their involvement inwarrantless wiretapping of American citizens. He sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi encouraging her not to fight the bill. He voted for the final House version of the bill once he was convinced it provided adequate protection for telecom companies.
Boswell, a strong proponent ofgun rights in a state that supports the issue, wrote an op-ed in the local Council Bluffs newspaper criticizingMitt Romney for flip-flopping on the issue of gun rights, an issue supported by local Iowans.[10]
During Boswell's 2010 re-election campaign, his views on gun rights and armed self-defense earned him an "A" rating from theNRA Political Victory Fund, which endorsed him over his (also "A"-rated) Republican rival.[11]
He has supported theEmergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the 2009 stimulus bill. The Iowa Independent reported that the conservative groupCrossroads GPS criticized Boswell's vote approving theAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.[12] The group, ran bySteven J. Law with ties toKarl Rove, had purchased $85,125 worth of TV time at KCCI, Des Moines local CBS channel targeting Boswell.[13] Six weeks later, Crossroads GPS invested another $150,000 to the campaign. The money will be used to create and air twocommercials.[14]
Boswell won the Democratic nomination for the 3rd District after 12-yearRepublican incumbentJim Ross Lightfoot made an unsuccessful run for theUnited States Senate. He defeatedPoweshiek County Attorney Mike Mahaffey by just over 4,000 votes. He was likely helped byBill Clinton carrying the district, as well as the endorsement of the normally Republican-leaning IowaFarm Bureau. He was handily reelected in 1998 and 2000. During his 2nd term, Boswell pledged to serve no more than 8 years. By 2004 he had reversed that pledge, stating that "A thinking person is allowed to change their mind."[15]
For his first three terms, Boswell represented a sprawling district that stretched from theIllinois border almost to theNebraska border. However, his district was dismantled in the 2000s round of redistricting (even though Iowa didn't lose any seats), and its territory was split among three other districts. Boswell's home was shifted to the heavily Republican 5th District. Rather than face almost certain defeat, Boswell moved to Des Moines in the newly created 3rd District—thus making him technically the successor toGreg Ganske, who represented a Des Moines-based district from 1995 to 2003 and ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2002.
Boswell had a non-canceroustumor removed from his stomach in 2005. The surgery and resulting recovery period caused him to be the most-absent member of Congress for the year. Rumors circulated that Democrats were looking to replace him on the ballot for 2006's Congressional race against Iowa GOP Senate leaderJeff Lamberti, but Boswell's return to work and apparent good health put an end to the speculation. He was reelected to his 7th term on November 4, 2008.
After the 2010 census, Boswell's district was significantly redrawn. It now extended across the southwestern part of the state from Des Moines toCouncil Bluffs. He faced 4th District congressmanTom Latham in the 2012 election; Latham had been drawn into the same district as fellow RepublicanSteve King and opted to move to the 3rd. Talking about his re-election campaign, Boswell quipped, "I'm running against Tom Latham, I think I'm running againstBoehner, and there's this guy calledKarl Rove."[16] Politico described the race between Boswell and Tom Latham, bothincumbents faced off against each other as a result of redistricting, as one of tenbellwether races.[17] At the end of the first quarter of 2012, Boswell trailed Latham substantially in both fundraising and cash on hand.[18] Latham won the race, 52.4% to 43.7%.[19][20]
Boswell was a member of theCommunity of Christ.[21][22] He has been married to Dody Boswell since 1956; they have three children.[23] He also had another daughter from previous marriage. Boswell operated a farm inDavis City that has been in his family for several generations. He was a member of the board of directors for theDecatur County farmer's cooperative from 1979 to 1993, serving for most of that time as president.
In July 2011, Boswell and his family were the victims of a home invasion. At about 10:45 p.m. on July 16, an armed man came through the front door of Boswell's Iowa farmhouse, attacked his daughter, Cindy Brown, and demanded money. The Congressman struggled with the man until his grandson, Mitchell Brown, aimed a shotgun at the intruder, at which point the intruder fled the house into the surrounding fields.[24]
Boswell died in Des Moines, Iowa on August 17, 2018, after suffering from complications ofpseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare form of cancer, for over 13 years.[25][26] His wife, Dody, died eight days later on August 25, 2018, the day of his funeral. Her family said she died after suffering from a "prolonged illness". Both were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, in Lamoni, Iowa.[27]
| Iowa Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theIowa Senate from the46th district 1985–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theIowa Senate from the44th district 1993–1997 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forLieutenant Governor of Iowa 1994 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIowa's 3rd congressional district 1997–2013 | Succeeded by |
