John Culver

John Culver
United States Senator from Iowa
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Harold Hughes
Succeeded by	Chuck Grassley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 2nd 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, including Chet
Education	Harvard University (BA, JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1955–1958

John Chester Culver (August 8, 1932 – December 26, 2018) was an American politician, writer, and lawyer who represented Iowa in both the United States House of Representatives, from 1965 to 1975, and the United States Senate, from 1975 to 1981. He was a member of the Democratic Party. His son Chet Culver was elected and served as the 41st Governor of Iowa.

Early life and education[]

Culver was born in Rochester, Minnesota, the son of Mary C. (Miller) and William C. Culver. He moved as a child with his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Culver graduated from both Harvard University and Harvard Law School. As an undergraduate, Culver played fullback on the Harvard football team with Edward Kennedy, a future US Senator. He was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the 27th round of the 1954 NFL Draft.^[1] Rather than try out for professional football, Culver attended Emmanuel College, Cambridge University as the Lionel de Jersey Harvard Scholar.

After his return to the US, he served in the military as a captain in the United States Marine Corps from 1955 to 1958.

In 1978 Culver was inducted into the Harvard Football Hall of Fame.

Career[]

Culver became active in politics, working as a legislative assistant for Senator Edward Kennedy in 1962. He began his law practice in Iowa a year later. In 1964, he ran against Republican Rep. James E. Bromwell. With President Lyndon Johnson's landslide victory, many Democrats, including Culver, were carried to victory.^[2]

In 1974, Culver ran for the U.S. Senate, narrowly defeating Davis Stanley with 50.02% of the vote, for the seat left open by the retirement of Harold E. Hughes. Culver served one term in the Senate, from 1975 until 1981. With Ronald Reagan's national victory as President, Culver was defeated in 1980 by Republican Chuck Grassley. Culver took 45.5% of the vote to Grassley's 53.5%.^[2]

In 2000, Culver co-authored American Dreamer, the first comprehensive biography of Henry A. Wallace.

Culver was a featured speaker at the August 28, 2009 memorial service for Senator Edward M. Kennedy, speaking as his Harvard classmate and teammate, his colleague for a time in the Senate, and his longtime friend.^[3]

Until January 31, 2011, Culver was the interim director of the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was succeeded by former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson. Culver remained on the board of advisers as director emeritus.^[4]

Personal life[]

Culver with Tom Harkin in 2010

John Culver and his wife had five children, including Chet, who served as the Governor of Iowa from 2007 to 2011.

At the time of his death, Culver was recently retired at the firm of Arent Fox in Washington, D.C., where he had established the government affairs practice.^[5] After leaving the Senate, he had lived and worked in the capital with his wife, Mary Jane Checchi. Culver died on December 26, 2018 in Washington, D.C.^[6]

See also[]

• List of members of the House Un-American Activities Committee

References[]

External links[]

• United States Congress. "John Culver (id: C000979)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The John Culver Papers are housed at the University of Iowa Special Collections & University Archives.