Tom Harkin

Thomas Richard Harkin (born November 19, 1939) is the junior United States Senator from Iowa. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Related Topics:
November 19 - 1939 - United States Senator - Iowa - Democratic Party

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Harkin was born in Cumming, Iowa. His father was a coal miner and his mother was a Slovenian immigrant who died when he was 10. Harkin graduated from Iowa State University in 1962 and reived his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Catholic University of America Law School in 1972. He served in the United States Navy from 1962-1967. Harkin was stationed at Atsugi Naval Air Station in Japan, where he ferried damaged aircraft to and from the airbase, and at Guantanamo Bay, where he flew missions in support of U-2 planes reconnoitering Cuba.

Related Topics:
Cumming, Iowa - Coal miner - Slovenian - Iowa State University - Juris Doctor - J.D. - Catholic University of America - United States Navy - 1962 - 1967 - Atsugi - Japan - Guantanamo Bay - U-2 - Cuba

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Harkin was an aide to Democratic Congressman Neal Smith, when 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 "tiger cages" at Con Son Island prison in Life Magazine on July 17, 1970. The account exposed shocking, inhuman conditions prisoners were forced to endure.

Related Topics:
Neal Smith - 1970 - Con Son Island - Life Magazine - July 17

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Harkin was an attorney before being elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1974, and was reelected in 1976, 1978, 1980, and 1982. In 1984, Harkin was elected to the United States Senate from Iowa and was reelected in 1990, 1996 and 2002.

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Harkin is best known as an advocate for people with disabilities. In 1990, he wrote and was the chief sponsor of the landmark Americans with Disability Act (ADA), the nation's first comprehensive civil rights law for people with disabilities. Signed into law by President George H. W. Bush, the sweeping legislation prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, in public services, and in public accommodations. Although critics say the ADA often requires unreasonably broad accommodations for people with disabilities, in 2005 Ability magazine stated that the act "takes its place among the nation?s landmark freedom documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964."

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He ran for President in 1992 and won the Iowa caucus, but ultimately lost the Democratic Party nomination to Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas.

Related Topics:
President - 1992 - Iowa caucus - Bill Clinton - Arkansas

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Harkin's daughter Amy appeared on the NBC daytime reality series Starting Over from 2003-2004. Although Harkin never appeared on the show, his voice was heard when his daughter spoke to him on the phone.

Related Topics:
NBC - Starting Over - 2003 - 2004

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Harkin is also notable for his nationally televised eulogy of Senator Paul Wellstone, a close ally in the Senate, in 2002.

Related Topics:
Eulogy - Paul Wellstone

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