Tom Harkin

Thomas Richard Harkin, born on November 19, 1939, is a prominent American attorney, author, and politician who held the position of United States Senator from Iowa for three decades, from 1985 until 2015. A dedicated member of the Democratic Party, Harkin previously represented Iowa's 5th congressional district in the House of Representatives from 1975 to 1985, making him the longest-serving senator who remained a state's junior senator throughout his career.

Harkin hails from Cumming, Iowa, where he completed his education at Iowa State University followed by The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law. His commitment to service began in the United States Navy, where he served as a jet pilot from 1962 to 1967. After a stint as a congressional aide, he unsuccessfully ran for the House in 1972 but secured a victory in 1974, ultimately serving five terms.

In 1984, Harkin won a decisive Senate race and quickly became a leading figure in his party, even running for the presidential nomination in 1992 before supporting Bill Clinton. Throughout his tenure, he chaired the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and was instrumental in the passage of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, famously incorporating sign language in his introduction speech to honor his deaf brother.

On January 26, 2013, Harkin announced his decision not to pursue reelection in 2014, marking the end of an influential political career.