John Culver

John Culver
United States Senator from Iowa
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1981
Preceded by	Harold E. Hughes
Succeeded by	Charles 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	Michael T. Blouin
Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Harvard University
Profession	Lawyer
Military service
Branch/service	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1955-1958

John Chester Culver (born August 8, 1932) is an American politician of the Democratic Party who represented Iowa in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.

Culver was born in Rochester, Minnesota but moved with his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa as a child.

Culver is a graduate of both Harvard University and Harvard Law School. As an undergraduate, Culver played fullback on the Harvard football team with the future Senator Edward Kennedy. He served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps from 1955 to 1958 as well. Culver also attended Cambridge University, for a year following his tenure at Harvard College.

He began practicing law in Cedar Rapids in 1963, but soon entered politics. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Iowa as a Democrat in 1964. He served in the House from 1965 until 1975.

In 1974, Culver was elected to the U.S. Senate, winning the seat left open by the retirement of Harold E. Hughes with 50.02% of the vote. Culver served one term in the Senate, from 1975 until 1981. Culver was defeated in a bid for reelection by Republican Chuck Grassley in 1980. Culver took 45.5% of the vote to Grassley's 53.5%.

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

Culver recently retired from the firm of Arent Fox in Washington, D.C., where he established the government affairs practice. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife, Mary Jane Checchi and his son, John Vincent Culver.

Culver's elder son, Chet, is the current Governor of Iowa. His term began on January 12, 2007 after being elected on November 7, 2006.

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.

External links

• United States Congress. "John Culver (id: C000979)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.