Jack Miller
Encyclopedia
Jack Richard Miller was a Republican
United States Senator
from Iowa
who served two terms from 1961 to 1973, and then a federal appellate judge.
Miller was born in Chicago, Illinois. He first moved to Sioux City, Iowa
in 1932 as a teen. He attended The Oratory School
in England
, then received a bachelor's degree from Creighton University
in Omaha in 1938 and a master's degree from the Catholic University of America
in Washington D.C. in 1939.
In World War II
, Miller served with the United States Army Air Corps
from 1942 to 1946, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel
. During this time his military service included the China-Burma-India Theater
, the faculty at the Army Command and General Staff College
at Fort Leavenworth
, Kansas
, and duty at Air Force Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
After the war, Miller received his law degree from Columbia Law School
in 1946, and did postgraduate study at University of Iowa College of Law
later that year. He served between 1947 and 1948 as an attorney with the Office of Chief Counsel of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. After one year as an assistant professor of law at Notre Dame Law School
, he then returned to Sioux City, where he went into private practice.
Miller was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives
in 1955, and to the Iowa State Senate in 1957. Miller was first elected to the United States Senate in 1960. In a race to replace the retiring Republican Senator Thomas E. Martin
, Miller defeated Iowa's sitting governor, Herschel C. Loveless
, in a close contest. He was reelected in 1966, easily defeating Democrat E.B. Smith, but in 1972 was upset by Democrat Dick Clark
.
After his stint in the Senate, Miller was appointed by President Richard Nixon
as a judge on the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
in 1973. On October 1, 1982 he became a Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
by operation of the Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982. He took senior status
on June 6, 1985.
Miller retired to Temple Terrace, Florida
where he died in 1994. He is interred in Arlington National Cemetery
.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
who served two terms from 1961 to 1973, and then a federal appellate judge.
Miller was born in Chicago, Illinois. He first moved to Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
in 1932 as a teen. He attended The Oratory School
The Oratory School
The Oratory School is a Roman Catholic, independent school for boys in Woodcote, Berkshire. It is the last Catholic all-boys boarding school remaining in Great Britain. It has approximately 420 pupils...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, then received a bachelor's degree from Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
in Omaha in 1938 and a master's degree from the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington D.C. in 1939.
In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Miller served with the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
from 1942 to 1946, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
. During this time his military service included the China-Burma-India Theater
China Burma India Theater of World War II
China Burma India Theater was the name used by the United States Army for its forces operating in conjunction with British and Chinese Allied air and land forces in China, Burma, and India during World War II...
, the faculty at the Army Command and General Staff College
Command and General Staff College
The United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas is a graduate school for United States Army and sister service officers, interagency representatives, and international military officers. The college was established in 1881 by William Tecumseh Sherman as a...
at Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County, Kansas, immediately north of the city of Leavenworth in the upper northeast portion of the state. It is the oldest active United States Army post west of Washington, D.C. and has been in operation for over 180 years...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, and duty at Air Force Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
After the war, Miller received his law degree from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1946, and did postgraduate study at University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
later that year. He served between 1947 and 1948 as an attorney with the Office of Chief Counsel of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. After one year as an assistant professor of law at Notre Dame Law School
Notre Dame Law School
The Notre Dame Law School, or NDLS, is the professional graduate law program of its parent institution, the University of Notre Dame. Established in 1869, NDLS is the oldest Roman Catholic law school in the United States. NDLS is ranked 22nd among the nation's "Top 100 Law Schools" by U.S. News &...
, he then returned to Sioux City, where he went into private practice.
Miller was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
in 1955, and to the Iowa State Senate in 1957. Miller was first elected to the United States Senate in 1960. In a race to replace the retiring Republican Senator Thomas E. Martin
Thomas E. Martin
Thomas Ellsworth Martin was a United States Representative and Senator from Iowa. Martin, a Republican, served in Congress for 22 consecutive years, from January 1939 to January 1961....
, Miller defeated Iowa's sitting governor, Herschel C. Loveless
Herschel C. Loveless
Herschel Cellel Loveless was the 34th Governor of Iowa, from 1957 to 1961. He was also mayor of Ottumwa, Iowa. He was born in 1911 in Hedrick, Iowa and died in 1989 in Winchester, Virginia....
, in a close contest. He was reelected in 1966, easily defeating Democrat E.B. Smith, but in 1972 was upset by Democrat Dick Clark
Dick Clark (senator)
Richard Clarence "Dick" Clark represented the state of Iowa in the United States Senate from 1973 to 1979.Clark, a Democrat, was only successful in his first election for the Senate when he defeated Republican incumbent, Jack R. Miller in 1972. Clark received 662,637 votes to Miller's 530,525...
.
After his stint in the Senate, Miller was appointed by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
as a judge on the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
The United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals is a former United States federal court which existed from 1909 to 1982 and had jurisdiction over certain types of civil disputes.-History:...
in 1973. On October 1, 1982 he became a Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
-Vacancies and pending nominations:-List of former judges:-Chief judges:Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the court was initially created, Congress had to resolve which chief judge of the predecessor courts would become the first chief judge...
by operation of the Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1982. He took senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on June 6, 1985.
Miller retired to Temple Terrace, Florida
Temple Terrace, Florida
Temple Terrace is an incorporated city in northeastern Hillsborough County, Florida, USA, adjacent to Tampa. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,541. It is the third and smallest incorporated municipality in Hillsborough County...
where he died in 1994. He is interred in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.