John R. Hansen
Encyclopedia
John Robert Hansen served one term, from January 3, 1965 to January 3, 1967, as a Democratic U.S. Representative
from Iowa
. He and Tom Harkin
are the only two Democrats to have represented southwestern Iowa in the U.S. House since the end of the Great Depression.
A native and lifelong resident of Manning, Iowa
, Hansen attended the Manning public schools.
He attended the University of Iowa
from 1919 to 1921. He and his wife Mary Lou were the parents of two children, Robert and Jack.
After serving as a sales representative, general manager, and president of Dultmeier Manufacturing Co., of Manning, Iowa from 1921 to 1962, he served as president of Dultmeier Sales, in Omaha, Nebraska
from 1934 to 1957.
Hansen had been politically active in Democratic politics for many years. He served as member of the Carroll County
Democratic Central Committee from 1932 to 1944, and as its chairman from 1944 to 1952. He served as district committeeman on the Democratic State Central Committee from 1952 to 1957, and as Sixth Congressional District Democratic chairman from 1953 to 1957. He was twice a delegate to Democratic National Convention
, in 1948 and 1964. He served as the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1960, but lost to W.L. Mooty.
Hansen also served in several appointive positions in Iowa state government. He served as member of the Board of Control of State Institutions from 1957 to 1960. He also was a member of executive council of the Governor's Alcoholism Commission and the Commission on Interstate Cooperation from 1957 to 1960.
In 1963, Hansen's close friend, Harold Hughes
, was elected Governor of Iowa. When Hansen ran for the Democratic nomination for the Iowa's 7th congressional district
in 1964, the vote was forced to a convention after none of the six candidates received over 35 percent of the vote in a primary. In the convention, on the ninth ballot, Hansen won the Democratic nomination without a single vote to spare.
In the 1964 general election (when Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson
defeated Republican Barry Goldwater
by a landslide, and the Democratic majority in the House increased by 48 seats), Hansen defeated longtime Republican incumbent Ben F. Jensen
. However, Hansen was one of many Midwestern Democrats elected to Congress from Republican-leaning districts in 1964 who served only a single term. In 1966 Hansen was defeated in his run for re-election by William Scherle, a conservative Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from Mills County, Iowa
.
After returning from Washington, Hansen served as member of the Iowa State Highway Commission, from February 1967 until retirement on July 1, 1969.
He died in Des Moines, Iowa
, on September 23, 1974. He was interred in Manning Cemetery, Manning, Iowa
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
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...
. He and Tom Harkin
Tom Harkin
Thomas Richard "Tom" Harkin is the junior United States Senator from Iowa and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the United States House of Representatives ....
are the only two Democrats to have represented southwestern Iowa in the U.S. House since the end of the Great Depression.
A native and lifelong resident of Manning, Iowa
Manning, Iowa
Manning is a city in Carroll County, Iowa, United States, along Iowa Highway 141. The population was 1,490 at the 2000 census. It is named for Orlando Harrison Manning, a Lieutenant Governor of Iowa.-History:...
, Hansen attended the Manning public schools.
He attended the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
from 1919 to 1921. He and his wife Mary Lou were the parents of two children, Robert and Jack.
After serving as a sales representative, general manager, and president of Dultmeier Manufacturing Co., of Manning, Iowa from 1921 to 1962, he served as president of Dultmeier Sales, in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
from 1934 to 1957.
Hansen had been politically active in Democratic politics for many years. He served as member of the Carroll County
Carroll County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,816 in the county, with a population density of . There were 9,376 housing units, of which 8,683 were occupied.-2000 census:...
Democratic Central Committee from 1932 to 1944, and as its chairman from 1944 to 1952. He served as district committeeman on the Democratic State Central Committee from 1952 to 1957, and as Sixth Congressional District Democratic chairman from 1953 to 1957. He was twice a delegate to Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
, in 1948 and 1964. He served as the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1960, but lost to W.L. Mooty.
Hansen also served in several appointive positions in Iowa state government. He served as member of the Board of Control of State Institutions from 1957 to 1960. He also was a member of executive council of the Governor's Alcoholism Commission and the Commission on Interstate Cooperation from 1957 to 1960.
In 1963, Hansen's close friend, Harold Hughes
Harold Hughes
Harold Everett Hughes was the 36th Governor of Iowa from 1963 until 1969; he had been a Republican earlier in his life. He also served as a Democratic United States Senator from 1969 until 1975.-Background:...
, was elected Governor of Iowa. When Hansen ran for the Democratic nomination for the Iowa's 7th congressional district
Iowa's 7th congressional district
Iowa's 7th congressional district is a former congressional district in Iowa. It was eliminated after the 1970 election, leaving Iowa with six congressional districts. The state has since been reduced to five congressional districts.-Redistricting:...
in 1964, the vote was forced to a convention after none of the six candidates received over 35 percent of the vote in a primary. In the convention, on the ninth ballot, Hansen won the Democratic nomination without a single vote to spare.
In the 1964 general election (when Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
defeated Republican Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
by a landslide, and the Democratic majority in the House increased by 48 seats), Hansen defeated longtime Republican incumbent Ben F. Jensen
Ben F. Jensen
Benton Franklin Jensen served thirteen consecutive terms as a U.S. Representative from Iowa's 7th congressional district in the southwestern corner of the state. While on the floor of the U.S...
. However, Hansen was one of many Midwestern Democrats elected to Congress from Republican-leaning districts in 1964 who served only a single term. In 1966 Hansen was defeated in his run for re-election by William Scherle, a conservative Republican member of 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...
from Mills County, Iowa
Mills County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 15,059 in the county, with a population density of . There were 6,109 housing units, of which 5,605 were occupied.-2000 census:...
.
After returning from Washington, Hansen served as member of the Iowa State Highway Commission, from February 1967 until retirement on July 1, 1969.
He died in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, on September 23, 1974. He was interred in Manning Cemetery, Manning, Iowa
Manning, Iowa
Manning is a city in Carroll County, Iowa, United States, along Iowa Highway 141. The population was 1,490 at the 2000 census. It is named for Orlando Harrison Manning, a Lieutenant Governor of Iowa.-History:...
.