Leonard G. Wolf
Encyclopedia
Leonard George Wolf was a one-term Democratic U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 2nd congressional district
. He was elected in 1958 and defeated in 1960 when seeking re-election.
Born on a farm in Dane County, Wisconsin
, near Mazomanie, Wisconsin
, Wolf attended the public schools of Mazomanie, Wisconsin.
He served in the United States Navy
from 1944 to 1946, in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in agricultural economics in 1949 and moved to Elkader, Iowa
, the same year.
In Elkader, he worked as a retail feed dealer from 1952 to 1958, while delivering public speeches and lectures.
Wolf tried and failed to win election to the U.S. House in 1956, running against longtime incumbent Republican Henry O. Talle
. His chances were aided by a drop in farm prices but hurt by the presence of a popular president at the top of the Republican ticket. Wolf lost, but received a higher percentage
of the votes than any of Talle's previous opponents.
In the mid-term elections two years later, the prices farmers received for their products had increased, but not enough to counterbalance an even greater increase in costs, leading to an anti-Republican mood among the farmers and farm communities that served as the Republican's traditional base in Iowa. That year, the parties' candidates in the district were the same as in 1956 and the election again was close, but the outcome
was different; Wolf unseated Talle.
However, in 1960, as part of good year for Republicans in Iowa, Wolf was unseated by Republican James E. Bromwell
. Wolf's congressional service began January 3, 1959 and ended January 3, 1961.
After leaving Congress, Wolf was active in efforts to prevent starvation and malnutrition. In 1961 was appointed special assistant to the director of the International Cooperation Administration's Mission in Brazil
, where he served until 1965. He coordinated the child feeding program for Latin America
(in 1966) and in India
following a drought (in 1967). In 1968, he was appointed executive director of the American Freedom From Hunger
Foundation.
Wolf died March 28, 1970 in Washington, D.C.
. He was interred in St. Barnabas Cemetery, Mazomanie, Wisconsin
.
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's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
. He was elected in 1958 and defeated in 1960 when seeking re-election.
Born on a farm in Dane County, Wisconsin
Dane County, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
, near Mazomanie, Wisconsin
Mazomanie, Wisconsin
Mazomanie is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,485 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Mazomanie. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Wolf attended the public schools of Mazomanie, Wisconsin.
He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1944 to 1946, in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in agricultural economics in 1949 and moved to Elkader, Iowa
Elkader, Iowa
Elkader is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,465 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clayton County.-History:The city is named after Algerian leader Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iri...
, the same year.
In Elkader, he worked as a retail feed dealer from 1952 to 1958, while delivering public speeches and lectures.
Wolf tried and failed to win election to the U.S. House in 1956, running against longtime incumbent Republican Henry O. Talle
Henry O. Talle
Henry Oscar Talle was an economics professor and a ten-term Republican U.S. Representative from eastern Iowa. He served in the United States Congress for twenty years from 1938 until 1958.-Background:...
. His chances were aided by a drop in farm prices but hurt by the presence of a popular president at the top of the Republican ticket. Wolf lost, but received a higher percentage
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
of the votes than any of Talle's previous opponents.
In the mid-term elections two years later, the prices farmers received for their products had increased, but not enough to counterbalance an even greater increase in costs, leading to an anti-Republican mood among the farmers and farm communities that served as the Republican's traditional base in Iowa. That year, the parties' candidates in the district were the same as in 1956 and the election again was close, but the outcome
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
was different; Wolf unseated Talle.
However, in 1960, as part of good year for Republicans in Iowa, Wolf was unseated by Republican James E. Bromwell
James E. Bromwell
James Edward Bromwell was a two-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district. He was elected in 1960, re-elected in 1962, and defeated in 1964....
. Wolf's congressional service began January 3, 1959 and ended January 3, 1961.
After leaving Congress, Wolf was active in efforts to prevent starvation and malnutrition. In 1961 was appointed special assistant to the director of the International Cooperation Administration's Mission in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, where he served until 1965. He coordinated the child feeding program for Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
(in 1966) and in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
following a drought (in 1967). In 1968, he was appointed executive director of the American Freedom From Hunger
Freedom from Hunger
Freedom from Hunger is recognized for fighting hunger with innovative self-help programs. An international development organization working in seventeen countries across the globe, Freedom from Hunger is a nonprofit, nongovernmental, nonsectarian organization classified by the IRS as a 501 charity...
Foundation.
Wolf died March 28, 1970 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He was interred in St. Barnabas Cemetery, Mazomanie, Wisconsin
Mazomanie, Wisconsin
Mazomanie is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,485 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Mazomanie. It is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.