Interview with Tom Harkin, former senator from Iowa.
An interview with previous Iowan senator Tom Harkin. Previous Iowan senator Tom Harkin has an interview with us.
Interview with Tom Harkin, former senator from Iowa.
In 2015, Tom Harkin chose to retire from the U.S. Congress after opting not to run for a sixth term as a Democratic Senator representing Iowa. Prior to becoming a member of the Senate, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives for a decade, representing what was at that time the Fifth District of Iowa. Harkin continues to possess the house where he was born and grew up, as the youngest of six siblings, in the town of Cumming. Harkin left the Senate because he wanted to pursue other opportunities in life instead of remaining a Senator indefinitely. At the age of seventy-five, Harkin ran uncontested in the 2014 election and would have likely won easily if there had been a challenger. While serving in the Senate, Harkin became known as one of the top progressive members of the legislative body. He is most recognized for being one of the main supporters of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which became law in 1990. Harkin had gained profound empathy and a strong bond with the disability community after seeing the challenges faced by his own family members.
