John Culver

Culver was born in Rochester, Minnesota, the son of Mary C. (Miller) and William C. Culver. He moved with his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa as a child.

Culver was 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 was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the 27th round of the 1954 NFL Draft.[1] Rather than try out for professional football, he attended Emmanuel College, Cambridge University as the Lionel de Jersey Harvard Scholar. After his return, he served as a captain in the United States Marine Corps from 1955 to 1958.

Culver was inducted into the Harvard Football Hall of Fame in 1978.

He worked as a legislative assistant for Senator Edward Kennedy in 1962 and began his law practice in Iowa a year later. In 1964, he ran against Republican Rep. James E. Bromwell. With President Lyndon Johnson's landslide victory, Democrats, including Culver were carried to victory.[2]

In 1974, Culver ran for the U.S. Senate, defeating Davis Stanley for 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. With Ronald Reagan's national victory, Culver was defeated in 1980 by Chuck Grassley. Culver took 45.5% of the vote to Grassley's 53.5%.[2]

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

At the time of his death, Culver was recently retired at the firm of Arent Fox in Washington, D.C., where he established the government affairs practice.[3] He lived in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Mary Jane Checchi.

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.[4]

Until January 31, 2011, Culver was the interim director of the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was succeeded by former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, with Culver remaining on the board of advisers as director emeritus.[5]

Culver with Tom Harkin in 2010

John Culver had five children, including Chet, who served as the Governor of Iowa from 2007 to 2011. Culver died on December 26, 2018 in Washington, D.C.[6]

• List of members of the House Un-American Activities Committee

• United States Congress. "John Culver (id: C000979)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The John Culver Papers are housed at the University of Iowa Special Collections & University Archives.