Mike Mansfield
Michael Joseph "Mike" Mansfield (March 16, 1903 – October 5, 2001) was an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He served as a U.S. Representative (1943–1953) and a U.S. Senator (1953–1977) from Montana. He was the longest-serving Senate Majority Leader, serving from 1961 to 1977.
Mike Mansfield | |
|---|---|
| File:Mike mansfield cropped.jpg | |
| United States Ambassador to Japan | |
| In office June 10, 1977 – December 22, 1988 | |
| President | Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | James D. Hodgson |
| Succeeded by | Michael Armacost |
| Senate Majority Leader | |
| In office January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Deputy | Hubert Humphrey Russell B. Long Ted Kennedy Robert Byrd |
| Preceded by | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Robert Byrd |
| Senate Majority Whip | |
| In office January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1961 | |
| Leader | Lyndon Johnson |
| Preceded by | Earle C. Clements |
| Succeeded by | Hubert Humphrey |
| United States Senator from Montana | |
| In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Zales Ecton |
| Succeeded by | John Melcher |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana's 1st district | |
| In office January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1953 | |
| Preceded by | Jeannette Rankin |
| Succeeded by | Lee Metcalf |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Joseph Mansfield March 16, 1903 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | October 5, 2001 (aged 98) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Maureen Hayes
(m. 1932) |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Education | University of Montana, Tech University of Montana, Missoula (BA, MA) University of California, Los Angeles |
| Signature | Mike Mansfield's signature |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | File:Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States |
| Branch/service | File:Flag of the United States Navy.svg United States Navy 22x20px United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1918–1919 (Navy) 1919–1920 (Army) 1920–1922 (Marine Corps) |
| Rank | Seaman (Navy) Private (Army) Private First Class (Marine Corps) |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
During his time, he led Great Society programs through the Senate and strongly opposed the Vietnam War.
After retiring from the Senate, Mansfield served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 1977 to 1988. On retiring as ambassador, he was awarded the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1989). He won this in part for his role in the resignation of Republican President Richard Nixon.[1] Mansfield is the longest-serving American ambassador to Japan in history.[2]
After his ambassadorship, Mansfield served for a time as a senior adviser on East Asian affairs to Goldman Sachs, the Wall Street investment banking company.
Mansfield died of congestive heart failure in Washington, D.C. on October 5, 2001. He was aged 98.
Mike Mansfield Media
- Mike mansfield.jpg
1978 painting of Mansfield
- Remarks by the President and Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker During Swearing-In Ceremony.jpg
Just a few months before his death, Mansfield appears behind Howard Baker, the new U.S. Ambassador to Japan with President George W. Bush, June 26, 2001
References
- ↑ "Michael Joseph Mansfield". Arlington Cemetery website. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/mjmansfield.htm. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
- ↑ Warnock, Eleanor (April 16, 2012). "End of an Era: Yamamoto, Top 'America Hand' Dies at 76". Wall Street Journal Japan Real Time. http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2012/04/16/end-of-an-era-yamamoto-top-america-hand-dies-at-76/. Retrieved 2012-04-18.