Jim Leach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Leach
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Leach in 2013
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| Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities | |
| In office August 7, 2009 – April 23, 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Bruce Cole |
| Succeeded by | William Drea Adams |
| Chair of the House Financial Services Committee | |
| In office January 4, 1995 – January 3, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Henry B. Gonzalez |
| Succeeded by | Mike Oxley |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa |
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| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Edward Mezvinsky |
| Succeeded by | Dave Loebsack |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Albert Smith Leach
October 15, 1942 Davenport, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | December 11, 2024 (aged 82) |
| Political party | Democratic (2022–2024) |
| Other political affiliations |
Republican (until 2022) |
| Spouse | Deba Leach |
| Education | Princeton University (AB) Johns Hopkins University (MA) |
James Albert Smith Leach (October 15, 1942 – December 11, 2024) was an American politician and teacher. He was known for serving in the U.S. House of Representatives for 30 years. He represented the state of Iowa from 1977 to 2007.
Later, he became the ninth Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities. This is a government agency that supports education and research in the humanities. He held this important role from 2009 to 2013.
Jim Leach also taught at top universities like Princeton University and Harvard University. He was a visiting professor and helped lead the Institute of Politics at Harvard.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jim Leach was born in Davenport, Iowa. When he was in high school, he was a talented wrestler. He won the state wrestling championship in 1960.
He went to Princeton University and earned a degree in politics in 1964. After that, he studied Soviet studies at Johns Hopkins University. He received his master's degree in 1966. He also continued his studies in London, focusing on Soviet affairs.
Early Career and Public Service
Before becoming a politician, Jim Leach worked for the U.S. government. He was part of the United States Foreign Service. This meant he worked on international relations for the country.
He was a delegate at important meetings like the Geneva Disarmament Conference. He also worked with the U.N. General Assembly. In 1973, he resigned from his position. This was a protest against some actions taken by President Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
After working in the Foreign Service, Jim Leach returned to Iowa. In 1976, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served 15 terms, which is 30 years, as a Republican.
In Congress, he was known as a moderate Republican. This means he often held views that were in the middle of the political spectrum. He led groups that supported moderate Republican ideas. He also served as president of Parliamentarians for Global Action. This is a large international group of lawmakers.
Key Issues and Votes
During his time in Congress, Leach focused on several important areas. He was generally careful with government spending. On social issues, he held moderate views. He was also progressive when it came to foreign policy.
He pushed for agreements to control weapons. He also spoke out against military actions that were not supported by other countries. He believed the U.S. should work closely with the United Nations.
Leach supported the first Gulf War in 1991. However, he was one of only six Republicans who voted against going to war in Iraq in 2002. He also voted against tax cuts that he felt would make it harder to pay for the war.
He was a strong supporter of changing how political campaigns are funded. He wanted to limit how much money candidates could spend. He also believed in matching small donations with federal funds. In his own campaigns, he only accepted donations from people in Iowa.
Important Legislation: Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act
Jim Leach played a big role in creating the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act in 1999. This law changed banking rules in the U.S. It allowed banks, investment companies, and insurance companies to offer more types of services.
Before this law, the Glass–Steagall Act of 1933 kept these types of financial companies separate. The Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act removed some of these old rules. Some people believe this change contributed to the 2007–2008 financial crisis years later.
Congressional Committees
During his time in Congress, Jim Leach chaired important committees. He led the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services from 1995 to 2001. This committee deals with laws about banks and money.
He was also a senior member of the House Committee on International Relations. He chaired the subcommittee that focused on Asian and Pacific affairs. He also helped start the Congressional Humanities Caucus. This group supports the humanities in government.
2006 Election
In 2006, Jim Leach lost his re-election bid to Dave Loebsack. This was a surprise to many. Two reasons for his defeat were noted. First, he refused to let his party distribute leaflets that attacked his opponent's views on gay marriage. Second, he did not accept donations from outside Iowa or from political action committees.
He also faced opposition from gambling groups. This was because he supported a bill to limit online gambling. He believed it could harm families and the economy.
After Congress
After leaving Congress, Jim Leach continued to be active in public life. He taught at Princeton University and the Harvard Kennedy School. He was named Interim Director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard in 2007.
He also served on the boards of several non-profit organizations. These included the Century Foundation and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He received many awards for his public service and integrity. He was also inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
In 2008, Jim Leach supported Barack Obama for president. This was a big step because Obama was a Democrat, and Leach had been a Republican for many years. He even spoke at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
President Obama later nominated Jim Leach to lead the National Endowment for the Humanities. He served in this role from 2009 to 2013.
In 2020, Leach joined over 130 other former Republican officials. They signed a statement saying that President Trump was not fit for another term. They supported Joe Biden for president.
In 2022, Jim Leach officially changed his political party. He registered as a Democrat. He said this was because he disagreed with the Republican Party's response to the January 6 United States Capitol attack. He also supported Democratic candidates in Iowa.
Jim Leach passed away on December 11, 2024, at the age of 82. He lived in Iowa City and Princeton with his wife, Deba, and their children.
Images for kids
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Portrait of Jim Leach, 2002, collection of U.S. House of Representatives
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Leach greeting the press on election night in Cedar Rapids, 2006
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Leach speaks during the first night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.
