John Melcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Melcher
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| United States Senator from Montana |
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| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Mansfield |
| Succeeded by | Conrad Burns |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana's 2nd district |
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| In office June 24, 1969 – January 3, 1977 |
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| Preceded by | James F. Battin |
| Succeeded by | Ron Marlenee |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John David Melcher
September 6, 1924 Sioux City, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | April 12, 2018 (aged 93) Missoula, Montana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Iowa State University (BS, DVM) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Unit | 76th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II Invasion of Normandy |
| Awards | Bronze Star Purple Heart Combat Infantry Badge |
John David Melcher (born September 6, 1924 – died April 12, 2018) was an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He represented the state of Montana in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977. Later, he served as a United States Senator from 1977 to 1989.
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Early Life and Military Service
John Melcher was born in Sioux City, Iowa. His family came from Germany. He went to the University of Minnesota before joining the military.
He served in the United States Army during World War II. He was part of the Invasion of Normandy in Europe. He was with the 76th Infantry Division. During the war, he was hurt in Germany. For his bravery, he received the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and the Bronze Star.
In 1945, John Melcher married Ruth Klein. They had six children together.
After the war, he graduated from Iowa State University in 1950. He then moved to Forsyth, Montana. There, he opened a clinic where he worked as a veterinarian, helping animals.
Becoming a Politician
John Melcher started his political career in Forsyth, Montana. He served on the Forsyth City Council. Later, he became the mayor of Forsyth in 1955 and served three terms.
In 1960, he was elected to the Montana House of Representatives. This is part of Montana's state government. In 1962, he was elected to the Montana Senate.
He then moved to national politics. On June 24, 1969, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He filled a spot that became open when the previous representative resigned. He was re-elected three times and served in the House until 1977.
In 1976, John Melcher was elected to the United States Senate. He took over from Senator Mike Mansfield, who was retiring.
Making a Difference in Congress
In 1982, John Melcher was re-elected to the Senate. During this election, some groups from outside Montana tried to say he was "too liberal." Melcher responded with a famous campaign ad. It showed an "out-of-stater" with a briefcase full of money. Then, some cows talked about how wrong it was for outsiders to interfere in their state's election.
He ran for re-election again in 1988 but lost to Conrad Burns. Melcher felt he didn't have enough time to campaign. Also, a bill he helped create about managing wilderness was stopped by President Ronald Reagan just before the election.
Important Laws and Contributions
John Melcher helped create important laws. He was a co-sponsor of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. This law set rules for coal strip mining to protect the environment.
In 1984, he also helped add an important change to the Animal Welfare Act of 1966. This change said that the mental well-being of primates used in research must be protected. Famous scientist Jane Goodall praised this law. In 1987, John Melcher presented her with an award from the Animal Welfare Institute.
Later Years
After leaving the Senate, John Melcher worked as a lobbyist. This means he worked to influence government decisions for different groups. One group he worked for was the American Veterinary Medical Association.
John Melcher passed away on April 12, 2018, in Missoula, Montana. He was 93 years old.
