Tom Miller (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Miller
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Miller in 2020
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| 31st and 33rd Attorney General of Iowa | |
| In office January 6, 1995 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Governor | Terry Branstad Tom Vilsack Chet Culver Kim Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Bonnie Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Brenna Bird |
| In office January 12, 1979 – January 11, 1991 |
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| Governor | Robert Ray Terry Branstad |
| Preceded by | Richard C. Turner |
| Succeeded by | Bonnie Campbell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas John Miller
August 11, 1944 Dubuque, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Loras College (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
Thomas John Miller (born August 11, 1944) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as the top lawyer for the state of Iowa for many years. This important job is called the Attorney General.
Tom Miller held this position from 1995 to 2023. Before that, he was also the Attorney General from 1979 to 1991. With a total of 40 years in office, he is the longest-serving State Attorney General in the history of the United States. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Growing Up and School
Tom Miller grew up in Dubuque, Iowa. His parents were Elmer and Betty Miller. His father worked for the county for a long time, helping to figure out property values.
Tom went to Wahlert Catholic High School in Dubuque. After high school, he studied at Loras College, also in Dubuque. He then went to Harvard Law School and earned his law degree in 1969.
Early Jobs
After law school, Tom Miller spent a year as a volunteer with AmeriCorps VISTA. This program helps communities in need. He worked in Baltimore. He also helped U.S. Representative John Culver of Iowa as a legislative assistant. This means he helped with laws and government work.
Later, he worked for the Baltimore Legal Aid Bureau. This group provides legal help to people who cannot afford it. He also taught law at the University of Maryland School of Law.
In 1973, Tom Miller moved back to Iowa. He started his own law office in McGregor, Iowa. For five years, he was the city lawyer for McGregor and Marquette, Iowa. In 1974, he tried to become the Attorney General of Iowa for the first time. He won the nomination from the Democratic Party but lost the main election.
Becoming Attorney General
Tom Miller was first elected Attorney General of Iowa in 1978. He won against the person who was already in the job. He was re-elected two more times, in 1982 and 1986.
In 1990, Miller decided to run for governor of Iowa. However, he did not win the primary election for his party. After that, he worked as a private lawyer in Des Moines.
He ran for Attorney General again in 1994 and won. He was re-elected many times after that: in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. In 2022, he lost his re-election bid. He served for a very long time, becoming the longest-serving state attorney general in U.S. history.
