by Tom Slockett

Senator Tom Harkin’s decision not to seek re-election in 2014 focuses attention on the exceptional, in fact extraordinary, service he has provided to Iowa and the nation since he was first elected to Congress more than 38 years ago in November of 1974. I have known Tom and Ruth since the early 70’s and worked for them when he ran for Congress and she ran for Story County Attorney in 1972 (Ruth will never let Tom forget that she won that year and he lost 🙂 ).

I worked for Tom in Council Bluffs for a labor organization for young activists called Frontlash and had the pleasure of working together with an aging legend from Iowa Labor history, Betty Talkington. A brilliant grassroots voter turnout strategist, Betty taught me, before computer lists were available, how to pour over precinct maps and the telephone book to create a Precinct Finder by which 3X5 cards of voters could be organized in door knocking and precinct order. This was a crucial part of Harkin’s strategy to win by turning out voters in Council Bluffs who previously did not identify as Iowa voters because, at that time, most political radio and TV ads were for Nebraska candidates from Omaha stations, just across the Missouri River.

After I was elected Johnson County Auditor in 1976, I immediately created the the first county auditor’s Precinct Finder which was soon copied throughout the state and is now automatically produced by computer for all counties on the Iowa statewide voter database. Frontlash was also an early leader focused on turning out college age students and had a t-shirt emblazoned with the words “Watch Out, I Vote!” The Precinct Finder and focus on increasing voting in low turnout categories are examples of the many generally unrecognized ways Senator Harkin and his brilliant campaign strategies, in addition his outstanding publicly recognized and acclaimed leadership and voting record, have contributed to the democratic process, the Democratic Party, the state of Iowa, and the nation.

Senator Harkin, distinguished among all those now serving in the US House and Senate, defeated more incumbents than anyone else serving today. This did not “just happen”. Iowa’s other US Senator and Governor are Republicans. The Democratic party must take nothing for granted and choose the best possible candidate if they expect to have a candidate who can successfully step into Tom Harkin’s shoes. The odds are not good.

In 1992 when Harkin ran for President, I campaigned for him in New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. I believe to this day that he would have become President except for one reason: the extraordinary and exceptional gifts of Bill Clinton, who won the nomination and whom Tom endorsed in an extraordinary concession speech from Gallaudet University, which will forever inure to his credit.

Senator Harkin has been an outstanding voice for human rights, and an advocate for the elderly, the poor, and the disadvantaged and those with disabilities. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Headstart, and food stamps would not exist as they do today without Tom Harkin. I thank Tom and Ruth Harkin for their extraordinary service, and hope and pray that someone of Tom’s extraordinary talents and capabilities can be found to take his place.