Tom Harkin

Tom Harkin – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the life, career, and most powerful quotes of Tom Harkin. From humble beginnings to championing disability rights and health care reform, discover how Harkin’s legacy continues to shape public policy and inspire leaders today.

Introduction

Tom Harkin is an American lawyer, author, and retired politician whose name is closely tied to landmark legislation, social justice, and progressive causes. Born November 19, 1939, in rural Iowa, Harkin rose from modest roots to serve five terms in the United States Senate. He is perhaps best known as a principal architect of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a defining achievement of his public life. His long career in public service and unwavering advocacy make him a figure of lasting influence in American politics.

In this article, we’ll dive into the life and career of Tom Harkin, explore his major contributions, highlight some of his most memorable quotes, and reflect on the lessons one can draw from his journey.

Early Life and Family

Thomas Richard “Tom” Harkin was born on November 19, 1939, in Cumming, Iowa. His father, Patrick Francis Harkin, was an Irish American coal miner, while his mother, Franciska “Frances” Valentine (née Berčič), was a Slovene immigrant. Tragically, his mother died when he was only ten years old. He was raised in a modest household; the family home lacked hot running water or a furnace for part of his youth.

He attended Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.

These early hardships shaped Harkin’s empathy, determination, and his lifelong affinity for giving voice to those with fewer advantages.

Youth and Education

After high school, Harkin earned a Navy ROTC scholarship to attend Iowa State University, where he majored in government and economics. He graduated in 1962.

Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1967 as a jet pilot, with assignments that included Naval Air Facility Atsugi (Japan) and Guantanamo Bay. After active duty, he continued service in the Naval Reserves until 1989, retiring with the rank of commander.

In 1967, Harkin moved to Washington, D.C., working as an aide to Representative Neal Smith of Iowa. During a 1970 congressional delegation to South Vietnam, Harkin documented and exposed “tiger cages” in a Vietnamese prison via photographs and an account in Life magazine.

He earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in 1972.

These formative years—military service, legal training, and early Washington engagement—laid the groundwork for his legislative career.

Career and Achievements

House of Representatives (1975–1985)

Harkin ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1972 but lost. Undeterred, he ran again in 1974 and was elected to represent Iowa’s 5th congressional district, serving from 1975 to 1985.

During his House tenure, Harkin built relationships, gained congressional experience, and laid the political foundation for his future Senate campaign.

U.S. Senate (1985–2015)

In the 1984 election, Harkin won a seat in the U.S. Senate, defeating Republican Roger Jepsen. He was re-elected in 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008, serving a full 30 years. Remarkably, he served his entire Senate tenure as Iowa’s junior senator, due to his colleague Chuck Grassley’s longer seniority.

During his Senate career, Harkin chaired the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) and also chaired the Agriculture Committee.

One of his most enduring legacies is his role in introducing and championing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Because he had a brother who was deaf, Harkin delivered part of the ADA’s introduction speech in American Sign Language — a symbolic act that underlined his personal commitment.

He also pushed for expanded Medicaid reform, fighting to rebalance spending toward community-based services rather than institutional care. On healthcare, Harkin supported embryonic stem cell research, arguing that federal support could ease human suffering.

He voted in favor of Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) in 2009 but later expressed regret that it didn’t go far enough (e.g., for not including a single-payer system or stronger public option). He also authored the Minimum Wage Fairness Act in 2013, which would raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour over two years.

Beyond domestic policy, Harkin worked on international labor issues, notably co-sponsoring the Harkin-Engel Protocol (with Rep. Eliot Engel) to curb child labor in the cocoa industry in West Africa.

In January 2013, Harkin announced he would not seek re-election in 2014, and he left office in January 2015.

Historical Milestones & Context

• ADA passage (1990): The Americans with Disabilities Act is widely heralded as a civil rights landmark, protecting consumers, workers, and access for disabled Americans. Harkin’s role in shaping and promoting the legislation is core to his legacy.

• 1992 presidential campaign: Harkin sought the Democratic nomination, positioning himself as a populist liberal. He won the Iowa caucus but dropped out before Super Tuesday and endorsed Bill Clinton.

• Health policy debates: He was often a vocal critic of systemic flaws in U.S. health care, famously distinguishing between a “health care system” and a “sick care system.”

• Child labor in cocoa: Through the Harkin-Engel Protocol, the cocoa and chocolate industry agreed on voluntary measures to reduce child slavery and worst forms of child labor.

• Agricultural & rural focus: Representing a predominantly rural state (Iowa), Harkin championed farm policy, rural development, nutrition programs, and agriculture reform within Senate committees.

His career straddled the end of the Cold War, the rise of globalization, expanding social debates, and increasing polarization. Harkin kept pushing for progressive solutions in a changing political landscape.

Legacy and Influence

Tom Harkin’s legacy is multifaceted:

1. Disability rights and inclusion: The ADA continues to protect millions of Americans and serves as a model for disability legislation worldwide.

2. Advocate for the vulnerable: Whether via health care, poverty relief, or labor rights, Harkin was consistent in speaking for those less heard.

3. Bridge-building style: His early ability to reach across party lines, combining personal stories with policy language, is often cited as exemplary.

4. Cautionary introspection: His later admissions of regrets (especially over health law compromises) show a politician willing to reflect and critique his own decisions.

5. Inspiration to progressive leaders: Many politicians, activists, and disability advocates cite Harkin as a model of combining moral conviction with legislative action.

Though retired, his work continues to shape debates on health, equality, and rights.

Personality and Talents

Harkin was known for blending authenticity with legislative skill.
He could move between policy detail and narrative storytelling.
He had a reputation for hard work, constituent responsiveness, and adapting his views over time (e.g., on LGBTQ+ rights).

He once said:

“I don’t know if there’s any secret recipe. Just a lot of hard work. Pay attention to your constituents.”

He was not without contradictions or controversies: balancing progressive ideals with political compromise, navigating party pressures, and reconsidering some choices later. Yet he often admitted mistakes openly.

Famous Quotes of Tom Harkin

Here are some of the most quoted, incisive lines attributed to Tom Harkin:

“America's health care system is in crisis precisely because we systematically neglect wellness and prevention.”

“Let’s face it, in America today we don’t have a health care system, we have a sick care system.”

“Stem cell research holds enormous promise for easing human suffering, and federal support is critical to its success.”

“The Gulf War was like teenage sex. We got in too soon and out too soon.”

“Today, only two groups in the United States have total immunity from lawsuits: foreign diplomats and HMOs. … It’s time to end diplomatic immunity for HMOs.”

“There is no such thing as a pro-nuclear environmentalist.”

“When I first arrived to Congress … I would spend several hours every week with Republicans … by the time I left … that was a rarity. Every moment of free time is eaten up by fundraising.”

These quotes reflect themes of health, equity, political realism, and moral urgency.

Lessons from Tom Harkin

1. Stand consistently for values. Though he made compromises, Harkin’s bedrock convictions—for inclusion, justice, health—remained steady.

2. Use policy as narrative. He often grounded arguments in personal or human stories, making legislation relatable.

3. Admit errors. His willingness to say “I wish I could take back” certain votes illustrates humility in public life.

4. Persistent focus over flash. His decades in office were characterized by incremental progress, not fleeting glory.

5. Bridge partisanship through respect. Early in his career he had bipartisan friendships—those skills faded as polarization rose, but his early approach is instructive.

One can see Harkin’s path as a reminder that political impact often requires patience, moral clarity, and the resolve to fight for the overlooked.

Conclusion

Tom Harkin’s life is a testament to how one person from a modest background can shape national policy and social progress. His legacy — especially through the Americans with Disabilities Act — resonates far beyond Iowa. As we consider his words, “We only get one life. We ought to use it right,” we are challenged to carry forward the spirit of service, advocacy, and moral leadership.