Mike Mansfield

American politician and diplomat

Michael Joseph "Mike" Mansfield (March 16, 1903 – October 5, 2001) was an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He served as a U.S. Representative (1943–1953) and a U.S. Senator (1953–1977) from Montana. He was the longest-serving Senate Majority Leader, serving from 1961 to 1977.

Mike Mansfield
United States Ambassador to Japan
In office
June 10, 1977 – December 22, 1988
PresidentJimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
Preceded byJames D. Hodgson
Succeeded byMichael Armacost
Senate Majority Leader
In office
January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1977
DeputyHubert Humphrey
Russell B. Long
Ted Kennedy
Robert Byrd
Preceded byLyndon B. Johnson
Succeeded byRobert Byrd
Senate Majority Whip
In office
January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1961
LeaderLyndon Johnson
Preceded byEarle C. Clements
Succeeded byHubert Humphrey
United States Senator
from Montana
In office
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977
Preceded byZales Ecton
Succeeded byJohn Melcher
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Montana's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1953
Preceded byJeannette Rankin
Succeeded byLee Metcalf
Personal details
Born
Michael Joseph Mansfield

(1903-03-16)March 16, 1903
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 5, 2001(2001-10-05) (aged 98)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Maureen Hayes
(m. 1932)
Children1 daughter
EducationUniversity of Montana, Tech
University of Montana, Missoula (BA, MA)
University of California, Los Angeles
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
 United States Army
 United States Marine Corps
Years of service1918–1919 (Navy)
1919–1920 (Army)
1920–1922 (Marine Corps)
RankSeaman (Navy)
Private (Army)
Private First Class (Marine Corps)
Battles/warsWorld War I

During his time, he led Great Society programs through the Senate and strongly opposed the Vietnam War.

After retiring from the Senate, Mansfield served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 1977 to 1988. On retiring as ambassador, he was awarded the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1989). He won this in part for his role in the resignation of Republican President Richard Nixon.[1] Mansfield is the longest-serving American ambassador to Japan in history.[2]

After his ambassadorship, Mansfield served for a time as a senior adviser on East Asian affairs to Goldman Sachs, the Wall Street investment banking company.

Mansfield died of congestive heart failure in Washington, D.C. on October 5, 2001. He was aged 98.

References

change
  1. "Michael Joseph Mansfield". Arlington Cemetery website. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  2. Warnock, Eleanor (April 16, 2012). "End of an Era: Yamamoto, Top 'America Hand' Dies at 76". Wall Street Journal Japan Real Time. Retrieved April 18, 2012.