Mike Mansfield
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 | |
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United States Ambassador to Japan | |
In office June 10, 1977 – December 22, 1988 | |
President | Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan |
Preceded by | James D. Hodgson |
Succeeded by | Michael Armacost |
Senate Majority Leader | |
In office January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1977 | |
Deputy | Hubert Humphrey Russell B. Long Ted Kennedy Robert Byrd |
Preceded by | Lyndon B. Johnson |
Succeeded by | Robert Byrd |
Senate Majority Whip | |
In office January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1961 | |
Leader | Lyndon Johnson |
Preceded by | Earle C. Clements |
Succeeded by | Hubert Humphrey |
United States Senator from Montana | |
In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977 | |
Preceded by | Zales Ecton |
Succeeded by | John Melcher |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana's 1st district | |
In office January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1953 | |
Preceded by | Jeannette Rankin |
Succeeded by | Lee Metcalf |
Personal details | |
Born | Michael Joseph Mansfield March 16, 1903 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Died | October 5, 2001 Washington, D.C., U.S. | (aged 98)
Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) |
Maureen Hayes (m. 1932) |
Children | 1 daughter |
Education | University 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 service | 1918–1919 (Navy) 1919–1920 (Army) 1920–1922 (Marine Corps) |
Rank | Seaman (Navy) Private (Army) Private First Class (Marine Corps) |
Battles/wars | World 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- ↑ "Michael Joseph Mansfield". Arlington Cemetery website. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ↑ 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.