Michael Joseph Mansfield
| Mike Mansfield | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 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 (aged 98) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Maureen Hayes |
| 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
|
| Service/branch |
 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 |
Michael Joseph Mansfield (March 16, 1903 – October 5, 2001) was an American politician and diplomat. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. Representative (1943–53) and a U.S. Senator (1953–77) from Montana. He was the longest-serving Senate Majority Leader, serving from 1961-77. During his tenure, he shepherded Great Society programs through the Senate and strongly opposed the Vietnam War.
Born in Brooklyn, Mansfield grew up in Great Falls, Montana. He lied about his age to serve in the United States Navy during World War I. After the war, he became a professor of history and political science at the University of Montana. He won election to the House of Representatives and served on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs during World War II.
In 1952, he defeated incumbent Republican Senator Zales Ecton to take a seat in the Senate. Mansfield served as Senate Majority Whip from 1957 to 1961. Mansfield ascended to Senate Majority Leader after Lyndon B. Johnson resigned from the Senate to become vice president. He opposed escalation of the Vietnam War and supported President Richard Nixon's plans to withdraw U.S. soldiers from Southeast Asia.
After retiring from the Senate, Mansfield served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 1977 to 1988. Upon retiring as ambassador, he was awarded the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in part for his role in the resignation of President Nixon. Mansfield is the longest-serving American ambassador to Japan in history. After his ambassadorship, Mansfield served for a time as a senior adviser on East Asian affairs to Goldman Sachs, the Wall Street investment banking firm.
...
Wikipedia