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Ralph R. Harding (September 9, 1929 – October 26, 2006) was a former congressman from eastern Idaho; he served two terms as a Democrat from 1961 to 1965.[1][2]
Ralph R. Harding | |
|---|---|
 Harding in 1963 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Idaho's 2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1965 | |
| Preceded by | Hamer Budge |
| Succeeded by | George Hansen |
| Member of the Idaho State Legislature | |
| In office 1955–1956 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 9, 1929 Malad City, Idaho, US |
| Died | October 26, 2006 (aged 77) Blackfoot, Idaho, US |
| Resting place | Malad City Cemetery Malad City, Idaho |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Wilhelmina Conrad Harding (m.1954–2006, his death) |
| Children | 2 sons, 3 daughters |
| Residence | Blackfoot |
| Profession | Agriculture, Accountant |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | U.S. Army |
| Years of service | 1951–1953 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
Early life
editBorn in Malad City, Idaho, Harding served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah in 1956, after serving in Korea from 1951 to 1953 in the U.S. Army, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant.
Career
editHarding served in the Idaho state legislature from 1955 to 1956. He ran against Republican congressman Hamer Budge, a ten-year incumbent in Idaho's 2nd district in 1960. Harding pulled off an upset victory with 51.1 percent, winning by 4,000 votes. He was re-elected in 1962, but was one of the few incumbent Democrats in the U.S. House who lost to Republican challengers even as President Lyndon B. Johnson won in a landslide in 1964. Many attribute Harding's loss to a speech he made in the U.S. House of Representatives for criticizing LDS Apostle Ezra Taft Benson for being a "spokesman for the radical right of this nation"; Harding's congressional district was home to a large LDS population.
Benson was Secretary of Agriculture for two terms during the Eisenhower administration. After he left the Department of Agriculture, Benson vigorously supported the views of John Birch Society founder Robert Welch. In his book "The Patriot" Welch called Eisenhower a communist sympathizer. In a letter, Eisenhower thanked Harding for defending him against Welch's allegations.
After his 1964 defeat, Harding served as special assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force.[3] In 1966, Harding won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, but was defeated by Republican incumbent Len Jordan in the general election.
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Ralph Harding | 90,161 | 53.0% | Hamer Budge (inc.) | 86,100 | 47.0% | ||
| 1962 | Ralph Harding (inc.) | 83,152 | 52.8% | Orval Hansen | 74,203 | 47.2% | ||
| 1964 | Ralph Harding (inc.) | 84,022 | 47.8% | George Hansen | 91,838 | 51.8% |
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Ralph Harding | 112,637 | 44.6% | Len Jordan (inc.) | 139,819 | 55.4% |
Harding attempted to regain the 2nd district seat again in 1978, but lost the Democratic primary to Stan Kress.[4] He then worked on a variety of business ventures, including representing the Philippine sugar industry and attempting to launch an Asian version of the NBA.
Death and legacy
editHarding died at the age of seventy-seven in Blackfoot. According to a news report in the Idaho Statesman, a cause of death was not released by the hospital or family at the time of his death. Harding was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and is interred at Malad City Cemetery in Malad City.
In 1977, Harding and baseball hall of famer Harmon Killebrew of Payette co-founded the Danny Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament.[5][6][7] The first edition included former President Gerald Ford, Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill, and Hall of Fame slugger Mickey Mantle.[8][9][10] Now the Killebrew–Thompson Memorial, the event is held annually in Sun Valley in late August to benefit leukemia and cancer research at St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute in Idaho and Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota.[2][11]
References
edit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- ^ "Obituary: Ralph Ray Harding". Deseret News. October 30, 2006. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
- ^ a b Cordes, Jeff (November 1, 2006). "Ralph Harding, driving force of the Thompson, dies at 77". Idaho Mountain Express. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- ^ "Ralph Harding finishes tour". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Associated Press. April 14, 1966. p. b3.
- ^ "Kress has rematch with George Hansen". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. August 9, 1978. p. 12A.
- ^ "Killebrew plans 2nd charity golf". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). Associated Press. July 13, 1978. p. B13.
- ^ "Harmon Killebrew sponsors tourney". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 2, 1979. p. 26.
- ^ Benson, Lee (August 22, 1980). "Still hitting 'em straight - sometimes". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). Associated Press. p. 4B.
- ^ "Ford plays best golf round ever". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. August 21, 1977. p. 3C.
- ^ Miller, Hack (August 20, 1977). "Ford takes a payoff". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. 6A.
- ^ Killebrew, Harmon; Harding, Ralph (September 1, 1977). "Charity golfers drawing thanks". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). (letter). p. 4.
- ^ Cordes, Jeff (November 1, 2006) [August 23, 1984]. "Ralph Harding: back room maestro of the Thompson". Idaho Mountain Express. (Ketchum). Retrieved July 29, 2013.
External links
edit- United States Congress. "Ralph R. Harding (id: H000191)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- UCSF Library – Harding biography, circa 1981, on Killebrew & Harding stationery
- Killebrew-Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament
- Political Graveyard – Ralph Harding
- Our Campaigns – Ralph R. Harding
- Ralph R. Harding at Find a Grave