Vance Hartke

Rupert Vance Hartke
United States Senator from Indiana
In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1977
Preceded by	William E. Jenner
Succeeded by	Richard Lugar
Born	May 23, 1919 (1919-05-23) Pike County, Indiana
Died	July 27, 2003 (2003-07-28) Falls Church, Virginia
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Martha Hartke
Children	Sandra Hartke Jan Hartke Wayne Hartke Keith Hartke Paul Hartke Anita Hartke Nadine Hartke
Alma mater	Evansville University Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Lutheran
Military service
Service/branch	United States Navy United States Coast Guard
Rank	Lieutenant

Rupert Vance Hartke (May 31, 1919 – July 27, 2003) was a Democratic United States Senator from Indiana from 1959 until 1977.

Early life, education, military service

Born in Stendal, Pike County, Indiana on May 31, 1919, Hartke attended public schools in Stendal. He graduated from Evansville College (now the University of Evansville) in 1940, and from 1942 until 1946 Hartke served in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, rising from Seaman to Lieutenant. Hartke graduated from the Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington in 1948.

Legal and political career

After joining the Indiana State Bar in 1948, Hartke began practicing law in Evansville. He also worked as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney of Vanderburgh County (1950–1951) and Mayor of Evansville (1956–1958) before being elected to the United States Senate in 1958 and reelected in 1964 and 1970 (1959–1977). He lost reelection in 1976 to Richard Lugar. Hartke was also an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1972.

Senate service and later life

In the Senate, Hartke was known for his opposition to the Vietnam War and his chairmanship of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

Hartke died in Falls Church, Virginia on July 27, 2003, aged 84, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Hartke left behind his wife, Martha, and his seven children: Sandra, Jan, Wayne, Keith, Paul, Anita, and Nadine as well as thirteen grandchildren: Angela, Vance, Jason, Jessica, Travis, Melody, Chelsea, Hanna, Ryan, Tyler, Dean, Zachary, and Wyatt, and two great grand children: Colby and Jackson.

Hartke's daughter, Anita Hartke, was the 2008 Democratic candidate for the United States House of Representatives from the 7th congressional district of Virginia. She lost to the Republican incumbent, Eric Cantor.

References

• "Rupert Vance Hartke". Arlington National Cemetery. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rvhartke.htm. 
• Myrna Oliver (July 29, 2003). "Vance Hartke, 84; Indiana Senator Opposed Johnson on Vietnam". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jul/29/local/me-hartke29. 
• Olson, James Stuart (1999). Historical Dictionary of the 1960s. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 222. ISBN 031329271X. http://books.google.com/books?id=X7KG3GgZUHoC. 

External links

• Vance Hartke at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

v • d • e United States Senators from Indiana Class 1 Noble • Hanna • Tipton • White • Bright • Wright • Turpie • T. Hendricks • Pratt • McDonald • Harrison • Turpie • Beveridge • Kern • New • Ralston • Robinson • Minton • Willis • Jenner • Hartke • Lugar Class 3 Taylor • W. Hendricks • Smith • Hannegan • Whitcomb • Cathcart • Pettit • Fitch • Lane • Morton • Voorhees • Fairbanks • Hemenway • Shively • Taggart • Watson • Van Nuys • Jackson • Jenner • Capehart • Bayh II • Quayle • Coats • Bayh III