Mike Mansfield | |
|---|---|
.png) Mansfield in 1985 | |
| United States Ambassador to Japan | |
| In office June 10, 1977 – December 22, 1988 | |
| President | |
| Preceded by | James Day Hodgson |
| Succeeded by | Michael Armacost |
| Senate Majority Leader | |
| In office January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Whip | |
| Preceded by | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Robert Byrd |
| Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Lyndon Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Robert Byrd |
| Senate Majority Whip | |
| In office January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1961 | |
| Leader | Lyndon Johnson |
| Preceded by | Earle 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 |
Maureen Hayes
(m. 1932; died 2000) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Montana (BA, MA) University of California, Los Angeles |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service |
|
| Rank |
|
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Michael Joseph Mansfield (March 16, 1903 – October 5, 2001) was an American Democratic Party politician and diplomat who represented Montana in the United States House of Representatives from 1943 to 1953 and United States Senate from 1953 to 1977. As the leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus from 1961 to 1977, Mansfield shepherded Great Society programs through the Senate; his tenure of exactly sixteen years was the longest of any party leader in Senate history, until the record was broken by Mitch McConnell in 2023.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, 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. In the later years of the Vietnam War, he opposed escalation of American involvement and supported President Richard Nixon's plans for Vietnamization.
After retiring from the Senate, Mansfield served as United States Ambassador to Japan from 1977 to 1988. Mansfield is the longest-serving American ambassador to Japan in history.[1] Upon his retirement, he was awarded the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Mansfield also worked as a senior adviser on East Asian affairs to Goldman Sachs.
- ^ 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.