Harold E. Hughes

Harold Everett Hughes (1922-1996) was an American politician from Iowa who served as the Governor of Iowa from 1963 to 1969 and as a U.S. Senator representing Iowa from 1969 to 1975. He was best known for his implementation of progressive reforms in Iowa and his efforts to combat alcoholism. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and career

Hughes was born near Ida Grove, Iowa. He attended University of Iowa but dropped out. During World War II he joined the United States Army and fought in Italy and Africa. After returning home from the battlefield he became a businessman in the transportation industry. He served in the Iowa State Commerce Commission from 1959 to 1962.

Governor of Iowa

Hughes ran for the gubernatorial election in 1962 and was elected governor. He inaugurated in 1963. His tenure as governor was marked by a variety of reform measures, such as the establishment of the state civil right commission, increased funding for education, and consumer protection. He also oversaw the abolition of the death penalty in the state. In 1968, he was elected to the Senate and he resigned his governorship in 1969 to begin his senatorial service.

Senatorial career

Hughes served in the Senate from 1969 to 1975. In the Senate, he pushed the passage of the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Act of 1970, a law that established the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to solve the problem of alcoholism in America. During the administration of President Richard Nixon, he advocated for treatment and education to reduce drug abuse as an alternative to Nixon's hard-line law enforcement policy toward illegal drugs. In 1972, he was appointed to the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse, led by Raymond Philip Shafer. The commission recommended the decriminalization of cannabis (referred as "marijuana" in U.S.) However, Nixon refused to listen to his proposals and the commission's recommendation and continued the law enforcement approach to psychoactive drugs. He retired from the Senate in 1975.

Later life

After his retirement from the Senate, he briefly served as the consultant to the Senate Judiciary Committee 1975 from 1976. He continued to advocate for the treatment and prevention of alcoholism and drug abuse, chairing the Harold Hughes Centers for Alcoholism and Drug Treatment. He also served as the president of the Hughes Foundation. He died in 1996 in Glendale, Arizona.

Sources

• Congressional Biographical Directory
• Hughes, Harold E. (n.d.). Crystal Reference Encyclopedia
• King, Rufus. The Drug Hang Up, America's Fifty-Year Folly Senator Hughes's Friendly Anger
• In Tribute To Harold Everett Hughes
• National Governors Association
• NNDB Biography
• Medical Marijuana ProCon.org
• National Commission On Marihuana Celebrates 35th Anniversary