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Reversal Of Fortune: Dick Clark, John Culver, And Iowa Politics In The 1970s, Clinton R. Boddicker

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

In January of 1975, Iowa Democratic Party activists and office holders could not have been happier. In the previous November's mid-term elections, Iowans had elected or reelected five of the six Democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, including newcomers Michael Blouin, Berkley Bedell, and Tom Harkin. In addition, Democrats now controlled both branches of the state legislature. About the only thing for the state's Democrats to be unhappy about was the situation in the Iowa Executive Council, where the GOP controlled all seven offices (including that of governor). Even so, what probably excited loyal Democrats more than anything …