Clyde L. Herring
Encyclopedia
Clyde LaVerne Herring an American
politician
and Democrat, served as the 26th Governor of Iowa, and then one of its U.S. Senators
, during the last part of the Great Depression
and the first part of World War II
.
, where he attended public schools. His parents farmed until he was 14 years old, the year of the "Panic of 1893
," when failing finances made it necessary for them to move to town.In 1897, at age 18, he moved to Detroit, Michigan
and became a jewelry clerk.
Enlisting in the military, he served during the Spanish-American War
as a private in Company D of the Third Michigan Regiment.
After the war he moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado
, where he engaged in ranching from 1902 to 1906. He then moved to Massena, Iowa
, where he farmed for two years (1906-1908).
As Time Magazine would recount in a 1935 cover story featuring Herring, "in Detroit he had fixed Henry Ford's watch, thus came to know that rising automobile manufacturer. From 1910 until the distributing system was reshuffled after the War, Clyde Herring was Ford agent for Iowa. By that time he had acquired $3,000,000 worth of Des Moines real estate."
In 1916-17, he served with the Iowa National Guard
on the Mexican border. Returning to civilian life in Des Moines as America entered the First World War, Herring led local fundraising efforts as the chair of the Greater Des Moines Committee, and was invited to Washington to advise the federal government on speeding up production of war supplies.
Nathan E. Kendall
), and for the United States Senate in a 1922 special election (losing to Republican Smith W. Brookhart
). He held one of Iowa's seats on the Democratic National Committee from 1924 to 1928.
In 1932, Herring ran again for Governor of Iowa, this time against incumbent Republican Daniel Webster Turner
. That year Herring and other Democratic candidates in Iowa won an unprecedented number of races, and Herring became only the second Democrat to serve as Governor of Iowa since the founding of the Republican Party in 1854. In a 1934 rematch, Herring again defeated Turner, while leading a Democratic sweep of statewide offices and keeping Democrats in six of Iowa's nine U.S. House seats.
In 1936, his fourth year as governor, Herring chose not to run for re-election but instead challenged incumbent Republican U.S. Senator L. J. Dickinson. Herring defeated Dickinson by fewer than 36,000 votes. For the first time since 1855
, Democrats held both of Iowa's seats in the U.S. Senate. His service as Senator was slightly delayed to await the end of his term as Iowa's Governor.
Herring's reaction to Orson Welles
' 1938 "War of the Worlds" broadcast
received national attention. In order to protect listeners, he urged adoption of federal legislation "inducing" broadcasters to first submit radio programming to the Federal Communications Commission
before it could be aired. He declared that "radio has no more right to present programs like that than someone has to come knocking on our door and screaming." No such legislation was adopted.
At the 1940 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Herring aspired to be picked as Franklin D. Roosevelt
's vice-presidential candidate, but Roosevelt and the Convention instead nominated fellow Iowan Henry A. Wallace
, who had served as Roosevelt's Secretary of Agriculture.
Herring served only a single term as Senator, and failed in his first re-election bid. President Roosevelt's popularity in Iowa had waned after 1936, and fewer and fewer Democratic candidates won re-election. In addition, disagreements or rivalries between Herring and other leading Iowa Democrats, including fellow Senator Guy M. Gillette, former governor Nelson G. Kraschel
, and Vice-President Henry Wallace, hampered party unity. Herring was defeated by Iowa's Republican Governor, George A. Wilson
. Herring was the last of the successful 1932 Democratic candidates in Iowa to lose a re-election bid.
After serving in the Senate, he returned to the automobile business, and was named by President Roosevelt as the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Price Administration
, the wartime price regulatory agency.
Herring died in Washington, D.C.
on September 15, 1945. He is interred at the Glendale cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and Democrat, served as the 26th Governor of Iowa, and then one of its U.S. Senators
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, during the last part of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and the first part of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Personal background
He was born in 1879 and raised in Jackson County, MichiganJackson County, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 158,422 people, 58,168 households, and 40,833 families residing in the county. The population density was 224 people per square mile . There were 62,906 housing units at an average density of 89/sq mi...
, where he attended public schools. His parents farmed until he was 14 years old, the year of the "Panic of 1893
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States that began in 1893. Similar to the Panic of 1873, this panic was marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures...
," when failing finances made it necessary for them to move to town.In 1897, at age 18, he moved to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and became a jewelry clerk.
Enlisting in the military, he served during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
as a private in Company D of the Third Michigan Regiment.
After the war he moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
, where he engaged in ranching from 1902 to 1906. He then moved to Massena, Iowa
Massena, Iowa
Massena is a city in Cass County, Iowa, United States. The population was 414 at the 2000 census. Massena's motto is: "The Home of Friendly People". Massena's sister community is Cumberland, Iowa...
, where he farmed for two years (1906-1908).
As Time Magazine would recount in a 1935 cover story featuring Herring, "in Detroit he had fixed Henry Ford's watch, thus came to know that rising automobile manufacturer. From 1910 until the distributing system was reshuffled after the War, Clyde Herring was Ford agent for Iowa. By that time he had acquired $3,000,000 worth of Des Moines real estate."
In 1916-17, he served with the Iowa National Guard
Iowa Army National Guard
The Iowa Army National Guard is the Army component of the Iowa National Guard, a military reserve force with dual federal and state missions. It is empowered to function in a state status if needed to carry out limited actions during non-emergency situations all the way to full scale law...
on the Mexican border. Returning to civilian life in Des Moines as America entered the First World War, Herring led local fundraising efforts as the chair of the Greater Des Moines Committee, and was invited to Washington to advise the federal government on speeding up production of war supplies.
Political career
Herring was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Governor of Iowa in 1920 (losing to RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Nathan E. Kendall
Nathan E. Kendall
Nathan Edward Kendall , a Republican politician, was a two-term U.S. Representative from Iowa's 6th congressional district and the 23rd Governor of Iowa.-Background:...
), and for the United States Senate in a 1922 special election (losing to Republican Smith W. Brookhart
Smith W. Brookhart
Smith Wildman Brookhart , was twice elected as a Republican to represent Iowa in the United States Senate. He was considered an "insurgent" within the Republican Party; his criticisms of the Harding and Coolidge Administrations and of business interests alienated others within the Republican...
). He held one of Iowa's seats on the Democratic National Committee from 1924 to 1928.
In 1932, Herring ran again for Governor of Iowa, this time against incumbent Republican Daniel Webster Turner
Daniel Webster Turner
Daniel Webster 'Dan' Turner , a lifelong Republican, was elected the 25th Governor of Iowa, and served only one term from 1931 to 1933.-Biography:...
. That year Herring and other Democratic candidates in Iowa won an unprecedented number of races, and Herring became only the second Democrat to serve as Governor of Iowa since the founding of the Republican Party in 1854. In a 1934 rematch, Herring again defeated Turner, while leading a Democratic sweep of statewide offices and keeping Democrats in six of Iowa's nine U.S. House seats.
In 1936, his fourth year as governor, Herring chose not to run for re-election but instead challenged incumbent Republican U.S. Senator L. J. Dickinson. Herring defeated Dickinson by fewer than 36,000 votes. For the first time since 1855
United States Congressional Delegations from Iowa
These are tables of congressional delegations from Iowa to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.-United States Senate:...
, Democrats held both of Iowa's seats in the U.S. Senate. His service as Senator was slightly delayed to await the end of his term as Iowa's Governor.
Herring's reaction to Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
' 1938 "War of the Worlds" broadcast
The War of the Worlds (radio)
The War of the Worlds was an episode of the American radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air. It was performed as a Halloween episode of the series on October 30, 1938, and aired over the Columbia Broadcasting System radio network. Directed and narrated by actor and future filmmaker...
received national attention. In order to protect listeners, he urged adoption of federal legislation "inducing" broadcasters to first submit radio programming to the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
before it could be aired. He declared that "radio has no more right to present programs like that than someone has to come knocking on our door and screaming." No such legislation was adopted.
At the 1940 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Herring aspired to be picked as Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's vice-presidential candidate, but Roosevelt and the Convention instead nominated fellow Iowan Henry A. Wallace
Henry A. Wallace
Henry Agard Wallace was the 33rd Vice President of the United States , the Secretary of Agriculture , and the Secretary of Commerce . In the 1948 presidential election, Wallace was the nominee of the Progressive Party.-Early life:Henry A...
, who had served as Roosevelt's Secretary of Agriculture.
Herring served only a single term as Senator, and failed in his first re-election bid. President Roosevelt's popularity in Iowa had waned after 1936, and fewer and fewer Democratic candidates won re-election. In addition, disagreements or rivalries between Herring and other leading Iowa Democrats, including fellow Senator Guy M. Gillette, former governor Nelson G. Kraschel
Nelson G. Kraschel
Nelson George Kraschel was an American politician of the Democratic Party. He was born on a farm near Macon, Illinois in 1889 and died in Harlan, Iowa in 1957....
, and Vice-President Henry Wallace, hampered party unity. Herring was defeated by Iowa's Republican Governor, George A. Wilson
George A. Wilson
George Allison Wilson was a United States Senator and 28th Governor of Iowa.-Personal background:Born on a farm near Menlo, Iowa, Wilson attended rural schools, and Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law at Iowa City in 1907, and was admitted to...
. Herring was the last of the successful 1932 Democratic candidates in Iowa to lose a re-election bid.
After serving in the Senate, he returned to the automobile business, and was named by President Roosevelt as the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Price Administration
Office of Price Administration
The Office of Price Administration was established within the Office for Emergency Management of the United States government by Executive Order 8875 on August 28, 1941. The functions of the OPA was originally to control money and rents after the outbreak of World War II.President Franklin D...
, the wartime price regulatory agency.
Herring died in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on September 15, 1945. He is interred at the Glendale cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
.