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Dick Clark (senator)
Encyclopedia
Richard Clarence "Dick" Clark (born September 14, 1928) represented the state of Iowa in the United States Senate
from 1973 to 1979.
Clark, a Democrat, was only successful in his first election for the Senate when he defeated Republican incumbent, Jack R. Miller in 1972. Clark received 662,637 votes (55%) to Miller's 530,525 (44%). American Independent Party
candidate William Rocap received 8,954 votes (1%).
Clark served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and chaired the Subcommittee on Africa, developing considerable expertise on the crisis in Angola
. In 1976, he authored the Clark Amendment
, which barred aid from the U.S. government to private groups engaged in military or paramilitary
operations in Angola
.
Clark ran for reelection in 1978, but lost to Roger Jepsen
. Clark was then appointed by President
Jimmy Carter
to be Ambassador at Large and United States Coordinator for Refugee Affairs in 1979. He has served as a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies
since 1980.
He was educated first at the University of Maryland, Wiesbaden
, and the University of Frankfort from 1950 to 1952, while serving in the United States Army
. He completed his BA in 1953 at Upper Iowa University
and his Masters in 1956 at the University of Iowa
.
Prior to being a Senator, Clark was a professor at Upper Iowa University, and then served as an assistant to congressman John Culver
. While working for Culver, Clark helped put together a campaign that kept Culver in Congress in 1966.
As senator, he served on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
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...
from 1973 to 1979.
Clark, a Democrat, was only successful in his first election for the Senate when he defeated Republican incumbent, Jack R. Miller in 1972. Clark received 662,637 votes (55%) to Miller's 530,525 (44%). American Independent Party
American Independent Party
The American Independent Party is a right-wing political party of the United States that was established in 1967 by Bill and Eileen Shearer. In 1968, the American Independent Party nominated George C. Wallace as its presidential candidate and retired Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay as the vice...
candidate William Rocap received 8,954 votes (1%).
Clark served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and chaired the Subcommittee on Africa, developing considerable expertise on the crisis in Angola
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
. In 1976, he authored the Clark Amendment
Clark Amendment
The Clark Amendment was an amendment to the U.S. Arms Export Control Act of 1976, named for its sponsor, Senator Dick Clark . The amendment barred aid to private groups engaged in military or paramilitary operations in Angola....
, which barred aid from the U.S. government to private groups engaged in military or paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
operations in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
.
Clark ran for reelection in 1978, but lost to Roger Jepsen
Roger Jepsen
Roger William Jepsen is an American politician from the state of Iowa. A Republican, he served in the United States Senate.-Biography :...
. Clark was then appointed by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
to be Ambassador at Large and United States Coordinator for Refugee Affairs in 1979. He has served as a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies
Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1950 as the Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies. The organization is dedicated to "fostering enlightened leadership, the appreciation of timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue on contemporary issues." The...
since 1980.
He was educated first at the University of Maryland, Wiesbaden
University of Maryland University College
The University of Maryland University College is located in the unincorporated community of Adelphi in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States. Serving over 90,000 students worldwide, UMUC is the largest 4-year public university in Maryland and one of the largest distance learning...
, and the University of Frankfort from 1950 to 1952, while serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He completed his BA in 1953 at Upper Iowa University
Upper Iowa University
Established in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private institution of higher education with its residential campus located in northeast Iowa near the Volga River in the rural community of Fayette, where around 900 students are enrolled....
and his Masters in 1956 at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
Prior to being a Senator, Clark was a professor at Upper Iowa University, and then served as an assistant to congressman John Culver
John Culver
John Chester Culver is an American politician of the Democratic Party who represented Iowa in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate....
. While working for Culver, Clark helped put together a campaign that kept Culver in Congress in 1966.
As senator, he served on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.