Fred Schwengel
Encyclopedia
Frederick Delbert Schwengel (May 28, 1906 – April 1, 1993) was a Republican U.S. Representative
from southeastern Iowa
.
, Schwengel attended the rural schools in West Fork Township and high schools in Chapin
and Sheffield, Iowa
. He graduated from Northeast Missouri Teachers College
at Kirksville, Missouri
in 1930, and attended graduate school at the University of Iowa
in Iowa City
from 1933 to 1935.
To this day, Truman State University displays a collection of Schwengel's personal collection of Abraham Lincoln historical artifacts that were donated by Schwengel's wife after his death in 1993.
Schwengel had founded the United States Capitol Historical Society
in 1962, and continued to serve as its president after his defeat, until 1993. He also was a founder and president of the Republican Heritage Foundation. He also served as the President of the Iowa Chamber of Commerce
and chairman of the National Civil War Centennial Commission and the Joint Sessions of Congress for the Lincoln Sesquicentennial.
He served as athletic coach and instructor of history and political science in public schools of Shelbina, Missouri
and Kirksville, Missouri from 1930 to 1937. He engaged in the insurance business in Davenport, Iowa
from 1937 to 1954.
He served in the Missouri National Guard
from 1929 to 1936.
in 1944, serving five consecutive terms, from 1945 to 1955. He also served as member of the Iowa Development Commission from 1949 to 1955.
), Thomas E. Martin
, ran for the U.S. Senate. Schwengel ran and won the Republican nomination for the seat, and easily defeated John J. O'Connor in the general election. He successfully won re-election in the following four elections. However, in the 1964 Democratic landslide, Schwengel (like all but one of Iowa's Republican U.S. House members) was defeated. He lost to University of Iowa political science Professor John R. Schmidhauser
by fewer than 4,000 votes. But Schmidhauser, like many members of the 1964 freshman class, served only one term; in 1966 Schwengel ran again for his former seat and defeated Schmidhauser by fewer than 5,000 votes, then defeated him again in 1968 by a wider margin.
In 1970 Schwengel narrowly defeated Iowa legislator Edward Mezvinsky
by only 765 votes. Redistricting before the 1972 election shifted several Republican areas out of the 1st district, so when Mezvinsky ran against Schwengel a second time in 1972, he won with 53 percent of the vote. Some also attribute Schwengel's opposition to prayer in public schools as contributing to his defeat. In all, Schwengel served eight terms in Congress.
Schwengel received the first JM Dawson Award from the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
in 1986 for, among other things, his stance against school prayer in 1970 that eventually led to his defeat from Congress.
Schwengel died on April 1, 1993, in Arlington, Virginia. The Interstate 80 bridge crossing the Mississippi River
near Davenport, Iowa
is named in his honor.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from southeastern Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
Personal background
Born on a farm near Sheffield, IowaSheffield, Iowa
Sheffield is a city in Franklin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 930 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sheffield is located at ....
, Schwengel attended the rural schools in West Fork Township and high schools in Chapin
Chapin, Iowa
Chapin is an unincorporated community in northern Franklin County, Iowa, United States. It lies along local roads just off U.S. Route 65, north of the city of Hampton, the county seat of Franklin County. Its elevation is 1,155 feet , and it is located at...
and Sheffield, Iowa
Sheffield, Iowa
Sheffield is a city in Franklin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 930 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sheffield is located at ....
. He graduated from Northeast Missouri Teachers College
Truman State University
Truman State University is a public liberal arts and sciences university in Missouri, United States and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. About 6,000 students attend Truman, pursuing degrees in 43 undergraduate and 9 Graduate programs. It is located in Kirksville in...
at Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville is the county seat of Adair County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Benton Township. The population was 17,505 at the 2010 census. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties. The city is perhaps best known as the location of Truman...
in 1930, and attended graduate school 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...
in Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
from 1933 to 1935.
To this day, Truman State University displays a collection of Schwengel's personal collection of Abraham Lincoln historical artifacts that were donated by Schwengel's wife after his death in 1993.
Schwengel had founded the United States Capitol Historical Society
United States Capitol Historical Society
The United States Capitol Historical Society is an organization chartered by the United States Congress, beginning in 1962, to educate the public on the heritage and history of the United States Capitol, as well as its institutions and those individuals who have served them over time.- History...
in 1962, and continued to serve as its president after his defeat, until 1993. He also was a founder and president of the Republican Heritage Foundation. He also served as the President of the Iowa Chamber of Commerce
and chairman of the National Civil War Centennial Commission and the Joint Sessions of Congress for the Lincoln Sesquicentennial.
He served as athletic coach and instructor of history and political science in public schools of Shelbina, Missouri
Shelbina, Missouri
Shelbina is a city in Shelby County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,704 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Shelbina is located at ....
and Kirksville, Missouri from 1930 to 1937. He engaged in the insurance business in Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
from 1937 to 1954.
He served in the Missouri National Guard
Missouri National Guard
The Missouri National Guard consists of the:*Missouri Army National Guard*Missouri Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History...
from 1929 to 1936.
State offices
Schwengel was elected to the Iowa House of RepresentativesIowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
in 1944, serving five consecutive terms, from 1945 to 1955. He also served as member of the Iowa Development Commission from 1949 to 1955.
Congress
In 1954, the Congressman in Schwengel's district (Iowa's 1st congressional districtIowa's 1st congressional district
Iowa's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers the northeastern part of the state. The district includes Dubuque, Clinton, Davenport and Waterloo....
), Thomas E. Martin
Thomas E. Martin
Thomas Ellsworth Martin was a United States Representative and Senator from Iowa. Martin, a Republican, served in Congress for 22 consecutive years, from January 1939 to January 1961....
, ran for the U.S. Senate. Schwengel ran and won the Republican nomination for the seat, and easily defeated John J. O'Connor in the general election. He successfully won re-election in the following four elections. However, in the 1964 Democratic landslide, Schwengel (like all but one of Iowa's Republican U.S. House members) was defeated. He lost to University of Iowa political science Professor John R. Schmidhauser
John R. Schmidhauser
John Richard Schmidhauser is a professor emeritus of political science. He served one term as a Democratic member of the U.S...
by fewer than 4,000 votes. But Schmidhauser, like many members of the 1964 freshman class, served only one term; in 1966 Schwengel ran again for his former seat and defeated Schmidhauser by fewer than 5,000 votes, then defeated him again in 1968 by a wider margin.
In 1970 Schwengel narrowly defeated Iowa legislator Edward Mezvinsky
Edward Mezvinsky
Edward "Ed" Mezvinsky is a former congressman. A Democrat, he represented Iowa's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for two terms, from 1973 to 1977....
by only 765 votes. Redistricting before the 1972 election shifted several Republican areas out of the 1st district, so when Mezvinsky ran against Schwengel a second time in 1972, he won with 53 percent of the vote. Some also attribute Schwengel's opposition to prayer in public schools as contributing to his defeat. In all, Schwengel served eight terms in Congress.
After Congress
Schwengel had founded the Capitol Historical Society in 1962, and continued to serve as its president after his defeat, until 1993. He also was a founder and president of the Republican Heritage Foundation.Schwengel received the first JM Dawson Award from the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty is an education and advocacy association in the United States with a number of Baptist denominations. It states that it seeks to promote religious liberty for all and to uphold the principle of church-state separation...
in 1986 for, among other things, his stance against school prayer in 1970 that eventually led to his defeat from Congress.
Schwengel died on April 1, 1993, in Arlington, Virginia. The Interstate 80 bridge crossing the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
near Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
is named in his honor.