John R. Schmidhauser
Encyclopedia
John Richard Schmidhauser (born January 3, 1922) is a professor emeritus of political science. He served one term as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from southeastern Iowa
, defeating incumbent Republican Fred Schwengel
in 1964 but losing to Schwengel two years later in 1966, and again in 1968.
Born in the Bronx
, Queens County, New York, Schmidhauser served in the United States Navy
from 1941 to 1945. After the end of World War II
, he enrolled in the University of Delaware
in Newark, Delaware
, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in 1949. He received a masters degree from the University of Virginia
in Charlottesville, Virginia
in 1952, then received a Ph.D from the same university in 1954.
In 1954, he joined the faculty of the Political Science Department of the University of Iowa
, in Iowa City, Iowa
. There, he wrote what is now considered a "landmark series of studies on the backgrounds of Supreme Court justices." In what was then considered revolutionary, he archived his data with the Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) which has enabled many other scholars to use his data in their own studies, and served as the foundation for the new U.S. Supreme Court Justices Database.
In 1964, as part of a Democratic landslide, Schmidhauser was elected to represent Iowa's 1st congressional district
in the U.S. House of Representatives. defeating incumbent Republican Fred Schwengel. However, like many other freshman Democrats elected in 1964 in Republican-leaning districts, Schmidhauser served only one term. Schwengel regained his seat from Schmidhauser in 1966. Schmidhauser then returned to Iowa City and rejoined the faculty of the University of Iowa. In 1968 he again attempted to defeat Schwengel, receiving the democratic party's nomination but losing to Schwengel in the general election.
In 1972, Schmidhauser tried and failed to receive the nomination of his party for the seat he previously held, losing to future U.S. Representative Edward Mezvinsky
.
The following year, he accepted a position as a professor at the University of Southern California
in Los Angeles, California
, a position he held from 1973 to 1992, except when serving as a visiting professor at the University of Virginia
from 1982 to 1983, and at Simon Fraser University
, in Burnaby, British Columbia
, in 1984. Since 1992 he has been a professor emeritus at USC.
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...
, defeating incumbent Republican Fred Schwengel
Fred Schwengel
Frederick Delbert Schwengel was a Republican U.S. Representative from southeastern Iowa.-Personal background:Born on a farm near Sheffield, Iowa, Schwengel attended the rural schools in West Fork Township and high schools in Chapin and Sheffield, Iowa...
in 1964 but losing to Schwengel two years later in 1966, and again in 1968.
Born in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, Queens County, New York, Schmidhauser served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1941 to 1945. After the end 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...
, he enrolled in the University of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
in Newark, Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in 1949. He received a masters degree from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
in 1952, then received a Ph.D from the same university in 1954.
In 1954, he joined the faculty of the Political Science Department of 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
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...
. There, he wrote what is now considered a "landmark series of studies on the backgrounds of Supreme Court justices." In what was then considered revolutionary, he archived his data with the Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) which has enabled many other scholars to use his data in their own studies, and served as the foundation for the new U.S. Supreme Court Justices Database.
In 1964, as part of a Democratic landslide, Schmidhauser was elected to represent Iowa's 1st congressional district
Iowa'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....
in the U.S. House of Representatives. defeating incumbent Republican Fred Schwengel. However, like many other freshman Democrats elected in 1964 in Republican-leaning districts, Schmidhauser served only one term. Schwengel regained his seat from Schmidhauser in 1966. Schmidhauser then returned to Iowa City and rejoined the faculty of the University of Iowa. In 1968 he again attempted to defeat Schwengel, receiving the democratic party's nomination but losing to Schwengel in the general election.
In 1972, Schmidhauser tried and failed to receive the nomination of his party for the seat he previously held, losing to future U.S. Representative 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....
.
The following year, he accepted a position as a professor at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, a position he held from 1973 to 1992, except when serving as a visiting professor at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
from 1982 to 1983, and at Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
, in Burnaby, British Columbia
Burnaby, British Columbia
Burnaby is a city in British Columbia, Canada, located immediately to the east of Vancouver. It is the third-largest city in British Columbia by population, surpassed only by nearby Surrey and Vancouver....
, in 1984. Since 1992 he has been a professor emeritus at USC.