Tom Luken
Encyclopedia
Thomas Andrew Luken is a politician of the Democratic Party
from Ohio
.
Luken received his high school diploma in 1942 from Purcell High School
. During the Second World War, Luken served as a U.S. Marine. In 1947, he earned a bachelor of arts degree from Xavier University
in Cincinnati, after having earned some credits at Bowling Green State University
. In 1950, he earned a law degree at the Salmon P. Chase Law School at Northern Kentucky University
and began practising law.
From 1955 to 1961, Luken served as solicitor for the city of Deer Park, Ohio
. He was then appointed U.S. attorney for Ohio's Southern District, in which he served from 1961 to 1964. He served on the Cincinnati city council from 1964 to 1967 and from 1969 to 1974. He also was the mayor of Cincinnati from 1971 to 1972.
In 1974, Luken won a special election in the Cincinnati-based 1st congressional district
to fill out the term of William J. Keating
, a Republican
who resigned from his seat. However, he was defeated later that year in his bid for a full term by Republican Bill Gradison
, who had preceded him as mayor of Cincinnati. In 1976, Luken ran in the neighboring 2nd district
and unseated Republican incumbent Donald D. Clancy
, beginning service in 1977 (95th Congress). He was reelected six times, all by large margins. He was only the second Democrat to represent a significant portion of Cincinnati for more than one term in the 20th century.
In 1983, Luken and Gradison swapped districts as a result of the 1980 census, with Luken's district being renumbered as the 1st District
. He did not run for an eighth term in 1990, opting instead to retire in favor of his son, Cincinnati mayor Charlie Luken
, who won a term to his father's former seat.
Tom's brother, Jim Luken
, was a labor leader and also served as a Cincinnati mayor.
See also:
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Luken received his high school diploma in 1942 from Purcell High School
Purcell Marian High School
Purcell Marian High School is a parochial high school in the East Walnut Hills neighborhood Cincinnati, Ohio, United States based in the Marianist Tradition...
. During the Second World War, Luken served as a U.S. Marine. In 1947, he earned a bachelor of arts degree from Xavier University
Xavier University (Cincinnati)
Xavier University is a co-educational Jesuit university in the United States located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and has an undergraduate enrollment of about 4,000 students and graduate enrollment of 2,600 students. Xavier is primarily...
in Cincinnati, after having earned some credits at Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
. In 1950, he earned a law degree at the Salmon P. Chase Law School at Northern Kentucky University
Northern Kentucky University
|type = Public|president= Dr. James C. Votruba|city = Highland Heights|state = KY|country = U.S.|endowment = $68 million|students = 15,405|undergrad = 13,206|postgrad = 2,199|faculty = 1,159...
and began practising law.
From 1955 to 1961, Luken served as solicitor for the city of Deer Park, Ohio
Deer Park, Ohio
Deer Park is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 5,736 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Deer Park is located at ....
. He was then appointed U.S. attorney for Ohio's Southern District, in which he served from 1961 to 1964. He served on the Cincinnati city council from 1964 to 1967 and from 1969 to 1974. He also was the mayor of Cincinnati from 1971 to 1972.
In 1974, Luken won a special election in the Cincinnati-based 1st congressional district
Ohio's 1st congressional district
Ohio's 1st congressional district is currently represented by Republican Steve Chabot. This district includes parts of Cincinnati, and borders both Kentucky and Indiana.-Cities:Cincinnati Cheviot Deer Park Forest Park Harrison Mount Healthy...
to fill out the term of William J. Keating
William J. Keating
William John Keating is a former American politician of the Republican party.Keating served in the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1974 representing Ohio's 1st congressional district. He was the brother of financier Charles H Keating Jr. and later was Chairman CEO & Publisher...
, a Republican
Republican 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...
who resigned from his seat. However, he was defeated later that year in his bid for a full term by Republican Bill Gradison
Bill Gradison
Willis David "Bill" Gradison Jr. is an American politician, who served for almost two decades in the U.S. House of Representatives.-Early life and education:...
, who had preceded him as mayor of Cincinnati. In 1976, Luken ran in the neighboring 2nd district
Ohio's 2nd congressional district
Ohio's 2nd congressional district is a district in southern Ohio. It is currently represented by Jean Schmidt.The district stretches along the Ohio River from the Hamilton County suburbs of Cincinnati east to Scioto County...
and unseated Republican incumbent Donald D. Clancy
Donald D. Clancy
Donald D. Clancy was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives. He represented the 2nd District of Ohio from 1961 until 1977.-Early life and education:...
, beginning service in 1977 (95th Congress). He was reelected six times, all by large margins. He was only the second Democrat to represent a significant portion of Cincinnati for more than one term in the 20th century.
In 1983, Luken and Gradison swapped districts as a result of the 1980 census, with Luken's district being renumbered as the 1st District
Ohio's 1st congressional district
Ohio's 1st congressional district is currently represented by Republican Steve Chabot. This district includes parts of Cincinnati, and borders both Kentucky and Indiana.-Cities:Cincinnati Cheviot Deer Park Forest Park Harrison Mount Healthy...
. He did not run for an eighth term in 1990, opting instead to retire in favor of his son, Cincinnati mayor Charlie Luken
Charlie Luken
Charles J. Luken is an American politician of the Democratic party who was mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio and served in the Ohio's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. Luken's uncle, labor leader James T. Luken, also served as mayor of Cincinnati...
, who won a term to his father's former seat.
Tom's brother, Jim Luken
Jim Luken
James T. Luken was an American politician and labor union leader of the Democratic party, who served as mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the 1970s....
, was a labor leader and also served as a Cincinnati mayor.
See also:
- Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 2nd District
- Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 1st District
- List of United States Representatives from Ohio