Former U.S. Representative Jim Leach, who served for three decades representing eastern Iowa and later led the National Endowment for the Humanities, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 82.
Leach, a moderate Republican, represented Iowa until 2006 when he lost his seat to Democrat Dave Loebsack during a midterm election that saw the Democrats take control of the U.S. House.
He held leadership roles as chair of the banking and foreign relations committees. Notably, in 2002, Leach was one of only six Republicans in the House to vote against the resolution authorizing military action in Iraq, a decision that contributed to the 2003 U.S. invasion, which he also opposed.
After his time in Congress, Leach supported Barack Obama, then a U.S. Senator from Illinois, in the 2008 presidential election over the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain. His endorsement was partly driven by Obama’s stance against the Iraq war, a decision Leach admitted was difficult.
Jim Leach once explained that political parties are somewhat like families, making it difficult to step away from them. “You really hate to step outside a family environment,” he told The Associated Press in an interview.
Earlier this year, Leach teamed up with his former opponent, Dave Loebsack, to co-write an op-ed for The Des Moines Register about the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In the piece, written three years after the insurrection, they reflected on the fragility of democracy. Leach and Loebsack criticized former President Donald Trump for encouraging the violent mob in an effort to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s victory, calling it an alarming reminder of how easily democracy can be undermined by extremists.
Loebsack, speaking with The Associated Press on Wednesday, shared that he had voted for Leach in the past, even before running against him, despite their political differences.
Dave Loebsack praised Jim Leach, saying, “Jim served our district and state honorably for 30 years. He was a man of principle, integrity, and honor. We’re gonna miss him. There’s no question.”
After his time in Congress, Leach taught at Princeton, his alma mater, and at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. In 2009, President Obama appointed him to lead the National Endowment for the Humanities, a position he held until his resignation in 2013. Leach then returned to academia, joining the University of Iowa faculty.
University Vice President Peter Matthes described Leach as a “relentless advocate” for Iowa. He also noted that Leach donated both his public and private papers to the university’s libraries. Matthes added, “He lived a life of service that we should all aspire to emulate.”
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds offered her condolences, recognizing Leach’s dedication to both the state of Iowa and the country. “As a member of U.S. Congress for 30 years, Jim dedicated his life to serving his country and the state of Iowa,” Reynolds wrote on the social platform X.
Leach is survived by his wife, two children, and two grandchildren, as stated in his obituary.
