Vance Hartke

Rupert Vance Hartke

Rupert Vance Hartke (May 31 1919 – July 27 2003) was a Democratic United States Senator from Indiana from 1959 until 1977.

Early life, education, military service

Born in Stendal, Pike County, Indiana on May 31 1919, Hartke attended public schools in Stendal. He graduated from Evansville College (now the University of Evansville) in 1940, and from 1942 until 1946 Hartke served in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, rising from Seaman to Lieutenant. Hartke graduated from the Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington in 1948.

Legal and political career

After joining the Indiana State Bar in 1948, Hartke began practicing law in Evansville. He also worked as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney of Vanderburgh County (1950–1951) and Mayor of Evansville (1956–1958) before being elected to the United States Senate in 1958 and reelected in 1964 and 1970 (1959–1977). He lost reelection in 1976 to Richard G. Lugar. Hartke was also an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1972.

Senate service and later life

In the Senate, Hartke was known for his opposition to the Vietnam War and his chairmanship of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

Hartke died in Falls Church, Virginia on July 27 2003, aged 84, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Hartke leaves behind his wife, Martha, and his seven children: Sandra, Jan, Wayne, Keith, Paul, Anita and Nadine as well as twelve grandchildren: Angela, Vance, Jason, Jessica, Travis, Melody, Chelsea, Hanna, Ryan, Dean, Zachary, and Wyatt, and two great grand children: Colby and Jackson. All of Hartke's family now resides in Northern Virginia with the exception of Sandra who resides in Maryland.