James E. Bromwell
Encyclopedia
James Edward Bromwell was a two-term Republican U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 2nd congressional district
. He was elected in 1960, re-elected in 1962, and defeated in 1964.
Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
, Bromwell attended Andrew Johnson Elementary School in Southeast Cedar Rapids. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1938. He then enrolled at the University of Iowa
and received his undergraduate degree in 1942.
Further schooling was interrupted by World War II
. He entered the United States Army
as a private, and was assigned to work in the European theater
for the Headquarters Information and Education Division, which was a part of the Morale Department of the former Department of War
. Bromwell served four years, and was discharged as a captain.
Bromwell then resumed his studies, earning admission to the Harvard Business School
and graduating in 1947. He returned to the University of Iowa
, graduating from the University of Iowa College of Law
in 1950. He was admitted to the bar
and began practice in Cedar Rapids.
In 1960, Bromwell ran as a Republican
against one-term incumbent Democratic Congressman Leonard G. Wolf
, defeating him as part of a good year for Republicans in Iowa. He won re-election in 1962, defeating Frank W. Less.
In 1964, however, he was challenged by fellow Franklin High School and Harvard graduate and attorney John C. Culver. As part of a national Democratic landslide, Bromwell—like all but one Republican House candidate in Iowa—lost in 1964. His congressional service began on January 3, 1961 and ended on January 3, 1965.
He resumed the practice of law in Cedar Rapids. In 1968, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for United States Senator in 1968, losing to David Stanley, who in turn lost to Harold Hughes
.
In 1973, Bromwell pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids to a charge of failing to file a federal tax return in 1969, and received a $10,000 fine and one year suspended sentence. The following year, the Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission found that Bromwell had conceded that he had failed to file federal tax returns for 1965 through 1972, and recommended that the Iowa Supreme Court suspend his license to practice law for eighteen months.
Bromwell returned to practice following the end of his suspension, and retired from the practice of law in 1986, residing in Cedar Rapids.
He died on September 11, 2009.
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 Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
. He was elected in 1960, re-elected in 1962, and defeated in 1964.
Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
, Bromwell attended Andrew Johnson Elementary School in Southeast Cedar Rapids. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1938. He then enrolled 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...
and received his undergraduate degree in 1942.
Further schooling was interrupted by 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 entered the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as a private, and was assigned to work in the European theater
European Theatre of World War II
The European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
for the Headquarters Information and Education Division, which was a part of the Morale Department of the former Department of War
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
. Bromwell served four years, and was discharged as a captain.
Bromwell then resumed his studies, earning admission to the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
and graduating in 1947. He returned to 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...
, graduating from the University of Iowa College of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
The University of Iowa College of Law is one of the eleven professional graduate schools at the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest law school in continuous operation west of the Mississippi River. The law school was ranked as the 27th best law school...
in 1950. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
and began practice in Cedar Rapids.
In 1960, Bromwell ran as 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...
against one-term incumbent Democratic Congressman Leonard G. Wolf
Leonard G. Wolf
Leonard George Wolf was a one-term Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district. He was elected in 1958 and defeated in 1960 when seeking re-election....
, defeating him as part of a good year for Republicans in Iowa. He won re-election in 1962, defeating Frank W. Less.
In 1964, however, he was challenged by fellow Franklin High School and Harvard graduate and attorney John C. Culver. As part of a national Democratic landslide, Bromwell—like all but one Republican House candidate in Iowa—lost in 1964. His congressional service began on January 3, 1961 and ended on January 3, 1965.
He resumed the practice of law in Cedar Rapids. In 1968, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for United States Senator in 1968, losing to David Stanley, who in turn lost to Harold Hughes
Harold Hughes
Harold Everett Hughes was the 36th Governor of Iowa from 1963 until 1969; he had been a Republican earlier in his life. He also served as a Democratic United States Senator from 1969 until 1975.-Background:...
.
In 1973, Bromwell pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids to a charge of failing to file a federal tax return in 1969, and received a $10,000 fine and one year suspended sentence. The following year, the Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission found that Bromwell had conceded that he had failed to file federal tax returns for 1965 through 1972, and recommended that the Iowa Supreme Court suspend his license to practice law for eighteen months.
Bromwell returned to practice following the end of his suspension, and retired from the practice of law in 1986, residing in Cedar Rapids.
He died on September 11, 2009.