Leonard B. Jordan
Encyclopedia
Leonard Beck "Len" Jordan (May 15, 1899 June 30, 1983) was the 23rd Governor of Idaho and United States Senator
from Idaho
.
Jordan served in World War I as an Army officer. He was a sheep rancher in Hell's Canyon during the Great Depression
. He settled in Grangeville, Idaho
, where he established a farm implement business, a real estate agency, and an automobile dealership.
Jordan was elected to a single four-year term as Governor of Idaho in 1950. In 1955 he was appointed by President Eisenhower
as Chairman of the United States section of the International Joint Commission
with Canada to develop the St. Lawrence Seaway.
In July 1962 Jordan was appointed to the United States Senate by Governor Robert E. Smylie
to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Henry Dworshak
. Later that year he defeated Democratic
Congresswoman Gracie Pfost
in a special election to complete the term. Jordan was reelected to a full six-year term in 1966, defeating former Democratic Congressman Ralph R. Harding
. In the Senate he helped establish the Sawtooth National Recreation Area
. He did not seek re-election in 1972.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
.
Jordan served in World War I as an Army officer. He was a sheep rancher in Hell's Canyon during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He settled in Grangeville, Idaho
Grangeville, Idaho
Grangeville is the largest city in and the county seat of Idaho County, Idaho, United States, in the west central part of the state. It had a population of 3,141 at the 2010 census.- Culture :...
, where he established a farm implement business, a real estate agency, and an automobile dealership.
Jordan was elected to a single four-year term as Governor of Idaho in 1950. In 1955 he was appointed by President Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
as Chairman of the United States section of the International Joint Commission
International Joint Commission
The International Joint Commission is an independent binational organization established by the United States and Canada under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.The Commission has responsibilities related to the following treaties and agreements:...
with Canada to develop the St. Lawrence Seaway.
In July 1962 Jordan was appointed to the United States Senate by Governor Robert E. Smylie
Robert E. Smylie
Robert Eben Smylie was a politician and attorney from Idaho. He served as the 24th Governor of Idaho from 1955 to 1967. He was a member of the Idaho Republican Party....
to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Henry Dworshak
Henry Dworshak
Henry Clarence Dworshak was a Republican United States Representative and a United States Senator from Idaho....
. Later that year he defeated Democratic
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...
Congresswoman Gracie Pfost
Gracie Pfost
Gracie Bowers Pfost was the first woman to represent Idaho in the United States Congress, serving five terms as a Democrat in the House of Representatives. Pfost represented the state's First Congressional District.-Biography:Pfost moved with her parents to a farm near Boise, Idaho, in 1911...
in a special election to complete the term. Jordan was reelected to a full six-year term in 1966, defeating former Democratic Congressman Ralph R. Harding
Ralph R. Harding
Ralph R. Harding was a former congressman from eastern Idaho; he served two terms as a Democrat from 1961-65....
. In the Senate he helped establish the Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Sawtooth National Recreation Area
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area located in central Idaho, within the Boise, Challis, and Sawtooth National Forests. The recreation area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and includes the Sawtooth Wilderness...
. He did not seek re-election in 1972.
External links
- Leonard Jordan at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- Jordan's Congressional papers, 1962–1972 are housed at Albertsons Library, Boise State University
- Len Jordan Digital Collection features photographs of his career as Governor of Idaho from 1950–1954 and United States Senator from 1962–1973