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Roger Jepsen
Roger Jepsen.JPG
Jepsen in 1983
United States Senator
from Iowa
In office
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1985
Preceded by Dick Clark
Succeeded by Tom Harkin
38th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
In office
January 16, 1969 – January 18, 1973
Governor Robert D. Ray
Preceded by Robert D. Fulton
Succeeded by Arthur Neu
Member of the Iowa Senate
In office
1966–1968
Personal details
Born
Roger William Jepsen

December 23, 1928
Cedar Falls, Iowa, U.S.
Died November 13, 2020(2020-11-13) (aged 91)
Bettendorf, Iowa, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse Dee Jepsen
Alma mater Arizona State University
Military service
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service 1946–1947
1948–1960

Roger William Jepsen (December 23, 1928 – November 13, 2020) was an American politician from the state of Iowa. A Republican, he served in the United States Senate and as Lieutenant Governor of Iowa.

Early life

Jepsen was born on December 23, 1928 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the son of Emil and Esther (Sorensen) Jepsen. His grandparents were all Danish immigrants. Jepsen attended public schools.

Education

Jepsen attended University of Northern Iowa. Jepsen graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona in 1950 with a bachelor's degree and in 1953 with a master's degree. At ASU, Jepsen was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon.

Career

Jepsen became a paratrooper in the United States Army 1946–1947 and served in the United States Army Reserve 1948–1960, where he achieved the rank of captain. He was active in farming, insurance and health care businesses.

Jepsen served as a county supervisor of Scott County from 1962 to 1965 and was a state Senator from 1966 to 1968. He was the 39th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa from 1969 to 1973, having been elected with Governor Robert D. Ray in 1968.

In 1978, he was elected to the United States Senate, narrowly defeating incumbent Dick Clark in a major surprise, receiving strong support from National Conservative Political Action Committee (NCPAC). During the campaign, Jepsen taunted Senator Clark as "the Senator from Africa" because of Clark's work on behalf of South African people against their apartheid government. He served a single term from January 3, 1979 to January 3, 1985. He served as co-chairman of the Joint Economic Committee in the 98th Congress.

Fellow Republican colleagues praised Jepsen for persuading then U.S. President Ronald Reagan to lift the agricultural ban against the Soviet Union.

Jepsen was defeated by Democratic Congressman Tom Harkin in the 1984 Senate election. Jepsen later served as chairman of the National Credit Union Administration.

During part of his tenure in the Senate, Jepsen sat at the Candy Desk.

Death

Roger Jepsen grave
Roger Jepsen's grave in Davenport Memorial Park

Jepsen died on November 13, 2020, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, Iowa, aged 91. He was buried in Davenport Memorial Park in Davenport, Iowa.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Roger Jepsen para niños

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