Ruth Raduenz Harkin was County Attorney for Story County, Iowa, from 1973 to 1979. She is the wife of U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (ISU 1962), who has represented Iowa in Congress since 1975. Ruth and Tom have two daughters, Amy and Jenny.
Ruth was one of the first women in the United States to be elected
as a prosecutor when, in 1972, she was elected to the office of
county attorney of Story County, Iowa. She was the county’s
lead criminal prosecutor and also served as its corporate attorney.
For over 20 years, her career path has been one of public and
private service. Along the way, it has been important to Ruth
to open doors of opportunity to other women. (Her daughter Amy,
as an infant, shared Ruth's office at the Story County Court House.)
Ruth has nurtured and encouraged many young women's careers, and
she is a popular speaker at women's political and career oriented
events. (In March 1994 she was a principal speaker at the Spring
conference on "Women and Grassroots Politics" sponsored by the
Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics.) Ruth also
plays a major role in her husband's political career. She is,
at various times, confidante, advisor, strategist, and spokesperson
for campaign and fund raising events.
Ruth was born in 1944 in Vesta, Minnesota, into a family who believed
in women having their own careers. Her mother was a school teacher.
Growing up, Ruth said she learned that "everything is possible."
Her life has proved that claim. Ruth graduated from the University
of Minnesota and Catholic University Law School. From 1979 to
1981, she served as Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Department
of Agriculture in Washington D.C. Also in Washington, Ruth worked
for the Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld law firm, working
with U.S. companies.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton chose Ruth Harkin to be President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. OPIC is a government agency that encourages mutually beneficial American private investment in developing countries and newly emerging free market economies, such as the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union, South Africa, South America, and the Middle East. Under Ruth Harkin's leadership, OPIC is increasing its activity to the highest levels in the agency's 23 year history.
When President Clinton spoke at Iowa State University on April 25, 1995, he had high praise for Ruth Harkin. In his speech at Hilton Coliseum, President Clinton said of Ruth, "She has done more to create American jobs by financing international trade than any person who has ever held the position. You can be proud of her." 2/95 |
