Tom Harkin, born Thomas Richard Harkin on November 19, 1939, in Cumming, Iowa, is an American lawyer, author, and politician who served as a United States Senator from Iowa from 1985 to 2015. He is a member of the Democratic Party and previously served as the U.S. Representative for Iowa's 5th congressional district from 1975 to 1985.

His father, Patrick Francis Harkin, was an Irish American coal miner, and his mother, Franciska Frances Valentine, was a Slovene immigrant who passed away when he was ten years old. Growing up in a small town, he learned the values of family, community, and hard work, which he carried throughout his career.

Tom Harkin attended Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines and went on to Iowa State University on a Navy ROTC scholarship, earning a degree in Government and Economics. After graduation, he served as a jet pilot in the United States Navy from 1962 to 1967 and continued to fly in the Naval Reserves until 1989.

His early political career began as a congressional aide, and he made two runs for the U.S. House of Representatives, winning in 1974. He served five terms in the House before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1984.

During his time in the Senate, he was known for his advocacy for education, healthcare, and agriculture. He was a key figure in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which he authored and sponsored.

His dedication to public service earned him a reputation as a champion for working families, women, people with disabilities, children, students, seniors, family farmers, and small business owners. He served as chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Tom Harkin married Ruth Raduenz in 1968, and they have two daughters, Amy and Jenny. Ruth, the daughter of a farmer and a school teacher from Minnesota, has worked in the private sector. The Harkin family has been deeply involved in their community, and his commitment to finding fair and responsible solutions has earned him broad-based support across Iowa.

After announcing his retirement in 2013, Tom Harkin left the Senate in 2015, concluding a distinguished career in public service.