# Ralph R. Harding > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ralph_R._Harding > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ralph_R._Harding.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_R._Harding > Source revision: 1346314743 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American politician (1929–2006)}} {{more citations needed|date=March 2013}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ralph R. Harding | image = Ralph R. Harding.jpg | caption = Harding in 1963 | state1 = [Idaho](/source/Idaho) | district1 = [2nd](/source/Idaho's_2nd_congressional_district) | term_start1 = January 3, 1961 | term_end1 = January 3, 1965 | preceded1 = [Hamer Budge](/source/Hamer_H._Budge) | succeeded1 = [George Hansen](/source/George_V._Hansen) | office2 = Member of the [Idaho State Legislature](/source/Idaho_State_Legislature) | term2 = 1955–1956 | birth_date = {{birth date|1929|9|9|mf=y}} | birth_place = [Malad City, Idaho](/source/Malad_City%2C_Idaho), US | death_date = {{death date and age|2006|10|26|1929|9|9}} | death_place = [Blackfoot, Idaho](/source/Blackfoot%2C_Idaho), US | resting_place = Malad City Cemetery
Malad City, Idaho | spouse = Wilhelmina Conrad Harding
(m.1954–2006, his death) | children = 2 sons, 3 daughters | profession = [Agriculture](/source/Agriculture), [Accountant](/source/Accountant) | party = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) | allegiance = United States | branch = [U.S. Army](/source/United_States_Army) | rank = [Lieutenant](/source/First_lieutenant) | unit = | battles = [Korean War](/source/Korean_War) | service_years = 1951–1953 }} '''Ralph R. Harding''' (September 9, 1929 – October 26, 2006) was a former [congressman](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) from eastern [Idaho](/source/Idaho); he served two terms as a [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) from 1961 to 1965.{{cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1090929/Obituary-Ralph-Ray-Harding.html?pg=all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021181115/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1090929/Obituary-Ralph-Ray-Harding.html?pg=all |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2013 |newspaper=Deseret News|title=Obituary: Ralph Ray Harding|date=October 30, 2006|access-date=March 3, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?issue_date=11-01-2006&ID=2005112973#.UfbSBy7n-M8 |newspaper=Idaho Mountain Express |last=Cordes |first=Jeff |title=Ralph Harding, driving force of the Thompson, dies at 77 |date=November 1, 2006 |access-date=July 29, 2013}} ==Early life== Born in [Malad City, Idaho](/source/Malad_City%2C_Idaho), Harding served as a [missionary](/source/Missionary_(LDS_Church)) for [the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](/source/the_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints) for two years. He graduated from [Brigham Young University](/source/Brigham_Young_University) in [Provo](/source/Provo%2C_Utah), [Utah](/source/Utah) in 1956, after serving in [Korea](/source/Korea) from 1951 to 1953 in the [U.S. Army](/source/United_States_Army), where he rose to the rank of [lieutenant](/source/First_lieutenant). ==Career== Harding served in the Idaho state legislature from 1955 to 1956. He ran against Republican congressman [Hamer Budge](/source/Hamer_H._Budge), a ten-year incumbent in Idaho's [2nd district](/source/Idaho's_2nd_congressional_district) in [1960](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections%2C_1960). Harding pulled off an upset victory with 51.1 percent, winning by 4,000 votes. He was re-elected in [1962](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections%2C_1962), but was one of the few incumbent Democrats in the U.S. House who lost to Republican challengers even as President [Lyndon B. Johnson](/source/Lyndon_B._Johnson) won in a landslide in [1964](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections%2C_1964). Many attribute Harding's loss to a speech he made in the U.S. House of Representatives for criticizing LDS [Apostle](/source/Apostle_(Latter_Day_Saints)) [Ezra Taft Benson](/source/Ezra_Taft_Benson) for being a "spokesman for the radical right of this nation"; Harding's congressional district was home to a large LDS population. Benson was [Secretary of Agriculture](/source/United_States_Secretary_of_Agriculture) for two terms during the Eisenhower administration. After he left the Department of Agriculture, Benson vigorously supported the views of [John Birch Society](/source/John_Birch_Society) founder [Robert Welch](/source/Robert_W._Welch_Jr.). In his book ''The Patriot'', Welch called Eisenhower a communist sympathizer. In a letter, Eisenhower thanked Harding for defending him against Welch's allegations. After his 1964 defeat, Harding served as special assistant to the [Secretary of the Air Force](/source/Secretary_of_the_Air_Force).{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0rszAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qPcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7230%2C4196895 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |title=Ralph Harding finishes tour|date=April 14, 1966|page=b3}} In 1966, Harding won the Democratic nomination for the [U.S. Senate](/source/United_States_Senate), but was defeated by [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) incumbent [Len Jordan](/source/Leonard_B._Jordan) in the general election. {| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%" |+ [U.S. House elections](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections) ([Idaho's 2nd district](/source/Idaho's_2nd_congressional_district)): Results 1960–1964 !|Year ! !|Democrat !|Votes !|Pct ! !|Republican !|Votes !|Pct |- |1960 | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Ralph Harding''' |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |90,161 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |53.0% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |[Hamer Budge](/source/Hamer_H._Budge) (inc.) |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |86,100 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |47.0% |- |1962 | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Ralph Harding''' (inc.) |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |83,152 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |52.8% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |[Orval Hansen](/source/Orval_H._Hansen) |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |74,203 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |47.2% |- |1964 | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Ralph Harding (inc.) |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |84,022 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |47.8% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''[George Hansen](/source/George_V._Hansen)''' |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |91,838 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |51.8% |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%" |+ [U.S. Senate elections in Idaho (Class II)](/source/List_of_United_States_senators_from_Idaho): Results 1966 !|Year ! !|Democrat !|Votes !|Pct ! !|Republican !|Votes !|Pct |- |1966 | |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Ralph Harding |{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |112,637 |{{Party shading/Democratic}} |44.6% | |{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''[Len Jordan](/source/Leonard_B._Jordan)''' (inc.) |{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |139,819 |{{Party shading/Republican}} |55.4% |}
Harding attempted to regain the 2nd district seat again in [1978](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections%2C_1978), but lost the Democratic primary to Stan Kress.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5cVeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5426%2C3294223 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |agency=Associated Press |title=Kress has rematch with George Hansen |date=August 9, 1978 |page=12A}} He then worked on a variety of business ventures, including representing the [Philippine](/source/Philippines) [sugar](/source/sugar) industry and attempting to launch an [Asia](/source/Asia)n version of the [NBA](/source/National_Basketball_Association). ==Death and legacy== Harding died at the age of seventy-seven in [Blackfoot](/source/Blackfoot%2C_Idaho). According to a news report in the ''[Idaho Statesman](/source/Idaho_Statesman)'', a cause of death was not released by the hospital or family at the time of his death. Harding was an active member of [the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](/source/the_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints), and is interred at Malad City Cemetery in [Malad City](/source/Malad_City%2C_Idaho). In 1977, Harding and [baseball](/source/baseball) [hall of famer](/source/National_Baseball_Hall_of_Fame) [Harmon Killebrew](/source/Harmon_Killebrew) of [Payette](/source/Payette%2C_Idaho) co-founded the [Danny Thompson](/source/Danny_Thompson_(baseball)) Memorial Golf Tournament.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mKcqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GFwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4517%2C3323808 |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |agency=Associated Press |title=Killebrew plans 2nd charity golf |date=July 13, 1978 |page=B13}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7PdLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vu4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4896%2C1045944 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Harmon Killebrew sponsors tourney |date=August 2, 1979 |page=26 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=niJTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JYMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6576%2C1679257 |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |agency=Associated Press |title=Still hitting 'em straight - sometimes |last=Benson |first=Lee |date=August 22, 1980 |page=4B}} The first edition included former [President](/source/President_of_the_United_States) [Gerald Ford](/source/Gerald_Ford), [Speaker of the House](/source/Speaker_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives) [Tip O'Neill](/source/Tip_O'Neill), and Hall of Fame slugger [Mickey Mantle](/source/Mickey_Mantle).{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AS8PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZoUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3412%2C4218455 |newspaper=Victoria Advocate |location= Texas |agency=Associated Press |title=Ford plays best golf round ever |date=August 21, 1977 |page=3C }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k2VTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nYUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6905%2C5275887 |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |last=Miller |first=Hack |title=Ford takes a payoff|date=August 20, 1977 |page=6A }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9flLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8PgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2399%2C23318 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=(letter) |last1=Killebrew |first1=Harmon |last2=Harding |first2=Ralph |title=Charity golfers drawing thanks |date=September 1, 1977 |page=4 }} Now the Killebrew–Thompson Memorial, the event is held annually in [Sun Valley](/source/Sun_Valley%2C_Idaho) in late August to benefit [leukemia](/source/leukemia) and [cancer](/source/cancer) research at St. Luke's Mountain States Tumor Institute in Idaho and Masonic Cancer Center at the [University of Minnesota](/source/University_of_Minnesota).{{cite news|url=http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005112975#.UfbVLC7n-M8|newspaper=Idaho Mountain Express |location=Ketchum|last=Cordes |first=Jeff |title=Ralph Harding: back room maestro of the Thompson |date=November 1, 2006|orig-year=August 23, 1984 |access-date=July 29, 2013}} == References == {{Bioguide}} {{reflist}} == External links == * {{CongBio|H000191}} * [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/documentStore/d/y/f/dyf16b00/Sdyf16b00.pdf UCSF Library] – Harding biography, circa 1981, on Killebrew & Harding stationery * [http://www.killebrewthompsonmemorial.com/ Killebrew-Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament] *[http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/harding.html#829.19.48 Political Graveyard] – Ralph Harding *[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=8406&WhenStart=2005-02-12+17%3A21%3A32 Our Campaigns] – Ralph R. Harding *{{Find a Grave|16338428}} {{s-start}} {{s-par|us-hs}} {{succession box | title=[United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives), [Idaho Second Congressional District](/source/Idaho's_2nd_congressional_district) | before=[Hamer Budge](/source/Hamer_H._Budge) | years=January 3, 1961–January 4, 1965 | after=[George Hansen](/source/George_V._Hansen) }} {{s-ppo}} {{succession box | title=[Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) nominee, [U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Idaho](/source/List_of_United_States_senators_from_Idaho) | before=[Gracie Pfost](/source/Gracie_Pfost) | after=[William E. Davis](/source/William_E._Davis) | years=[1966](/source/1966_United_States_Senate_election_in_Idaho) (lost) }} {{s-end}} {{IdahoUSRepresentatives}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Harding, Ralph R.}} Category:1929 births Category:2006 deaths Category:Latter Day Saints from Idaho Category:Brigham Young University alumni Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Idaho Category:People from Malad City, Idaho Category:People from Blackfoot, Idaho Category:20th-century United States representatives Category:20th-century members of the Idaho Legislature --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ralph R. Harding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_R._Harding) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_R._Harding?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.