- In full:
- Gary Warren Hartpence
- Title / Office:
- United States Senate (1975-1987), United States
- Political Affiliation:
- Democratic Party
Gary Hart
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Who is Gary Hart?
Gary Hart (born November 28, 1936) is an American politician who served as a U.S. senator for Colorado from 1975–87. Hart's presidential aspirations were derailed when the Miami Herald reported he was having an extramarital affair.
Hart initially planned to enter the ministry, earning degrees at Bethany (Oklahoma) Nazarene College and Yale Divinity School. However, John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign inspired him to pursue law and politics.
After leaving the U.S. Senate and national politics, Hart became a visiting lecturer at universities such as Oxford, Yale, and the University of Colorado at Denver. He also co-chaired the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century and served as U.S. special envoy to Northern Ireland from 2014 to 2017.
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What state did Gary Hart represent as a United States senator?
Gary Hart was a U.S. Senator representing Colorado from 1975–87. Prior to his time in the Senate, Hart managed George McGovern's presidential campaign in 1972. He later pursued the Democratic presidential nomination himself in both 1984 and 1988. After retiring from the Senate, Hart lectured at multiple universities, including Oxford, Yale, and the University of Colorado at Denver, and authored numerous books.
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When did Gary Hart serve in the U.S. Senate?
Gary Hart served as a U.S. senator representing Colorado from 1975 to 1987. He entered politics after being inspired by John F. Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign. Hart gained prominence as the campaign manager for George McGovern's presidential run in 1972. After McGovern's loss to Richard Nixon, Hart was elected to the U.S. Senate by Colorado voters. He later made unsuccessful bids for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988. After his time in the Senate, Hart dedicated his efforts to teaching, national security matters, and writing.
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What major issues or topics did Gary Hart work on while in the Senate?
While in the Senate (1975-1987), Gary Hart addressed various issues. He initially gained recognition as campaign manager for U.S. Sen. George McGovern’s presidential run in 1972, where his strategies played a crucial role in McGovern's nomination. After leaving the Senate, Hart focused on national security, serving as cochair of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century. He was also a visiting lecturer at universities such as Oxford, Yale, and the University of Colorado at Denver.
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Did Gary Hart run for president, and if so, when?
Yes, Gary Hart ran for president of the United States. He served as a U.S. senator representing Colorado from 1975 to 1987. Hart pursued the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and again in 1988. Although he suspended his 1988 campaign after the Miami Herald reported he had an extramarital affair, he reentered the race before withdrawing again after the New Hampshire primary.
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What was the impact of Gary Hart on American politics?
Gary Hart, a U.S. Senator from Colorado (1975-87), significantly impacted American politics through his campaigns and policy ideas. Hart ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988. In 1984, he challenged Walter Mondale, promoting "new ideas". Despite winning 26 states, Hart lost the nomination due to Mondale's superior organization.
In 1987, amid rumors of infidelity, Hart's presidential aspirations faced a setback when the Miami Herald reported an extramarital affair. Though he briefly re-entered the race, he withdrew again after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary. After leaving national politics, Hart contributed to national security discussions and lectured at universities.
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Gary Hart (born November 28, 1936, Ottawa, Kansas, U.S.) is an American politician who served as a U.S. senator from Colorado (1975–87). He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and again in 1988; he suspended the latter campaign soon after the Miami Herald newspaper reported that he was having an extramarital affair.
Hart earned degrees at Bethany (Oklahoma) Nazarene College and Yale Divinity School with the intention of going into the ministry. U.S. Sen. John F. Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign, however, inspired him to change his goals from preaching and teaching to law and politics. Four years later he graduated from Yale Law School. Hart first made a name for himself as the campaign manager for U.S. Sen. George McGovern’s run for the presidency in 1972. His organizational and fund-raising strategies enabled the liberal McGovern to capture the Democratic nomination. Two years after his candidate lost the general election to Richard Nixon, Hart was elected by Colorado voters to the U.S. Senate. By the time he won reelection in 1980, he was considerably more conservative than the long-haired Hart of the McGovern days.
Hart ran a close race against U.S. Sen. Walter Mondale for the 1984 Democratic presidential nomination. Although Hart won 26 states to Mondale’s 19, Mondale’s superior organization netted him enough delegates for the victory. Hart had gained momentum in the campaign until Mondale ridiculed his “new ideas” with the barb, “Where’s the beef?” which came from a TV commercial criticizing hamburgers that were more bun than beef.
Hart made a bid for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination. In 1987, exasperated by rumours of infidelity, Hart invitedNew York Times reporters to follow him and see for themselves that he was not unfaithful to his wife. In May of that year, with his wife, Lee, away in Colorado, Miami Herald reporters staked out Hart’s home in Washington, D.C., and spotted him leaving it with the model Donna Rice, who, they alleged, had stayed there overnight. The front-page story was published at a time when Hart already faced public doubts about his character. For a week he continued campaigning, but when the Washington Post threatened to release details about an affair with yet another woman, Hart quit the race. In December, however, he once again made headlines by dramatically announcing that he was back in the running for president, but after a disappointing finish in the New Hampshire primary, he withdrew from the race for the second and final time.
After his retirement from the U.S. Senate and abrupt departure from national politics in 1988, Hart turned his attention to teaching and to national security issues. He served as cochair of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century and was a visiting lecturer at such universities as Oxford, Yale, and the University of Colorado at Denver. He also worked as senior counsel for the international law firm Coudert Brothers. From 2014 to 2017 Hart served as U.S. special envoy to Northern Ireland. He was the author of numerous books, including Right from the Start: A Chronicle of the McGovern Campaign (1973), Russia Shakes the World: The Second Russian Revolution (1991), Restoration of the Republic: The Jeffersonian Ideal in 21st Century America (2002), and Under the Eagle’s Wing: A National Security Strategy for the United States (2009). Hart also wrote novels, several of which were political thrillers published under the pseudonym John Blackthorn.