Charles Grassley Chuck Grassley Office: Senior Senator, Iowa Political party: Republican Term of office: January 1981-Present Preceded by: John Culver Succeeded by: Incumbent (2011) Born: September 7, 1933 New Hartford, Iowa Spouse: Barbara Grassley Charles Ernest "Chuck" Grassley (born September 17, 1933) is the senior United States Senator from Iowa. He is a member of the Republican Party. Born in New Hartford, Iowa, Grassley lived in Iowa during his early life. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1955 and received a graduate degree from the same university in 1956.
Grassley, a former assembly line worker and farmer, has been involved in public service for much of his adult life. An active runner, Grassley served as a citizen legislator in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1959 until 1974, when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, of which he was a member from 1975 to 1981, being reelected in 1976 and 1978. He was elected to his Senate seat in 1980, defeating the Democratic incumbent, John Culver, who had only served one term. During his first Senate term, Grassley was referred to as one of the pair of new senators known as "Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber", but he is now considered as an elder statesman in the Senate. Grassley was reelected in 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2004.
Grassley has been chairman of the Finance Committee since 2003 and was also its chairman from January to June 2001. Grassley is a member of The Family, a Christian group that organizes the National Prayer Breakfast. Grassley is also a Freemason, and is a Baptist .
Grassley has a mixed record on military issues, in the past he voted against expensive projects favored by many in his party. He was one of only two Republicans to vote against authorizing the first Gulf War. He has a history of holding the executive branch accountable for their activities through his positions on the Finance and Justice committees.
