Jim Leach, you will be missed
...
Iowa and the nation lost a rare public servant yesterday. And Deba Leach lost her husband, Jim.
Former Congressman Jim Leach was a moderate-to-liberal Republican representing Iowa’s eastern congressional district from 1977 until 2007. He served the area that included his boyhood home of Davenport and Iowa City, where he and Deba chose to spend their retirement years after his 30-year career in elected office.
Before I knew Jim personally, I admired him for many reasons. He was a candidate who refused PAC money, often self-funding his campaigns. He was a staunch supporter of campaign finance reform, including the McCain-Feingold Act (Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002), a position that put him at odds with many in his party.
Jim was an early advocate for environmental protection and combating climate change.
He was also one of the few Republicans who voted against the authorization for the Iraq War in 2002, arguing that the evidence of weapons of mass destruction was insufficient to justify military action.
In 2008, Jim made headlines when he spoke at the National Democratic Party Convention to endorse Barack Obama for president publicly.
In June 2013, Jim honored long-time Senator Tom Harkin's aide Richard Bender at the Senate staffer’s retirement party. That evening, all three men—Bender, Harkin, and Leach—spoke about their shared sorrow over the loss of bipartisan cooperation in Congress and the importance of working across the aisle to serve constituents.
Leach and my husband, Richard Gilbert, were known as Bob Ray Republicans—a GOP culture on the brink of extinction.
Shortly after Richard and I bought a home in Annapolis, Maryland, we realized we knew many people who had moved to the Washington, D.C. area with Iowa ties, so we decided to hold an Iowa Day party and mix them.
Richard addressed the assembled partygoers at one of these gatherings, saying, “If we all love Iowa so much, why don’t we live there?”
Eventually, the Leaches did move back to Iowa—and so did we.
I appreciated Jim’s unpretentious nature during that first Iowa Day party. Glancing out at the lawn, I saw the former congressman, once a collegiate wrestling champ, on the ground, pinning Romen Borsellino, the son of Rekha Basu and the late Rob Borsellino, who had been a student wrestler. I’m not sure who initiated the wrestling moves. It could have been either one of them.
Jim and Deba never missed Iowa Day. When we announced our move from Annapolis, they graciously took the mantle and hosted the next Iowa Day party at their Bethesda home, and we flew back to attend.
It was a lovely tradition, bringing together people who might not otherwise know one another but who shared one thing in common: we spent time in the Hawkeye state.
Yesterday, Iowa and the nation lost a public servant—an elected official who refused to be beholden to special interests and dedicated himself to the people he served.
Those lucky enough to call him a friend—essentially everyone he met—will mourn his passing.
Obituary
James Albert Smith Leach, a distinguished American academic, former politician, and influential figure in public policy, passed away on December 11, 2024. He was 82 years old.
Born on October 15, 1942, in Davenport, Iowa, Leach's life was marked by a deep commitment to public service and intellectual curiosity. He graduated from Princeton University and earned a Master's degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Leach's political career spanned three decades, during which he served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Iowa's 2nd congressional district. He chaired the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services and was a leading voice on foreign policy and economic issues.
After leaving Congress, Leach continued to serve the nation in various capacities. He held academic positions at Princeton University, Harvard University, and the University of Iowa and chaired the National Endowment for the Humanities. He was a strong advocate for the humanities and a passionate defender of American democracy.
Leach's legacy is one of intellectual rigor, political courage, and a deep love of country. He will be remembered for his tireless work to improve the lives of Americans and his unwavering commitment to public service.
Preceded in death by his father James A. Leach, mother Lois Hill Leach, and brother Robert L. Leach. Survived by his wife Elisabeth, son Gallagher (Laura), daughter Jenny (Casey) Dix and grandchildren Claire Leach and Riley Dix.
A Celebration of Life for Leach will be held next spring. In lieu of flowers please consider a gift to the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights (UICHR) at https://bit.ly/UniversityOfIowaCenterForHumanRights.
Thank you, Julie, for this excellent tribute. It strikes me also as an obituary for intelligent, reasonable, and decent Republicans. Have they all either died or moved away? Or, are succeeding generations of Iowans simply void in those qualities? Not all are so lacking, of course, but a seeming majority votes for Republicans who are clearly inferior in all character qualities compared with a Jim Leach.
In a time where it’s not always easy to admire those in public service, Mr. Leach was the exception. I met him during his first campaign for Congress. He gave me the time I needed to share what was I important to me. He listened. I think I was about 20 years old. I was impressed then, and remain so today. His passing is a real loss.