Book 48 of my 2025 Reading Challenge
read from June 16 - 23
When My Husband Ran For President...and Other Short Stories
by Ruth Harkin
published 2024
Summary (via the book jacket)
Mention the Harkin name in Iowa and most will recognize it because of Iowa's long-time US Senator and Congressman Tom Harkin. However, Ruth Harkin has an incredible legacy of her own. In fact, she was the first one elected to public office during their marriage. She has been a force since she was a little girl helping and learning alongside her Grandmother in Minnesota. In When My Husband Ran for President and Other Short Stories it's her turn to share lessons, memories, and parts of the lasting influences she has provided her family, Iowans, and the Nation.
My Opinion
3 stars
I'm an Iowan and I have a sister with Down Syndrome so Tom Harkin's impact on my life, especially through his work on the ADA, can't be overstated. As I grew up the teamwork/counterbalance of Senators Harkin and Grassley was comforting.
But this book focuses on his wife, whom I wasn't as familiar with but has many accomplishments in her own right. I picked up a signed copy of this book at Prairie Lights in Iowa City.
It's a niche book that was fine to read but not something I would recommend to a wide audience. She jumps into stories without backstory, leaving the reader to have to make assumptions and glean details. I was able to do so because of my familiarity but even I was looking some things up as I read to try and put a timeframe on events that were happening.
I think it's really cool they found a vacation spot so randomly and have been able to make family traditions out of continued visits there. I also didn't realize Tom Harkin won the caucuses of 3 states and not just Iowa.
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