Daniel White

**Daniel Elias White** (born April 16, 1950) is an American Politician, and is serving as the Senate Minority Whip, and the Senior United States Senator from the Midwest

White was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, he would spend a majority of his childhood working on his parents farm. When he was 18 he graduated high school and was drafted to join the Vietnam war effort, he would be placed into the United States Army where he would climb to the rank of captain in the First Cavalry Division, where he would see combat on the Tet Offensive, and other small skirmishes, he would be honorably discharged from the army in February of 1971. Upon leaving the army, he would return home to work on his family farm, which he still maintains today. He would also re-enroll at Iowa State University to study Law, he graduated in 1975. After graduation He would be convinced by many locals to run for Mayor of Des Moines, where he would win the general election with 68% of the vote. It wouldn’t be long until he moved up the political spectrum, being elected Deputy a chair of the Whig National Committee after, then-chair Bruno Rizzo was elected leader. He would win the election, and be sworn in moments later. Prior to be elected Deputy Chair, he would run for Midwest’s 1st Congressional district, where he lost a close race to then-Representative Dick Dephardt, White would end up challenging the results of the race, a challenge which he lost.

In early 1980 White would announce his candidacy for the United States Senate, announcing his opposition to incumbent Walter Mondale, he would also use this time to volunteer as the Chief Strategist on the Bruno Rizzo presidential campaign team. During the general election he would beat Mondale, and was sworn in on January 3, 1981. Not long after being elected he was elected Senate Minority Whip, as the position was not heavily contested due to the small minority the Whigs and Conservatives had in the Senate. White became very vocal of President Reichwalds handling of the economy, and other foreign affairs aspects, but would speak out against homosexuals as the disease “Aids” was at its peak, which he would be heavily attacked for. In 1982 he resigned as Deputy Party Leader citing disagreements in leadership, but served as acting party leader upon the resignation of Bruno Rizzo in 1982.

## Early Life (1950-1968)

Daniel White was born on April 16, 1950 at MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa to Leopold and Catherine White. The only child in the family, he would often help his father by working on the family farm for much of his early life.

His family had never been poor, but often suffered setbacks which mostly effected Whites education, however he would graduate from East High school in Des Moines. Wanting to pursue a career in education he enrolled at Iowa State University, however before the school year started he was drafted for the Vietnam War.

## Vietnam War, law school, and career

White would be drafted into the Vietnam war in late 1968, and would see combat in 1969 during the Tet Offensive. He would quickly rise to the rank of Captain, and was a well respected officer in his division, however on a patrol in January of 1971 he was injured in a patrol by an ambush, due to his injury he would be honorably discharged in February of 1971.

He would return to his home in June of 1971, after working on the family farm for 2 months he was able to enroll back into Iowa State University, where he would study Law. He would graduate in February of 1975.

He would start the “Daniel & Sons” Law firm shortly after words, which he still works at today. His law career would be interrupted when he was convinced to run for Mayor by his family. During the general election he would campaign for Infrastructure, civil rights, and criminal reform. He would hear Wilford Row with 68% of the vote, and would assume office on October 8, 1975.

## Mayor of Des Moines (1975-1981)

During his tenure as Mayor he worked for a number of criminal reforms, which included budget increases to the city police department, and appointing experienced officials to manage the department, during his 6 years as Mayor, crime was reduced by 8%.

During his second term as Mayor, he would prioritize in infrastructure and criminal justice reform, he would sign a law that would increase funding in order to repair a majority of the cities roads and bridges, as well as a law that would increase the budget to the city attorneys office, in order for them to properly investigate crimes and misconducts. On December 31, 1980 he would resign as mayor in order to take the office of Senator.