Representative Leonard L. Boswell

Leonard Leroy Boswell (January 10, 1934 – August 17, 2018) was an American politician and military officer who served as the U.S. representative for Iowa’s 3rd congressional district from 1997 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented a district based in Des Moines for eight consecutive terms, contributing to the legislative process during a significant period in American history. He left Congress in January 2013 after being defeated for reelection in 2012 by 4th district incumbent Tom Latham, who chose to run against him following redistricting.

Boswell was born on January 10, 1934, in Harrison County, Missouri, the son of Margaret and Melvin Boswell. He was raised on a farm, an upbringing that informed his later interest in agricultural policy and rural issues. Seeking higher education close to home, he attended Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, where he was educated before embarking on a lengthy career in the United States Army.

Boswell spent twenty years in the U.S. Army, beginning with his draft into service in 1956 as a private. He graduated from Artillery Officers Candidate School and rose through the ranks to become a lieutenant colonel. His military career included two one-year tours of duty in Vietnam as an assault helicopter pilot, during which he earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, the Soldier’s Medal, and various other awards and decorations. He also completed two NATO tours in Europe, serving four years in Germany and three years in Portugal, and taught at the Army Command and General Staff College, contributing to the training of future military leaders.

After retiring from active military service, Boswell entered Iowa politics. He was elected to the Iowa Senate in 1984 and served three terms. In 1986 he sought a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives but was narrowly defeated in the Democratic primary by Scott Hughes of Council Bluffs. Within the state legislature, Boswell rose to a leadership role, serving as President of the Iowa Senate from 1993 to 1996. In 1994 he was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Iowa as the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Bonnie Campbell, further elevating his profile in state politics.

In 1996 Boswell was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa’s 3rd congressional district, taking office in January 1997. Over the course of eight terms, he represented a district centered on Des Moines and participated actively in the work of the House. He served on the Committee on Agriculture, including the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, where he was ranking member, and the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry. He also served on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, including the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, reflecting his interest in both rural and transportation issues. In the 111th Congress, Boswell voted with Democratic leadership more often than 131 members, or 49 percent, of the Democratic Caucus, placing him near the middle of his party ideologically.

Boswell’s legislative record reflected a focus on veterans, health care, education, and economic policy. He authored H.R. 327, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, which was signed into law in 2007 and provided mental health services and support for veterans, underscoring his ongoing concern for those who had served in the armed forces. He supported the Affordable Care Act and, in a 2012 debate, defended his vote in favor of the law, stating that “Obamacare … is actually working” and that Iowans appreciated key provisions. He voted to expand funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and twice voted to override the president’s veto of SCHIP legislation. Boswell supported doubling Pell Grants and backed the 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which provided the largest increase in college aid since the GI Bill. He also voted for the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001.

On national security and foreign policy, Boswell voted on October 10, 2002, to authorize the invasion of Iraq. He supported the USA PATRIOT Act in 2001 and its reauthorization in 2005. In 2008 he backed the FISA legislation that granted telecommunications companies immunity from prosecution for their involvement in warrantless wiretapping of American citizens. He wrote to Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging her not to oppose the bill and ultimately voted for the final House version once he was satisfied it provided adequate protection for telecom companies. On economic matters, he supported the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. His vote for the 2009 stimulus drew criticism from the conservative group Crossroads GPS, which invested more than $235,000 in television advertising on Des Moines station KCCI targeting Boswell, including an initial $85,125 buy followed six weeks later by an additional $150,000 for two commercials.

Boswell’s positions on taxation and gun rights also drew attention during his congressional tenure. In a 2012 debate, he opposed extending the Bush-era tax cuts and supported tax increases for high-income earners, criticizing his opponent for signing a pledge not to raise taxes and questioning the historical effectiveness of “trickle-down” economic theory. At the same time, he was known as a strong proponent of gun rights in a state with a robust gun culture. He wrote an op-ed in a Council Bluffs newspaper criticizing Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney for what he characterized as flip-flopping on gun rights, an issue he said was important to local Iowans. During his 2010 reelection campaign, his stance on gun rights and armed self-defense earned him an “A” rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund, which endorsed him over his Republican challenger, who also held an “A” rating.

Leonard L. Boswell’s congressional service concluded after the 2012 election, when redistricting placed him in a contest with Republican Representative Tom Latham of Iowa’s 4th district. Latham defeated Boswell, and Boswell left Congress in January 2013, ending sixteen years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives. Boswell died on August 17, 2018, leaving a legacy that combined two decades of military service with nearly three decades in elective office at the state and federal levels, during which he represented the interests of his constituents and participated in the democratic process at critical moments in recent American history.