Vance Hartke remembered

Mitch Harper had a post up several days ago that mentioned former Indiana Senator and Evansville Mayor Vance Hartke. Harper noted that few of his readers would remember the man. My gaze immediately turned to this glass which sits on the top shelf of my computer hutch, along with various other political mementos. I placed a paper towel in it in order to clarify the red print on the clear glass for these photos.

The text in the first photo is rather clear:

"Here's to Democratic Victories!

R.Vance Hartke
Mayor of Evansville

The text in the second shot reads:

A Toast:

"Here is to the future of the Democratic Party - to those who have the heart, the vision, the courage and the patience to transform our weakness and losses into strength and victory".

After joining the Indiana State Bar in 1948, Mr.Hartke practiced law in Evansville. He also worked as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney of Vanderburgh County (1950–1951) and Mayor of Evansville (1956–1958) before being elected to the United States Senate in 1958 and reelected in 1964 and 1970 (1959–1977). Hartke was known for his opposition to the Vietnam War and his chairmanship of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. He lost reelection in 1976 to Richard G. Lugar. Hartke was also an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1972.

Hartke died in Falls Church, Virginia on July 27, 2003 at 84, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Hartke left behind his wife, Martha, and his seven children: Sandra, Jan, Wayne, Keith, Paul, Anita and Nadine as well as twelve grandchildren: Angela, Vance, Jason, Jessica, Travis, Melody, Chelsea, Hanna, Ryan, Dean, Zachary, and Wyatt, and two great grand children: Colby and Jackson. All of Hartke's family now resides in Northern Virginia with the exception of Sandra who resides in Maryland.