Todd Akin
Todd Akin | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 2nd district | |
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2013 | |
Preceded by | Jim Talent |
Succeeded by | Ann Wagner |
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives | |
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 2001 | |
Preceded by | Franc Flotron |
Succeeded by | Jane Cunningham |
Constituency | 85th district (1989–1993) 86th district (1993–2001) |
Personal details | |
Born | William Todd Akin July 5, 1947 New York City, U.S. |
Died | October 3, 2021 Wildwood, Missouri, U.S. | (aged 74)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
Lulli Boe (m. 1975) |
Children | 6 |
Education | Worcester Polytechnic Institute (BS) Covenant Theological Seminary (MDiv) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army
|
Years of service | 1972–1980 |
Unit | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
William Todd Akin (July 5, 1947 – October 3, 2021) was an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 2nd congressional district from 2001 to 2013. He was a member of the Republican Party. Born in New York City, Akin grew up in the Greater St. Louis area. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, Akin served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and worked in the computer and steel industries. In 1988, he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives. He served in the state house until 2000, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, in which he served until 2013.
Akin's Congressional career ended after he lost a bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill in the 2012 election. Akin, who had won the Republican primary in a crowded field, led McCaskill in pre-election polls until he said that women who are victims of what he called "legitimate rape" rarely get pregnant. Akin eventually apologized for the remark but rebuffed calls to withdraw from the election.[1] He lost to McCaskill, 54.7 percent to 39.2 percent.[2] In a book published in July 2014, Akin defended his original comments and said he regretted having apologized.[3]
Early life, education, and business career
Akin was born in New York City, and raised in the St. Louis area. He was the son of Nancy Perry (née Bigelow) and Paul Bigelow Akin.[4][5][6] Akin's great-grandfather, Thomas Russell Akin, founded Laclede Steel Corporation of St. Louis in 1911.[7] The company eventually passed to his grandfather, William Akin, and then to his father Paul, a third-generation graduate of Harvard University who served as an officer in the Navy during World War II.[4][5]
Akin graduated from
Akin was a longtime
Missouri House of Representatives
Elections
Akin was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in November 1988, running unopposed to represent District 85 in West County.[17] He won re-election in 1990 with 59% of the vote.[18] Due to re-districting, Akin represented District 86 from 1993 through 2000, never winning less than 66% of the vote.[19][20][21][22]
Tenure
Akin served as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
In 2000, Akin ran in the Republican
Tenure
Akin earned a 96% rating from the American Conservative Union in 2008, and 100% in 2007.[32]
For most of his tenure, Akin was listed in the official House roll as "R-St. Louis," even though his district didn't include any portion of the city of St. Louis.[33]
Social issues
Akin was an outspoken opponent of abortion in all cases, including health reasons or in cases of rape or
Akin was a supporter of the
Akin also authored the Protect the Pledge (of Allegiance) Act.
During his 2012 U.S. Senate bid, Akin reaffirmed his opposition to legislation like the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which he voted against as a Congressman.[42]
Akin opposed the No Child Left Behind Act. Akin believed that it should not be the federal government that decides on education, but that local government should have control over public education.[43]
Fiscal issues
In his early years in Congress, Akin brought back
Military issues
Akin spent time working on military and veterans issues. On the
Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed Services
- Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
- Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces(chairman)
- Committee on the Budget
- Committee on Science, Space and Technology
- Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
- Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
Caucus memberships
2012 U.S. Senate election
In mid-May 2011, Akin announced he would seek the Republican nomination in 2012 to unseat Democratic senator Claire McCaskill.[49] Other candidates in the August 2012 Republican primary included businessman John Brunner,[50] author and business executive Mark Memoly,[51] and former Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman who had backing from the Tea Party.[52][53] Despite losing some momentum and in a crowded field, Akin won the Republican nomination in the August 7 open primary, 36% to 30% for his nearest challenger.[54] The Claire McCaskill campaign spent $2 million during the primaries, despite not having a primary opponent. That money was spent on advertising touting Akin as "Too conservative," for Missouri.[55] In 2012, National Journal named Akin one of ten Republicans to follow on Twitter)).[56]
Akin faced McCaskill and Libertarian nominee
Home of record
In May 2011, questions were raised about Akin's official address for voting. For most of his political career, Akin had claimed Town and Country as his official residence. However, according to the Associated Press and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Akin moved to Wildwood, in far western St. Louis County, sometime between 2007 and 2009, after he and his wife purchased a second home there. However, he continued to vote as a Town and Country resident, and signed a polling place logbook attesting to his living there in April 2011.[57][58]
Comments on "legitimate rape" and pregnancy
In a local news interview, on August 19, 2012, whilst discussing abortion, Akin claimed that victims of what he described as "legitimate rape" very rarely become pregnant. Airing on St. Louis television station KTVI, his response to a question on rape exceptions for abortion was:
Well you know, people always want to try to make that as one of those things, well how do you, how do you slice this particularly tough sort of ethical question. First of all, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare. If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let's assume that maybe that didn't work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.[59]
The comments from Akin, which came as he ran for the
The comment was widely characterized as
While some colleagues such as Iowa congressman Steve King[71] and Tennessee state senator Stacey Campfield[72] supported Akin, senior figures in both parties condemned his remarks and some Republicans called for him to resign.[73][74][75] In the resulting furor, Akin received widespread calls to drop out of his Senate race from both Republicans and Democrats.[76]
Akin apologized for his gaffe, saying he "misspoke." His campaign ran an advertisement in which he asked voters to forgive him, saying:
Rape was an evil act. I used the wrong words in the wrong way and for that I apologize. As the father of two daughters, I want tough justice for predators. I have a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault. I pray for them. The fact is, rape can lead to pregnancy. The truth is, rape has many victims. The mistake I made was in the words I said, not in the heart I hold. I ask for your forgiveness.[77]
The incident was seen as having an impact on Akin's senate race and the Republicans' chances of gaining a majority in the U.S. Senate,[78] by making news in the week before the 2012 Republican National Convention and by "shift[ing] the national discussion to divisive social issues that could repel swing voters rather than economic issues that could attract them".[79]
Election result
Before the comments, Akin had been favored to win his race against McCaskill, but he lost in November, 54.7 percent to 39.2 percent.[2] His loss was attributed to backlash from women voters.[1] After the election, between November 2012 and August 2013, Akin received $111,000 in donations that in part were for the 2018 Senate primaries, however he left after his term finished on January 3, 2013.[80]
Aftermath
In July 2014, Akin's book, Firing Back: Taking on the Party Bosses and Media Elite to Protect Our Faith and Freedom, was published by
Personal life
Akin married Lulli Boe, a graduate of
Health and death
In April 2001, Akin had surgery to treat prostate cancer, which was detected at an "early stage".[83] He died from cancer at his home on October 3, 2021, at age 74.[84]
Electoral history
Year | Office | Republican | Democratic | Libertarian | Ref | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Votes | % | Candidate | Votes | % | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
1988 | Missouri House, Dist. 85 | Todd Akin | 14,538 | 100% | None | 0 | 0 | None | 0 | 0 | [17] |
1990 | Missouri House, Dist. 85 | Todd Akin | 6,815 | 59% | Chris Liese | 4,656 | 41% | None | 0 | 0 | [18] |
1992 | Missouri House, Dist. 86 | Todd Akin | 14,809 | 100% | None | 0 | 0 | None | 0 | 0 | [19] |
1994 | Missouri House, Dist. 86 | Todd Akin | 9,157 | 70% | Leonard Hyman | 4,015 | 30% | None | 0 | 0 | [20] |
1996 | Missouri House Dist. 86 | Todd Akin | 10,791 | 67% | Leonard Hyman | 5,210 | 33% | None | 0 | 0 | [21] |
1998 | Missouri House Dist. 86 | Todd Akin | 8,026 | 66% | Leonard Hyman | 4,137 | 34% | None | 0 | 0 | [22] |
2000 | U.S. House, Missouri 2nd Dist. | Todd Akin | 164,926 | 55% | Tedd House | 126,441 | 42% | James Higgins | 2,524 | 1% | [85] |
2002 | U.S. House, Missouri 2nd Dist. | Todd Akin | 167,057 | 67% | John Hogan | 77,223 | 31% | Darla Maloney | 4,548 | 2% | [86] |
2004 | U.S. House, Missouri 2nd Dist. | Todd Akin | 228,725 | 65% | George Weber | 115,366 | 33% | Darla Maloney | 4,822 | 1% | [87] |
2006 | U.S. House, Missouri 2nd Dist. | Todd Akin | 176,452 | 61% | George Weber | 105,242 | 37% | Tamara Millay | 5,923 | 2% | [88] |
2008 | U.S. House, Missouri 2nd Dist. | Todd Akin | 232,076 | 62% | William Haas | 132,068 | 35% | Thomas Knapp | 8,628 | 2% | [89] |
2010 | U.S. House, Missouri 2nd Dist. | Todd Akin | 180,481 | 68% | Arthur Lieber | 77,467 | 29% | Steve Mosbacher | 7,677 | 3% | [90][91] |
2012 | U.S. Senate, Missouri | Todd Akin | 1,063,698 | 39.2% | Claire McCaskill | 1,484,683 | 54.7% | Jonathan Dine | 164,991 | 6.1% | [92] |
References
- ^ a b Haberkorn, Jennifer (November 6, 2012). "Abortion, rape controversy shaped key races". Politico.
- ^ a b "Missouri Senate election results 2012: Claire McCaskill beats Todd Akin for second term". Politico. November 6, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- ^ a b Anna Palmer; Tarini Parti (July 10, 2014). "Akin un-apologizes". Politico. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- ^ a b Announcements, The New York Times, September 9, 1944, Section Sports, Page 21.
- ^ a b c d e Eligon, John (August 21, 2012). "A Politician Whose Faith Is Central to His Persistence". The New York Times.
- ^ Penniman, G.W.; Bigelow, P.; Penniman, G.D. (1987). The Penniman Family: To 1980. Penniman Family. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- ^ Laclede Steel Names Chief, The New York Times, Business and Finance Section, March 26, 1966.
- ^ a b "Todd Akin, former congressman sunk by remark on 'legitimate rape,' dies at 74". Los Angeles Times. October 4, 2021.
- ^ a b Official Manual of the State of Missouri, 1993–1994[permanent dead link], p. 157
- ^ Biography Archived August 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Congressman Todd Akin, Missouri's 2nd District. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
- ^ a b McCrummen, Stephanie & Fahrenthold, David A. (August 22, 2012). "Akin's agenda wins loyalty of Christian groups". The Washington Post.
- ^ Todd Akin Senate Campaign 2012 web site, On the Issues: Life, http://www.akin.org/issues/life. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
- ^ Friedman, Dan (November 3, 2012). "Akin was Arrested at Least Eight Times in 1980s". Hotline On Call. NationalJournal.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012.
- ^ a b c McDermott, Kevin (October 24, 2012). "Todd Akin was arrested at least three times during '80s abortion protests". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- ^ Kim, Seung Min (September 28, 2012). "Akin speaks about old arrest at abortion clinic". Politico. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "2 top Mo. Republicans reverse course, come back to Akin's side in contentious Senate race". The Washington Post. September 28, 2012. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012.
- ^ a b Official Manual of the State of Missouri 1989–1990, p. 669.
- ^ a b Official Manual of the State of Missouri 1991–1992, p. 506.
- ^ a b Official Manual of the State of Missouri, 1993–1994[permanent dead link], p. 716.
- ^ a b Official Manual of the State of Missouri, 1995–1996, p. 541.
- ^ a b Official Manual of the State of Missouri 1997–1998 p. 574.
- ^ a b Official Manual of the State of Missouri 1999–2000 p. 571.
- ^ "Tangled Politics Of Coming Election Apply Ice To Missouri's Tax-Cut Fever". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 7, 1996.
- ^ a b c Pistor, Nicholas J.C. (August 21, 2012). "Akin in Ohio as deadline to exit race passes". St Louis Today. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^ "For The Missouri House – Iv". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 1, 1996.
- ^ "Casinos Decry Proposal To Stop Contributions Similar Efforts Have Withstood Court Challenges". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. March 17, 1998.
- ^ "Carnahan blasts 'extremists'". The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. May 14, 1995. Retrieved January 29, 2012.
- ^ "U.S. Representative – District 2 – Summary". Office of Secretary of State, Missouri. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Horrigan, Kevin (August 21, 2012). "Horrigan: The world discovers the weirdness of Todd Akin. Darn it". St. Louis Today. St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- ^ "U.S. Representative – District 2 – Summary". Office of Secretary of State, Missouri. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ "Missouri". Election 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-89234-119-1.)
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ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ See, for example, the official House member list during Akin's last term in the House.
- ^ "Akin in 2008: Doctors Give Abortions To Patients Who Aren't Pregnant". KMOX CBS. October 3, 2012. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
- ^ McDermott, Kevin (October 3, 2012). "Long before 'legitimate rape' comment, Akin alleged abortions on non-pregnant women". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.(subscription required)
- ^ "NRA-PVF Endorses Todd Akin for U.S. Senate in Missouri". nrapvf.org. Fairfax, Va: NRA-PVF. October 8, 2012. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is endorsing Todd Akin for U.S. Senate in Missouri.
- ^ "2nd Amendment | Todd Akin for Senate". Akin.org. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^ "Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4411". Thomas.loc.gov. Archived from the original on November 25, 2008. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ "Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4777". Thomas.loc.gov. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ Colby Hochmuth (June 28, 2011). "Lawmaker Apologizes for Liberal 'Hatred of God' Quip". Fox News. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ Jason Hancock (June 29, 2011). "Akin changes course, apologizes for comment". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
- ^ Reese, Diana (October 1, 2012). "Todd Akin on women's issues in Kansas City campaign stop". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-936488-20-9. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ^ Mannies, Jo (October 4, 2007). "Mo Dems- GOP split over SCHIP, while protesters target Bond, who backs SCHIP". St Louis Today.
- ^ Mannies, Jo. "Bailout critic Akin also target of spray-paint vandals". St Louis Today.
- ^ "Charting the votes, the money and the uninsured". St Louis Post-Dispatch. March 24, 2010.
- ^ "Akin Supports Ryan Budget". Archived from the original on September 21, 2012.
- ^ a b Rose, Sean (February 26, 2009). "McCaskill, Skelton support Dover repeal; Akin unhappy". St Louis Today.
- ^ "Congressman running for Senate introduces himself to the Heartland". KTVO-TV Heartland Connection.com. May 20, 2011. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^ "Todd Akin announces Missouri Senate bid". RollCall.com. May 17, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^ "Filing day across Christian County". Springfield News-Leader via website. March 6, 2012. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
- Politico. Retrieved December 1, 2010.
- ^ "Missouri primary is latest test of Tea Party influence, with Wisconsin, Arizona on horizon". Fox News. March 26, 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- ^ "Election Night Reporting". MO Secretary of State. August 8, 2012. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "Why Claire McCaskill wants Todd Akin to stay in Missouri race". CS Monitor. August 21, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
- ^ "Ten Republicans to follow on Twitter," by Adam Mazmanian, National Journal, August 27, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Todd Akin votes in Town and Country". St. Louis Post-Dispatch website. May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
- ^ "Missouri Rep. Akin voting, living at different places". Associated Press via KMOV-TV. May 31, 2011. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
- ^ Jaco, Charles (August 19, 2012). "The Jaco Report: August 19, 2012". Fox News. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
- ^ The Washington Post Editorial Board (August 20, 2012). "The repugnant code behind Todd Akin's words".
- ^ Belluck, Pam (August 21, 2012). "Health Experts Dismiss Assertions on Rape". The New York Times. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- John Willke. christianliferesources.com.
- ^ "A Canard That Will Not Die: 'Legitimate Rape' Doesn't Cause Pregnancy". The Atlantic. August 19, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ Graham, David A. (August 22, 2012). "Video of the Day: 'Forcible Rape' and Paul Ryan's Akin Problem". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
- ^ Kliff, Sarah (August 20, 2012). "Rep. Todd Akin is wrong about rape and pregnancy, but he's not alone". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ DiSalvo, David. "Republican Senate Nominee Todd Akin: Victims Of "Legitimate Rape" Don't Get Pregnant". Forbes. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
- ^ Abouhalkah, Yael T. "Todd Akin's rape fantasy". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
- ^ Eligon, John (August 19, 2012). "Senate Candidate Provokes Ire With 'Legitimate Rape' Comment". The New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
- PMID 8765248. Cited in: Blake, Aaron. "Todd Akin, GOP Senate candidate: 'Legitimate rape' rarely causes pregnancy". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
- S2CID 20886610. Cited in: Robillard, Kevin (August 20, 2012). "Doctors: Todd Akin pregnancy claim bogus". Politico. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ "Rep. Steve King backs up Todd Akin, weighs in on rape and abortion". CBS News. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
- ^ "Sen. Campfield Continues to Embarrass Tennessee". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ^ "Leading social conservatives rally to Akin's defense". CNN. August 20, 2012. Archived from the original on August 21, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ Seung Min Kim (August 21, 2012). "List of senators calling on Akin to quit keeps growing". Politico. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
- ^ Costa, Robert. "Romney: Akin's Comment 'Inexcusable'".
- ^ Killough, Ashley (August 20, 2012). "GOP chair: Akin should drop out, skip convention". CNN. Archived from the original on August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ Burns, Alexander (August 21, 2012). "Akin ad asks for 'forgiveness'". Politico. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
- ^ Ross, Scott (August 20, 2012). "Akin Vows to Stay in Race After 'Legitimate Rape' Gaffe". NBC 10 Philadelphia.
- ^ Akin imbroglio is bad news for Republicans Tom Cohen, CNN updated 3:23 pm EDT, Wed August 22, 2012
- ^ Kevin McDermott (August 20, 2013), "A year after 'legitimate rape,' the money's still trickling in for Akin", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, retrieved December 28, 2013
- ^ Official Manual of the State of Missouri 1989–1990, p. 135.
- ^ Class of 1972 Reunion Attendees Archived September 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Hollins Alumnae page, Hollins University.
- ^ "US Rep. Todd Akin To Have Surgery". Associated Press. April 6, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ Hanna, John; Salter, Jim (October 4, 2021). "Ex-US Rep. Todd Akin, sunk by 'legitimate rape' remark, dies". Associated Press. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ 2000 Election Results Federal Election Commission. Mike Odell, Green Party, also received 2,907 votes, 1% of the total votes.
- ^ "Secretary of State Official Election Results 2002". Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ 2004 Election Results Federal Election Commission, p 119.
- ^ 2006 Election Results U.S. House of Representatives Federal Election Commission, p.82.
- ^ 2008 Election Results U.S. House of Representatives, Federal Election Commission, p.125.
- ^ Official Election Results U.S. House of Representatives, 2010, Federal Election Commission, p.95.
- ^ Official Election Returns Archived February 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, State of Missouri Secretary of State, November 30, 2010.
- ^ "Nov 6, 2012 General Election: Election Night Reporting: Missouri Secretary of State". enr.sos.mo.gov. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
External links
- U.S. Congressman Todd Akin official U.S. House website
- Todd Akin for Senate
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart