James A. Leach
This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (December 2008) Jim Leach Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities In office August 7, 2009 – April 23, 2013 Preceded by Carole Watson (Acting) Succeeded by Carole Watson (Acting) Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 2nd district In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007 Preceded by Jim Nussle Succeeded by David Loebsack Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 1st district In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2003 Preceded by Edward Mezvinsky Succeeded by Jim Nussle Personal details Born James Albert Smith Leach (1942-10-15) October 15, 1942 (age 72) Davenport, Iowa, U.S. Political party Republican Spouse(s) Deba Leach Alma mater Princeton University Johns Hopkins University London School of Economics Religion Episcopal James Albert Smith "Jim" Leach (born October 15, 1942) is a congressman and academic. He served as ninth Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities from 2009 to 2013 and was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa (1977-2007). Leach was the John L. Weinberg Visiting Professor of Public and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Princeton University. He also served as the interim director of the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University from September 17, 2007, to September 1, 2008, when Bill Purcell was appointed permanent director. Previously, Leach served 30 years (1977–2007) as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Iowa's 2nd congressional district (numbered as the 1st District from 1977 to 2003). In Congress, Leach chaired the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services (1995–2001) and was a senior member of the House Committee on International Relations, serving as Chair of the Committee’s Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs (2001–2006). He also founded and served as co-chair of the Congressional Humanities Caucus. He lost his 2006 re-election bid to Democrat Dave Loebsack. Leach sponsored the 1999 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, a notable piece of banking legislation of the 20th century.