Leonard B. Jordan

Leonard Beck "Len" Jordan (May 15, 1899 – June 30, 1983) was the 23rd Governor of Idaho and United States Senator from Idaho.

Jordan served in World War I as an Army officer. He was a sheep rancher in Hell's Canyon during the Great Depression. He settled in Grangeville, Idaho, where he established a farm implement business, a real estate agency, and an automobile dealership.

Jordan was elected to a single four-year term as Governor of Idaho in 1950. In 1955 he was appointed by President Eisenhower as Chairman of the United States section of the International Joint Commission with Canada to develop the St. Lawrence Seaway.

In July 1962 Jordan was appointed to the United States Senate by Governor Robert E. Smylie to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Henry Dworshak. Later that year he defeated Democratic Congresswoman Gracie Pfost in a special election to complete the term. Jordan was reelected to a full six-year term in 1966, defeating former Democratic Congressman Ralph R. Harding. In the Senate he helped establish the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. He did not seek re-election in 1972.

External links

• Leonard B. Jordan at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Leonard Jordan at Find A Grave
• Jordan's Congressional papers, 1962–1972 are housed at Albertsons Library, Boise State University
• Len Jordan Digital Collection features photographs of his career as Governor of Idaho from 1950–1954 and United States Senator from 1962–1973