Stanley Greigg

Stanley Lloyd Greigg was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative for Iowa's 6th congressional district from 1965 until 1967. A member of the Democratic Party, Greigg was elected during a significant political shift in the 1960s, succeeding a long-serving Republican incumbent. His congressional career was marked by a focus on government assistance for small businesses, although he served only one term before being defeated in his re-election bid. Following his time in Congress, Greigg held various positions, including roles in the Democratic National Committee and the Congressional Budget Office, and was involved in notable political events, such as the early stages of the Watergate scandal.

Early life and career

Stanley Greigg was born on May 7, 1931, in Ireton, Iowa. He spent his formative years in Ireton and the nearby town of Hawarden, where his family was engaged in the restaurant business. The Greigg family later moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where they continued to operate a restaurant. Following the death of his father in 1942, Greigg took on responsibilities to help his mother manage the family business. He balanced these duties with his education, graduating from Sioux City East High School.

Greigg pursued higher education at Morningside College in Sioux City, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954. He then attended Syracuse University, where he engaged in graduate studies at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. His academic pursuits were complemented by military service; Greigg served in the United States Navy from 1957 to 1959, achieving the rank of Seaman (E-3).

After completing his military service, Greigg returned to Sioux City and took on the role of Dean of Men at Morningside College, where he also taught courses in speech and history. His involvement in local politics began in earnest when he was elected to the Sioux City City Council in 1961, becoming the youngest councilman in the city's history and achieving the highest vote total ever recorded for a council candidate at that time. In January 1964, Greigg's political career advanced further when he was elected mayor of Sioux City at the age of 33.

House tenure

In 1964, Greigg was elected to represent Iowa's 6th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, succeeding longtime Republican Congressman Charles B. Hoeven, who had retired after 22 years in office. Greigg's election was part of a broader Democratic landslide during that election cycle, where he defeated Republican candidate Howard N. Sokol by a significant margin. His campaign focused on expanding government assistance programs for small businesses, which resonated with voters in his district.

Despite the initial success, Greigg's tenure in Congress was relatively brief. He served only one term, as he faced a challenging re-election campaign in 1966. His bid for a second term was unsuccessful; he was defeated by Republican Wiley Mayne, who won by a substantial margin. Following his departure from Congress on January 3, 1967, Greigg transitioned into a role in the federal government.

Legislative focus and committees

After leaving Congress, Greigg was appointed as the director of the United States Post Office Department's Office of Regional Administration, a position he held from 1967 to 1969. During this time, he remained a notable figure in Iowa politics. In 1968, when a leading candidate for his former congressional seat withdrew unexpectedly, Greigg was considered as a potential candidate to fill the void. However, he ultimately chose not to enter the race, and his former legislative aide, Jerry O'Sullivan, received the party's nomination but lost in the general election.

Greigg's political career took a significant turn when he became the deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1970 until July 1972. In this capacity, he was involved in the early stages of the Watergate scandal, which would later have profound implications for American politics. On June 17, 1972, Greigg's office was the site of the initial confrontation between D.C. police and the burglars involved in the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. This incident ultimately led to a series of investigations that resulted in the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

Following the Watergate scandal, Greigg shifted his focus to the 1972 presidential campaign of George McGovern, where he took on a similar role to his previous position within the Democratic National Committee. In the years that followed, Greigg continued to influence public policy as he returned to Capitol Hill, serving in the Congressional Budget Office from 1975 until 1998. He eventually became the director of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations within the Congressional Budget Office.

Greigg's later life included involvement in religious and community organizations. He served as vice president of the metropolitan Washington synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He passed away on June 13, 2002, in Salem, Virginia, and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. His life and career reflect a commitment to public service and engagement in significant political events during a transformative period in American history.