Vance Hartke

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Vance Hartke" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Vance Hartke
Hartke in 1958
United States Senator from Indiana
In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1977
Preceded by	William E. Jenner
Succeeded by	Richard Lugar
Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1977
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Alan Cranston
Mayor of Evansville, Indiana
In office 1956–1958
Preceded by	Henry O. Roberts
Succeeded by	J. William Davidson
Personal details
Born	Rupert Vance Hartke (1919-05-31)May 31, 1919 Stendal, Indiana, U.S.
Died	July 27, 2003(2003-07-27) (aged 84) Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Martha Hartke
Children	7
Alma mater	Evansville University Indiana University School of Law - Bloomington
Profession	Attorney
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy United States Coast Guard
Years of service	1942–1946
Rank	Lieutenant
Battles/wars	World War II

Rupert Vance Hartke (May 31, 1919 – July 27, 2003) was an American politician who served as a Democratic United States Senator from Indiana from 1959 until 1977. Hartke won election to the Senate after serving as the mayor of Evansville, Indiana. In the Senate, he supported the Great Society and became a prominent opponent of the Vietnam War. Hartke ran for president in the 1972 Democratic primaries but withdrew after the first set of primaries. He left the Senate after being defeated in his 1976 re-election campaign by Richard Lugar.