Clyde Leonard Herring (April 20, 1879 – July 2, 1959) was an American attorney, businessman, and Democratic politician who served as the 24th governor of Iowa from 1933 to 1937 and as a United States senator from Iowa from 1937 to 1943.
Early life and education
Clyde L. Herring was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to William H. Herring, a local merchant, and Mary (née Leonard) Herring. He attended public schools in Mahaska County and graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1896. Herring pursued higher education at the University of Iowa, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1900 and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1902.
Legal and business career
After admission to the Iowa bar, Herring practiced law in Oskaloosa and later moved to Des Moines, where he became involved in banking and manufacturing. He served as president of the Herring, Burchfield & Co. Company, a hardware firm, and held directorships on several banking boards, establishing himself as a prominent businessman in the state.
Political career
Governor of Iowa (1933–1937)
Herring entered elective politics as a Democrat during the Great Depression. In 1932, he was elected governor of Iowa, defeating incumbent Republican John Hammill. His administration focused on relief measures for farmers, unemployment assistance, and New Deal programs. Herring advocated for state-level implementation of federal relief initiatives, supported public works projects, and promoted fiscal reforms aimed at stabilizing Iowa’s economy.
U.S. Senate (1937–1943)
In 1936, Herring successfully ran for the United States Senate, winning a seat previously held by Republican L.J. Dickinson. He served a single six‑year term. While in the Senate, Herring served on committees including the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Public Lands, and the Committee on Naval Affairs. He was a supporter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation, backing measures such as the Social Security Act and agricultural price‑support policies. Herring also voted in favor of the Lend‑Lease Act (1941) and the declaration of war against the Axis powers following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
In the 1942 election, Herring was defeated by Republican Governor George A. Wilson, ending his tenure in the Senate.
Later life and death
After leaving the Senate, Herring returned to Iowa, where he resumed his business activities and remained active in Democratic Party affairs. He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1944 and 1948. Herring retired from public life in the early 1950s and died on July 2, 1959, in Des Moines, Iowa. He was interred at Woodland Cemetery in Oskaloosa.
Legacy
Clyde L. Herring is remembered for steering Iowa through the economic challenges of the 1930s and for his support of New Deal programs at both the state and federal levels. His tenure illustrates the relatively brief period during which the Democratic Party held statewide executive and legislative offices in traditionally Republican‑leaning Iowa.