Search
Arizona's Statesman:
Congressman John J. Rhodes
John Rhodes was a remarkable man who lived a remarkable life, yet prided himself on being like Senator Carl Hayden, "a work horse, not a show horse.” John Rhodes’s accomplishments are legion, yet he was content to work behind the scenes and let others occupy the spotlight. He was the first Republican from Arizona elected to the House of Representatives and spent thirty years in that body—seven of those as Minority Leader—where he worked indefatigably not only for his constituents in Arizona, but also for the citizens of the United States. At the state level, he spent years fighting for the approval of the Central Arizona Project, which supplies the water that has allowed Arizona to flourish; at the national level, he played a pivotal role in the Watergate scandal and Richard Nixon’s subsequent resignation. If you live in Arizona, you should think of John Rhodes every time you turn on your tap or drive over Indian Bend Wash; as an American, you should think of John Rhodes as one of the statesmen who guided our country through a critical and potentially catastrophic period of history.
Through this website, you can explore John Rhodes’s remarkable life in his own words, as well as photographs, film clips, and images of historic items from the John J. Rhodes, Jr., Collection that resides at the Arizona State University Archives. You can also discover his thoughts on national issues by reading milestone speeches that he wrote throughout his long career, as well as essays on contemporary events that he authored during the last months of his life. Although John Rhodes retired from Congress in 1982, he never failed to keep himself up-to-date on current issues, and never relinquished his interest in and will to serve his country.
Table of Contents
Click on one of the destinations below to learn more about the remarkable life of John Rhodes.
