John Jacob Rhodes, Jr.

Video by Pam Stevenson, Agave Productions Inc., for Historical League

John Jacob Rhodes, Jr., known for 30 years as an unassuming but highly effective U.S. Congressman, was born September 18, 1916 at Council Grove, Kansas. After attending public schools, he graduated from Kansas State College in 1938 and Harvard Law School in 1941.

Following law school, Mr. Rhodes enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. He was assigned to Williams Air Force Base in Mesa, Arizona where he held the post of executive officer for two years. While there, he developed his love of Arizona. He retired as a lieutenant colonel, moved to Mesa and founded a law firm.

John Rhodes entered Republican politics at the suggestion of Barry Goldwater. Long a Democratic stronghold, Arizona was evolving into a two-party state, and in November 1952, Rhodes became the first Arizonan elected to the U.S. House of Representative as a Republican. He served as a congressman for thirty years, during the administrations of eight presidents, and retired in January 1983.

Mr. Rhodes was minority leader of the House of Representatives from 1973 to 1980. He and another Arizonan, Ernest McFarland, achieved the top leadership posts of their political parties in Congress, the highest ranks possible for a representative and senator respectively. In 1976, while still an active member of Congress, Mr. Rhodes authored a book, The Futile System, a critique of Congress, perhaps drawn from his experiences while fighting for a Republican majority in the House. He was instrumental in appropriating funds for the Central Arizona Project, and he worked with Scottsdale officials to obtain funding for the Indian Bend Wash.

In 1971, the U.S. Reclamation Association named Mr. Rhodes “Man of the Year,” and he is a member of the Man of the Year Association for former members of Congress. He is also a 33rd degree, Grand Cross, Scottish Rite Mason; a York Rite Mason; a Shriner, and he has served as international President of his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi.  John Rhodes was honored in 1982 by the Vesta Club of Arizona for his “unselfish and untiring service on behalf of the Hispanic People of Arizona.” Other recognitions of his accomplishments include the naming of the John J. Rhodes Junior High School in Mesa and the establishment of the  John J. Rhodes Chair in Public Policy and American Institutions at Arizona State University.

Among his other endeavors, in addition to his law practice, Mr. Rhodes was a vice president, director and legal counsel of Farm and Home Life Insurance Company, a corporation he helped found.

John Rhodes and his wife, Betty, reside in Mesa. Their four children are John J. III (Jay), Thomas, Elizabeth and Scott.