Sam Steiger

In 1959, Steiger entered politics on a wager. While working as a ranch hand in [[Springerville, Arizona|Springerville]], he and several friends observed that [[Yavapai County]] had never elected a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] representative. Steiger theorized that this was because the right Republican had not yet run for office. His friends challenged him to run for office and in 1960 Steiger was elected to the [[Arizona Senate|Arizona State Senate]].{{cite news | last = Rushlo | first = Michelle | title = Sam Steiger still shooting from the hip, now as mayor of Prescott | page = 11A | publisher = Kingman Daily Miner | date = April 28, 2000 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EFALAAAAIBAJ&pg=6757,2014358 | access-date = October 16, 2020 | archive-date = September 2, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210902024716/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EFALAAAAIBAJ&pg=6757%2C2014358 | url-status = live }} While a freshman senator he wrote a column claiming that other members of the legislature had sold their votes for money and challenged senate leaders over perceived backroom deals.{{cite book | last = Bermane | first = David R. | title = Arizona politics & government : the quest for autonomy, democracy, and development | publisher = University of Nebraska Press | date = 1998 | location = Lincoln, Neb. | page = 104 | isbn = 0-8032-6146-2}}{{cite news | title = Glenn Makes Senate Look Petty: Steiger | page = 2 | publisher = Evening Prescott Courier | date = February 23, 1962 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EskKAAAAIBAJ&pg=6359,2683975 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Steiger also likened himself to a tiger and used a black and orange motif on his campaign signs.{{cite news | last = Barks | first = Cindy | title = 'The Tiger' grabs politics by the tail | pages = 1, 14–15 | publisher = The Daily Courier | date = December 12, 1999 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=17AKAAAAIBAJ&pg=5870,1819011 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 1959, Steiger entered politics on a wager. While working as a ranch hand in [[Springerville, Arizona|Springerville]], he and several friends observed that [[Yavapai County]] had never elected a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] representative. Steiger theorized that this was because the right Republican had not yet run for office. His friends challenged him to run for office and in 1960 Steiger was elected to the [[Arizona Senate|Arizona State Senate]].{{cite news | last = Rushlo | first = Michelle | title = Sam Steiger still shooting from the hip, now as mayor of Prescott | page = 11A | publisher = Kingman Daily Miner | date = April 28, 2000 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EFALAAAAIBAJ&pg=6757,2014358 | access-date = October 16, 2020 | archive-date = September 2, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210902024716/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EFALAAAAIBAJ&pg=6757%2C2014358 | url-status = live }} While a freshman senator he wrote a column claiming that other members of the legislature had sold their votes for money and challenged senate leaders over perceived backroom deals.{{cite book | last = Bermane | first = David R. | title = Arizona politics & government : the quest for autonomy, democracy, and development | publisher = University of Nebraska Press | date = 1998 | location = Lincoln, Neb. | page = 104 | isbn = 0-8032-6146-2}}{{cite news | title = Glenn Makes Senate Look Petty: Steiger | page = 2 | publisher = Evening Prescott Courier | date = February 23, 1962 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EskKAAAAIBAJ&pg=6359,2683975 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Steiger also likened himself to a tiger and used a black and orange motif on his campaign signs.{{cite news | last = Barks | first = Cindy | title = 'The Tiger' grabs politics by the tail | pages = 1, 14–15 | publisher = The Daily Courier | date = December 12, 1999 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=17AKAAAAIBAJ&pg=5870,1819011 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

After two terms in the statehouse, in 1964, Steiger ran against incumbent [[George F. Senner Jr.]] for [[Arizona's 3rd congressional district|Arizona's 3rd district]] seat in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]. He was endorsed by all the newspapers within the district,{{cite news | title = All Dailies in Dist. 3 for Steiger | page = 2 | publisher = Evening Prescott Courier | date = October 23, 1964 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UNoKAAAAIBAJ&pg=5951,649816 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} with the ''Arizona Republic'' saying "Sam is independent, friendly, quick-witted, very out-spoken, crazy over horses, and wears an infectious smile". Despite these endorsements, Steiger lost a close election.{{cite news | last = Timberlake | first = Roger | title = Voting is Nearly Even for Barry | page = 1 | publisher = Evening Prescott Courier | date = November 5, 1964 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V9oKAAAAIBAJ&pg=5146,1285584 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He then served as a [[correspondent]] on the [[Vietnam War]] before making a second run for the congressional seat in 1966.{{cite news | title = Steiger Uncorks Verbal Poke | page = 1 | publisher = Evening Prescott Courier | date = May 26, 1966 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bP4KAAAAIBAJ&pg=3929,920285 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Benefiting from a mid-decade [[reapportionment]] which pushed the district into a heavily Republican section of [[Maricopa County]], near [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], as well as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] voters defecting to other party candidates, Steiger defeated Senner on his second attempt.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Gladwin |title=DEMOCRATS FEAR ARIZONA 'PINTOS'; Party Switchers Threaten Re-Election of Governor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/11/01/archives/democrats-fear-arizona-pintos-party-switchers-threaten-reelection.html |access-date=28 May 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=1 November 1966 |page=21}}{{cite news | last = Chanberlain | first = John | title = Labor Bosses Were Election Casualty | page = 12A | publisher = The Evening Independent | date = November 16, 1966 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GNoLAAAAIBAJ&pg=6118,2758322 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

After two terms in the statehouse, in 1964, Steiger ran against incumbent [[George F. Senner Jr.]] for [[Arizona's 3rd congressional district|Arizona's 3rd district]] seat in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]. He was endorsed by all the newspapers within the district,{{cite news | title = All Dailies in Dist. 3 for Steiger | page = 2 | publisher = Evening Prescott Courier | date = October 23, 1964 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UNoKAAAAIBAJ&pg=5951,649816 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} with the ''Arizona Republic'' saying "Sam is independent, friendly, quick-witted, very out-spoken, crazy over horses, and wears an infectious smile". Despite these endorsements, Steiger lost a close election.{{cite news | last = Timberlake | first = Roger | title = Voting is Nearly Even for Barry | page = 1 | publisher = Evening Prescott Courier | date = November 5, 1964 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V9oKAAAAIBAJ&pg=5146,1285584 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He then served as a [[correspondent]] on the [[Vietnam War]] before making a second run for the congressional seat in 1966.{{cite news | title = Steiger Uncorks Verbal Poke | page = 1 | publisher = Evening Prescott Courier | date = May 26, 1966 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bP4KAAAAIBAJ&pg=3929,920285 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Benefiting from a mid-decade [[reapportionment]] which pushed the district into a heavily Republican section of [[Maricopa County]], near [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], as well as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] voters defecting to other party candidates, Steiger defeated Senner on his second attempt.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Gladwin |title=DEMOCRATS FEAR ARIZONA 'PINTOS'; Party Switchers Threaten Re-Election of Governor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/11/01/archives/democrats-fear-arizona-pintos-party-switchers-threaten-reelection.html |access-date=28 May 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=1 November 1966 |page=21}}{{cite news | last = Chamberlain | first = John | title = Labor Bosses Were Election Casualty | page = 12A | publisher = The Evening Independent | date = November 16, 1966 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=82VQAAAAIBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_all_issues_r&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false | access-date = April 18, 2026}}

As a congressman, Steiger continued his outspoken ways. During his first term he delivered a speech from the floor of the House claiming it is "an irrefutable fact of life that the elected official is regarded by those who elect him as capable of the most flagrant dishonor," and calling for a "code of ethics" which included "full disclosure of assets, liabilities, honorariums, etc., by members, their spouses, and staff members." Steiger would later claim a number of his colleagues were frequently drunk and that "there are members of Congress you wouldn't hire to wheel a wheelbarrow."{{cite news | title = House Hits Back at Critic Who Chided Colleagues | page = 25 | work = New York Times | date = February 6, 1968 }}

As a congressman, Steiger continued his outspoken ways. During his first term he delivered a speech from the floor of the House claiming it is "an irrefutable fact of life that the elected official is regarded by those who elect him as capable of the most flagrant dishonor," and calling for a "code of ethics" which included "full disclosure of assets, liabilities, honorariums, etc., by members, their spouses, and staff members." Steiger would later claim a number of his colleagues were frequently drunk and that "there are members of Congress you wouldn't hire to wheel a wheelbarrow."{{cite news | title = House Hits Back at Critic Who Chided Colleagues | page = 25 | work = New York Times | date = February 6, 1968 }}