John Rusling Block
| John R. Block | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 21st United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
|
In office January 23, 1981 – February 14, 1986 |
|
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Robert Bergland |
| Succeeded by | Richard E. Lyng |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 15, 1935 Galesburg, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Rathjo "Sue" Block |
| Children | Hans Block Chynthia Block Christine Block |
| Alma mater | U.S. Military Academy |
| Religion | Protestant |
John Rusling Block (born February 15, 1935) is a former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, during the Reagan administration. He later became a lobbyist.
Block was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on February 15, 1935. Of German descent, Block was the son of Julius Judd Block and Madeline (née Maddy) Block. He came from a strongly rural background where the home had no electricity. He graduated from West Point in 1957 and served in 101st Airborne. After that, he became successful in agribusiness.
Block was a Republican whose agriculture successes formed the basis for his position as the Illinois Director of Agriculture. This led to him becoming the Secretary of Agriculture in President Ronald Reagan's administration. He was involved in the 1985 Farm Bill Act.
Block was an Secretary of Agriculture, when more farmers lost their farms than at any time since the Great Depression of the 1930s. During his term as Secretary, a Federal court judge ruled in a due process decision, Coleman vs. Block, 663 FSupp 1315, 1332 (D.N.D. 1987), that the U.S. Department of Agriculture ("USDA") and Farmers Home Administration ("FmHA") were not giving farmers enough notice of alternative debt restructuring options. The Court ordered the USDA and FmHA to amend the forms issued to farmers. The decision eventually led to restructuring and reorganization of many farm debts. During the U.S. government's appeal of the decision, Congress passed the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, Pub. L. No. 100-233, 101 Stat. 1568 (1988). Title VI of the Act made extensive changes in the statutory provisions which had formed the background for the Coleman litigation, the changes being designed to carry out the intent of the Coleman decisions.
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