John Francis Steineger Jr. (September 13, 1924–May 1, 2012) was an American politician, diplomat and attorney who spent nearly three decades in the Kansas State Senate, including serving as Senate minority leader from 1976 to 1988.
He spent a year at the University of Southern California, but his education was interrupted by World War II; he enlisted in the Navy, serving until 1946.
From 1950 to 1958, John Steineger served in the United States Foreign Service as a cultural attaché in Germany and Iraq.
[2] Steineger was elected to the State Senate in 1964, taking office in 1965.
He was elected as Senate minority leader in 1976 and held the post for 12 years.