[1] Harvey was born in Iron Mountain; his mother and paternal grandparents were immigrants from England.

[2] He enrolled in the University of Michigan in 1940, but interrupted his studies in 1942 to serve in the United States Army Air Forces for three years.

[3] In 1960, with the help of campaign manager Emil Lockwood,[4] Harvey was elected as a Republican from Michigan's 8th congressional district to the 87th United States Congress.

[5] Harvey was nominated by President Richard Nixon on December 5, 1973, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan vacated by Judge Ralph M. Freeman.

He assumed senior status due to a certified disability on March 31, 1984.