Wendell Anderson

For the Wisconsin politician, see Wendell Abraham Anderson.
Wendell Anderson
United States Senator
from Minnesota
In office
December 30, 1976  December 29, 1978
Preceded by Walter Mondale
Succeeded by Rudy Boschwitz
33rd Governor of Minnesota
In office
January 4, 1971  December 29, 1976
Lieutenant Rudy Perpich
Preceded by Harold LeVander
Succeeded by Rudy Perpich
Personal details
Born Wendell Richard Anderson
(1933-02-01)February 1, 1933
St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Died July 17, 2016(2016-07-17) (aged 83)
St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Mary McKee
Alma mater University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Army
Years of service 1956–1957

Wendell Richard "Wendy" Anderson (February 1, 1933 – July 17, 2016) was an American politician and the 33rd governor of Minnesota, serving from January 4, 1971, to December 29, 1976. In late 1976, he resigned as governor in order to be appointed to the U.S. Senate after Senator Walter Mondale was elected Vice President of the United States. Anderson served in the Senate from December 30, 1976, to December 29, 1978 (after losing the 1978 Senate election to Rudy Boschwitz, he resigned a few days before the end of his term to give Boschwitz seniority).[1][2]

Background

Anderson was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1933. He attended Saint Paul's Johnson High School and the University of Minnesota, where he received a B.A. in 1954. He served in the United States Army in 1956-57 and earned a law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1960.

Hockey career

Anderson played defense for the University of Minnesota from 1951 to 1954, and was a member of the U.S. hockey team that won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics. Long after his on-ice career ended, he was drafted by the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the inaugural World Hockey Association draft of 1972, in what was seen as a publicity stunt. (Not to be outdone, another WHA team selected Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin.) While flattered, Anderson chose to remain governor.

Political career

Anderson served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1959 to 1962 and in the Minnesota State Senate from 1963 to 1970.[3] His signature accomplishment as governor was helping to create the "Minnesota Miracle of 1971," an innovative reform in financing of Minnesota public schools and local governments that created a fairer distribution in taxation and education. For his efforts, Anderson was featured on a 1973 cover of Time magazine.[4]

After U.S. Senator Walter Mondale was elected vice president in 1976, the governor needed to appoint Mondale's successor. Anderson agreed with his lieutenant governor, Rudy Perpich, that Anderson would resign as governor, and Perpich, as the new governor, would appoint Anderson senator.

In what became known as the "Minnesota Massacre", nearly the entire DFL Party ticket was defeated in 1978, including Perpich and the candidates for both U.S. Senate seats, Anderson and Bob Short. Anderson's arrangement to have himself appointed to the Senate—and Perpich's role in that appointment—were deemed central factors in the defeats.

From 1995 to 2001, Anderson served as a director for and head of the legal committee of Turbodyne Technologies Inc. (TRBD) in Carpinteria, California. In his later years, he was regularly called upon to act as a commentator on Minnesota politics for local stations, such as KSTP-TV.[5]

Personal

Anderson married Mary Christine McKee of Bemidji, Minnesota, in 1963. They had three children: Amy, Elizabeth, and Brett. They divorced in 1990. In 1975, Anderson was honored by two of the Swedish District lodges of the Vasa Order of America and selected as Swedish-American of the Year.[6] He died on July 17, 2016, of complications of Alzheimer's disease.[7]

References

Party political offices
Preceded by
Karl Rolvaag
Democratic nominee for Governor of Minnesota
1970, 1974
Succeeded by
Rudy Perpich
Preceded by
Walter Mondale
Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Minnesota
(Class 2)

1978
Succeeded by
Joan Growe
Political offices
Preceded by
Harold LeVander
Governor of Minnesota
1971–1976
Succeeded by
Rudy Perpich
United States Senate
Preceded by
Walter Mondale
United States Senator (Class 2) from Minnesota
1976–1978
Served alongside: Hubert Humphrey, Muriel Humphrey, David Durenberger
Succeeded by
Rudy Boschwitz
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