Walter Mondale papers, 1979, 1984

Walter Mondale papers, 1979, 1984

P1287

1979, 1984

History/Biography:
Born in Ceylon, Minnesota, 1928. Mondale attended Macalester College for two years before he transferred to the University of Minnesota. He graduated in 1951 with a degree in political science. After enlisting in the US Army and serving in the Korean War, Mondale enrolled at the University of Minnesota Law School. After his graduation in 1956 he served on the Minnesota Law Review, and a law clerk for the Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Thomas Gallagher. Before entering politics, Mondale practiced law in Minneapolis for a few years. 

Mondale worked with Humphrey during his 1948 senate campaign, and for Orville Freeman’s campaigns from 1952-58. In 1960, Freeman appointed Mondale the attorney general of Minnesota at the age of 32. During the next election, Mondale was reelected as the attorney general. After four years in the attorney general's office, Mondal was appointed by Karl Rolvaag to fill the senate vacancy of Hubert Humphrey who was elected Vice President of the United States. Mondale was reelected until 1976 when he was chosen as the running mate for Jimmy Carter. Mondale served as the vice president for one term. 

After losing the 1980 election, Mondale returned to practicing law until the 1984 election when he ran for president. His running mate was Geraldine Ferraro – the first woman nominated for the position. They lost to incumbent Ronald Reagen. Mondale returned to practice law for many years, until he was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Japan by President Bill Clinton. During Clinton’s presidency, he also chaired a study on campaign finance reform and was the special envoy to Indonesia.

Following the death of Paul Wellstone (Democratic Senator from Minnesota) 11 days before the election, Mondale stepped in as the candidate following the support of Wellstone’s relatives. Mondale lost this election – his last ever.

Scope and Content:
Various clippings, photographs, and newsletters relating to Walter Mondale. The Mundal-Mondale Clan, which gives complete information about Norwegian ancestry, is in the NAHA collection. 

Includes: 

• Signed photo of Walter Mondale;
• Letter and signed photo from Hubert Humphrey
• Humphrey - Muskie campaign buttons
• The Mondale Memo, July 1975
• "Mondale Tours Flood-Damaged Area"
• Minneapolis Star and Tribune, July 13, 1984
• "Mondale, Ferraro make history"
• Scene, Twin Cities public television journal, June 1979, Vol. 4 No. 10, "Walter Mondale, There's a Fjord in Your Past"
• Time, June 18, 1984, "'I am the Nominee' Mondale Stakes His Claim"; Time, Oct. 29, 1984, "Showdown: Who Won, and Why"
• Minneapolis Star and Tribune Election Special, Nov. 8, 1984, "Reagan carried most segments of voters"
• Photo of Mondale at podium at sesquicentennial, 1975
• Chicago Tribune Style Section 7, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1986, "Who is Eleanor Mondale and what is she doing here?"
• Chicago Tribune, October 16, 1984, "Norwegians have their day sans Fritz"
• Newspaper article, "Norse VP to lead Columbus parade"
• Transcription of an interview with Joan Adams Mondale, Jan 29, 1997, 15 pages, unknown interviewer
• Biography 1978, " Mondale, Walter F(rederick)", 4 pages
• Nord. Tidens, Apr. 26, 1979, "Fjaerland på hodet"
• Viking, Oct. 2004, Politics Walter Mondale.

1 folder

English

Manuscripts

Clippings

Ephemera

This collection is open to research.

[Indicate the cited item here]. Walter Mondale Papers. Norwegian-American Historical Association, Northfield, Minnesota.