Hubert H. Humphrey papers, circa 1950-1970

Hubert H. Humphrey papers, circa 1950-1970

P0178

circa 1950-1970

History/Biography:
Born in Wallace, South Dakota, 1911. Humphrey enrolled at the University of Minnesota but left after a year due to family financial problems. He earned a pharmacist's license to help out at his fathers drugstore in Huron, South Dakota, from 1931-37. By 1937, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota again and earned his degree in 1939. He earned his masters degree from Louisiana State University in 1940 where he also served as an assistant instructor of political science. He continued on with his education to become an instructor and doctoral student at the University of Minnesota (1940-41), but never finished his doctoral degree. He served as a professor of political science at Macalester College (Saint Paul, Minnesota). 

In 1943, Humphrey first ran for the mayor of Minneapolis but lost. The next year he was important in the merger of the Democratic and Farmer-Labor parties in Minnesota to form the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). Humphrey ran for mayor of Minneapolis again in 1944 and won. Humphrey moved to the U.S. Senate in 1948 and won reelection until 1964. His party voted him majority whip – a position he had until he became the Vice President under Lyndon B. Johnson. 

Humphrey had aspirations to be president throughout his career, seeking the nomination twice before he was the vice president. The first time he ran in 1960 he was seeking the nomination against fellow Democrat John F. Kennedy. After being outspent and defeated in the West Virginia primary, Humphrey left the race. In 1964, he had his eye on becoming the running mate for Lyndon B. Johnson – an election they overwhelmingly won. Johnson withdrew his nomination for a second term after declining approval ratings regarding the Vietnam War. Once again, Humphrey announced he was running for president again. Humphrey won the primary, and faced another former vice president running for president – Richard Nixon. Humphrey lost this presidential election, though he ran again in 1972 unsuccessfully.

Scope and Content:
Newsletters, news releases, clippings and speeches by a Minneapolis mayor, a United States Senator from Minnesota, and Vice-President of the United States. Humphrey was a member of the Democratic-Farm Labor Party. 
Includes:

• New releases and speeches including:
  • "The Case for a Fair Deal Labor Policy,"
  • "Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952" 
  • "Is Your Child Safe in School?"
  • Humphrey's letter to editor regarding Nat Finney's piece
  • "Political Maneuver will be Dressed up in Civil War Togs," 1953
  • Press releases on better education, 1953
  • "Full Citizenship for Youth," 1953
  • "Toward Greater Tomorrows: Extension of Remarks of Hon. John F. Kennedy," 1954
  • "Europe Today and Tomorrow: the Next Step in European Recovery,"
• News letters from the desk of Sen. Humphrey, includes:
  • "Revolution & Politics: The Legacy of Independence. An Address by the Honorable Hubert H. Humphrey on the Occasion of the celebration of the Prelude to Independence at the eighteenth-century Capitol Williamsburg, Virginia," 1969

2 folders

English

Newspapers

Clippings

Speeches

Rights undetermined.

This collection is open to research.

[Indicate the cited item here]. Hubert H. Humphrey Papers. Norwegian-American Historical Association, Northfield, Minnesota.