Donald M. Fraser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donald M. Fraser
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| 44th Mayor of Minneapolis | |
| In office January 2, 1980 – January 3, 1994 |
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| Preceded by | Albert Hofstede |
| Succeeded by | Sharon Sayles Belton |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 5th district |
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| In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Walter Judd |
| Succeeded by | Martin Olav Sabo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Donald MacKay Fraser
February 20, 1924 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | June 2, 2019 (aged 95) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | University of Minnesota (BA, LLB) |
Donald MacKay Fraser (born February 20, 1924 – died June 2, 2019) was an important American politician from Minnesota. He served as a U.S. Representative in Congress for 16 years. Later, he became the mayor of Minneapolis for 14 years. He is remembered for his work on human rights and for being the longest-serving mayor of Minneapolis.
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Growing Up in Minneapolis
Donald Fraser was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His parents, Everett and Lois Fraser, came from Canada. His father was a law professor and later became the dean of the University of Minnesota Law School.
Donald went to University High School and then the University of Minnesota. He was a member of the swimming team there.
Serving in World War II
In July 1942, Donald joined the U.S. Navy ROTC program. He became an officer in 1944. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He worked as a radar officer until 1946.
Becoming a Lawyer
After the war, Fraser returned to Minneapolis. He studied law at the University of Minnesota Law School. He wrote an important article about how unfair it was to have "racial covenants" for land. These rules stopped people of certain races from buying homes in some areas. The U.S. Supreme Court later agreed with his view.
In 1948, he became a lawyer. He joined a law firm and also worked as a city attorney for Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. In 1950, he married Arvonne Skelton. They had six children together.
Donald Fraser's Political Journey
Donald Fraser began his political career in Minnesota. In 1954, he was elected to the Minnesota Senate. He served there for eight years.
Serving in Congress
In 1962, Fraser was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented Minnesota's Fifth District. He served in Congress from 1963 to 1979.
He became well-known for his work on human rights. He led a special committee that looked into human rights problems in other countries. He pushed for laws to reduce U.S. aid to governments that treated their people badly. His efforts helped shape how the U.S. government deals with human rights around the world. They even made the U.S. Department of State write yearly reports on human rights in different countries.
In 1978, he ran for the U.S. Senate but did not win.
Becoming Mayor of Minneapolis
In 1979, Donald Fraser was elected mayor of Minneapolis. He started his term on January 2, 1980. He was re-elected three times, serving a total of 14 years.
He became the oldest and longest-serving mayor in Minneapolis history. He left office on January 3, 1994. He was followed by Sharon Sayles Belton, who was the city's first female and first African-American mayor.
Donald Fraser passed away on June 2, 2019, at the age of 95.
See also
- McGovern–Fraser Commission
