Rudy Boschwitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rudy Boschwitz
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Official portrait, 1983
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| United States Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights | |
| In office March 17, 2005 – June 16, 2006 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Rich Williamson |
| Succeeded by | office abolished |
| United States Senator from Minnesota |
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| In office December 30, 1978 – January 3, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Wendell R. Anderson |
| Succeeded by | Paul Wellstone |
| Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | John Heinz |
| Succeeded by | Don Nickles |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Rudolph Ely Boschwitz
November 7, 1930 Berlin, Weimar Republic (now Germany) |
| Political party | Republican Independent-Republicans of Minnesota (1975-1995) |
| Spouse |
Ellen Antoinette Loewenstein
(m. 1956) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | New York University (BS, JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1954–1955 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | Signal Corps |
Rudolph Ely “Rudy” Boschwitz (born November 7, 1930) is an American politician and businessman. He is from the state of Minnesota. As a member of the Republican Party, he served as a United States Senator. He was a senator from 1978 to 1991. From 1987 to 1989, Boschwitz led the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Boschwitz was born in Berlin to a Jewish family. When he was two years old, his family left Germany. They fled because Adolf Hitler came to power. He grew up in New Rochelle, New York. He earned a law degree from New York University School of Law in 1953.
Boschwitz moved to Minnesota. There, he started a store chain called Plywood Minnesota. It later became Home Valu. This business sold lumber and home improvement items. He made it very successful with 70 stores. Boschwitz became well-known for his TV commercials. He often wore plaid flannel shirts in them. Home Valu Interiors closed in May 2010.
Boschwitz first ran for office in 1978. He won the U.S. Senate election in Minnesota. He defeated the current senator, Wendell R. Anderson. He was reelected in 1984 by a large margin. From 1987 to 1989, he chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Boschwitz ran for a third term in 1990. He lost to Paul Wellstone in an unexpected result. He ran against Wellstone again in 1996 but lost. Later, President of the United States George W. Bush appointed him. He served on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights from 2005 to 2006. Boschwitz is the oldest living person who served as an elected U.S. Senator.
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Early Life and Education
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Rudy Boschwitz was born on November 7, 1930, in Berlin, Germany. His parents were Lucy and Eli Boschwitz. In 1933, his Jewish family left Nazi Germany. They moved to the United States. They settled in New Rochelle, New York, where he grew up.
He went to The Pennington School. He also attended Johns Hopkins University. He graduated from the New York University Stern School of Business in 1950. In 1953, he earned his law degree from the New York University School of Law.
Career Highlights
Early Career and Business
Boschwitz became a lawyer in New York in 1954. He also became a lawyer in Wisconsin in 1959. He served in the United States Army Signal Corps from 1954 to 1955. He reached the rank of private first class.
He founded and led a company called Plywood Minnesota. This company sold plywood and home improvement items. It later became Home Valu Interiors. After his time in politics, he returned to lead the company. It closed in May 2010.
Serving in the Senate
Boschwitz was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in November 1978. He started his term on December 30, 1978. He filled the seat left by Wendell R. Anderson. Anderson had resigned after Walter Mondale became Vice President of the United States.
Boschwitz was well-known in Minnesota. He used to operate a "flavored milk" booth. This was at the famous Minnesota State Fair.
As a senator, Boschwitz voted for important laws. He supported the bill to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday. He also supported the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987. He even voted to override President of the United States Ronald Reagan's veto on that act.
Later Political Roles
After losing to Paul Wellstone in 1990, Boschwitz ran against him again in 1996. He lost that election as well.
In 1991, he traveled to Ethiopia. He was sent by U.S. President George H. W. Bush. The talks he led in Ethiopia resulted in Operation Solomon. This operation airlifted over 14,000 Jewish people from Ethiopia to Israel. It moved twice as many people as Operation Moses and Operation Joshua combined.
In 2005, President George W. Bush named Boschwitz as an ambassador. He became the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. This commission met in Geneva.
Later Life
Boschwitz supported John McCain in the 2008 presidential election. He later served on the board of directors for several groups. These included the Jewish Institute for National Security of America and AIPAC. He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
After Daniel J. Evans passed away in September 2024, Boschwitz became the oldest living person. He is the oldest living person who was an elected member of the U.S. Senate.
Personal Life
Boschwitz married Ellen Antoinette Loewenstein in 1956. They had four sons. Their sons are Gerry (who passed away in 2018), Kenneth, Daniel, and Thomas.
Electoral History
- 1978 Race for U.S. Senate
- Rudy Boschwitz (R), 57%
- Wendell Anderson (DFL) (inc.), 40%
- 1984 Race for U.S. Senate
- Rudy Boschwitz (R) (inc.), 58%
- Joan Anderson Growe (DFL), 41%
- 1990 Race for U.S. Senate
- Paul Wellstone (DFL), 50%
- Rudy Boschwitz (R) (inc.), 48%
- 1996 Race for U.S. Senate
- Paul Wellstone (DFL) (inc.), 50%
- Rudy Boschwitz (R), 41%
- Dean Barkley (Ref.), 7%
See also
- List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
- List of United States senators born outside the United States
