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 UNCHR | |
| In office March 17, 2005 – June 16, 2006 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Richard S. 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 |  United States Army |
| Service years | 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. He is a member of the Republican Party. Boschwitz served as a U.S. Senator from 1978 to 1991. He also led the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 1987 to 1989.
Boschwitz was born in Berlin, Germany, to a Jewish family. When he was two years old, his family left Germany. They fled because Adolf Hitler was coming 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 later moved to Minnesota. There, he started a successful business called Plywood Minnesota. It was a chain of retail lumber stores. The company grew to have 70 stores. Boschwitz became well known for appearing in his company's TV commercials. He often wore his signature plaid flannel shirts.
Boschwitz first ran for the U.S. Senate in 1978. He won against the Democratic senator, Wendell R. Anderson. He was reelected in 1984 by a large number of votes. In 1990, he ran for a third term but lost to Paul Wellstone. He ran against Wellstone again in 1996 but lost once more. Later, President George W. Bush appointed Boschwitz to a role at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. He served there from 2005 to 2006. As of July 2025, Boschwitz is the oldest living former 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, when he was just two years old, his Jewish family had to leave Nazi Germany. They moved to the United States and settled in New Rochelle, New York. That is where he grew up.
He went to The Pennington School. After that, he studied at Johns Hopkins University. He graduated from the New York University Stern School of Business in 1950. Then, he earned his law degree from the New York University School of Law in 1953.
Career Highlights
Boschwitz became a lawyer in New York in 1954 and 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 started a business called Plywood Minnesota. It sold plywood and home improvement items. Later, it was renamed Home Valu Interiors. After his time in politics, he returned to lead the company until it closed in May 2010.
Serving in the Senate
Boschwitz was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in November 1978. He took office on December 30, 1978. He filled the spot left by Wendell R. Anderson. Anderson had resigned after Walter Mondale became Vice President of the United States.
While in Minnesota, Boschwitz was known for having a "flavored milk" booth at the Minnesota State Fair. He also had a unique campaign button. When opponents called his donors "fat cats" (meaning rich donors), his campaign made "skinny cat" buttons. These were for people who donated less than $100.
As a senator, Boschwitz voted to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday. He also supported the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987. This act helped protect civil rights. He even voted to override President Ronald Reagan's veto of that act.
Helping People and Diplomacy
After losing his Senate seat in 1990, Boschwitz ran against Paul Wellstone again in 1996 but lost.
In 1991, President George H. W. Bush sent Boschwitz to Ethiopia. He led talks that resulted in Operation Solomon. This was a special mission where over 14,000 Jewish people were flown from Ethiopia to Israel. It was a very large rescue operation.
Boschwitz also helped raise money for George W. Bush's presidential campaigns. In 2005, President Bush named him the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. He served in this role in Geneva.
Later Life
Boschwitz supported John McCain in the 2008 presidential election. He has served on the board of directors for groups like the Jewish Institute for National Security of America and AIPAC. He was also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Since September 2024, Rudy Boschwitz has been the oldest living person to have served as an elected U.S. Senator.
Personal Life
Rudy Boschwitz married Ellen Antoinette Loewenstein in 1956. They had four sons: Gerry (who passed away in 2018), Kenneth, Daniel, and Thomas. They also have two granddaughters and four grandsons.
See also
- List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
- List of United States senators born outside the United States
