Wendell R. Anderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wendell R. Anderson
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| United States Senator from Minnesota |
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| In office December 30, 1976 – December 29, 1978 |
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| Appointed by | Rudy Perpich |
| Preceded by | Walter Mondale |
| Succeeded by | Rudy Boschwitz |
| 33rd Governor of Minnesota | |
| In office January 4, 1971 – December 29, 1976 |
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| Lieutenant | Rudy Perpich |
| Preceded by | Harold LeVander |
| Succeeded by | Rudy Perpich |
| Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 44th district |
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| In office January 3, 1967 – January 4, 1971 |
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| Preceded by | Clifton Parks |
| Succeeded by | John C. Chenoweth |
| Member of the Minnesota Senate from the 49th district |
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| In office January 8, 1963 – January 3, 1967 |
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| Preceded by | Bill Dosland |
| Succeeded by | Robert O. Ashbach |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 37th district |
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| In office January 6, 1959 – January 8, 1963 |
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| Preceded by | S. L. Beanblossom |
| Succeeded by | George A. French |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Wendell Richard Anderson
February 1, 1933 Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | July 17, 2016 (aged 83) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Farmer-Labor |
| Spouse |
Mary Christine McKee
(m. 1963; div. 1990) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (BA, LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1955–1957 (active) c. 1957–c. 1963 (reserve) |
| Rank | First Lieutenant |
Wendell Richard "Wendy" Anderson (February 1, 1933 – July 17, 2016) was an American politician and former ice hockey player. He served as the 33rd governor of Minnesota from 1971 to 1976. Later, he became a U.S. Senator for Minnesota from 1976 to 1978.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Wendell Anderson was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1933. He went to Johnson High School in Saint Paul. After high school, he attended the University of Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954. In 1960, he completed his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.
Anderson also served in the United States Army. He was in the Army from 1955 to 1957. He reached the rank of First Lieutenant. Later, he was part of an intelligence unit in the Army Reserve.
Hockey Career
Before his political career, Wendell Anderson was a talented ice hockey player. He played defense for the University of Minnesota team from 1951 to 1954.
He was also a member of the U.S. hockey team. This team won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics. Years after he stopped playing, a professional team, the Minnesota Fighting Saints, drafted him in 1972. This was mostly a fun way to get attention for the team. Anderson chose to remain governor instead of playing professional hockey.
Political Journey
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Wendell Anderson began his political career in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He served there from 1959 to 1962. After that, he was a member of the Minnesota State Senate from 1963 to 1970.
Governor of Minnesota
In 1970, Anderson was elected governor of Minnesota. As governor, he helped create something called the "Minnesota Miracle of 1971." This was a big change in how public schools and local governments were funded. It made taxes and education fairer for everyone in Minnesota. Because of his efforts, Anderson was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1973.
Becoming a U.S. Senator
In 1976, U.S. Senator Walter Mondale was elected Vice President of the United States. This meant there was an open Senate seat for Minnesota. The governor had to choose someone to fill it. Anderson and his lieutenant governor, Rudy Perpich, made a plan. Anderson would resign as governor. Then, Perpich, who would become the new governor, would appoint Anderson to the Senate.
This plan caused some controversy. In the 1978 election, many politicians from Anderson's party, the DFL Party, lost their elections. This included Anderson himself, who lost his Senate seat. Many people believed that the way Anderson became a senator played a big part in these losses.
In his later years, Anderson often appeared on local TV stations. He would share his thoughts and comments on Minnesota politics.
Personal Life
Wendell Anderson married Mary Christine McKee in 1963. They had three children named Amy, Elizabeth, and Brett. They later divorced in 1990.
In the 1970s, Anderson appeared on the TV game show "What's My Line?" On the show, a group of famous people tried to guess his job. They could not figure out that he was the governor of Minnesota!
In 1975, he was honored as the Swedish-American of the Year by a Swedish heritage group.
Wendell Anderson passed away on July 17, 2016, at the age of 83.
See also
In Spanish: Wendell Anderson para niños
