Top U.S. Leaders To Honor Former VP Walter Mondale In Washington
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Some of the country's top leaders are set to honor former Vice President Walter Mondale. The event takes place in Washington next week, and will include former President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Joe Biden.
A day-long conference will commemorate Mondale's work on education, civil rights, foreign policy and national security.
"As you know, Minnesotans aren't supposed to brag, so it's uncomfortable to me," Mondale told WCCO.
In an interview, Mondale also said he's angry about government agencies collecting personal information on American citizens, and thinks fugitive leaker Edward Snowden should be allowed to return home.
"There was a whole pattern of abuse that the Congress didn't even know about, by a government that decided they were all powerful, no matter what," he said. "I think this was a grievous problem, and I think that the time has come to maybe take another look at Snowden. To see if we can't at least let him come home."
Mondale served as Jimmy Carter's vice president from 1976 to 1980. He ran unsuccessfully for president himself, losing to Ronald Reagan in 1984.