Former Minnesota Governor Wendell Anderson Dead At 83
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Former Minnesota Democratic Governor and U.S. Senator Wendell Anderson has died, according to a statement from Gov. Mark Dayton's office Sunday morning. He was 83 years old.
Wendell Anderson was Minnesota's newsmaking Governor and U.S. Senator during the heady 1970s. He was already famous as a member of the 1956 silver medal U.S. Olympic Hockey team.
Anderson won the Governor's office in a contested 1970 election. He told us in a 1998 interview the Senate and Supreme Court didn't show up for his swearing in -- so they scrambled to find a judge.
"Finally, they found a federal judge who happened to be there -- Judge Lord. So, he swore me in. It was just by accident," Anderson said.
Anderson rose to national prominence after appearing on one of Time Magazine's most famous covers: "The Good Life in Minnesota."
But his political career ended after he arranged to be appointed to the U.S. Senate when Walter Mondale became Vice President. He lost the Senate seat to Republican Rudy Boschwitz.
"I've always believed in the wisdom and judgment of the people of Minnesota," Anderson said.
Anderson later served as a University of Minnesota Regent, frequently testifying at the Capitol on education issues.
He attended Governor Mark Dayton's State of the State address in 2011, and he sat in the front row of Dayton's 2015 swearing in ceremony.
Anderson was in hospice care in recent months.
Memorial service arrangements for Governor Anderson will be announced in the coming days. Starting Monday until his funeral, flags on state and federal buildings will be flown at half-staff.