U.S. Senator. He served in the United States Senate from the state of Minnesota from November 8, 1978 to January 3, 1995. He graduated from St. John's University in 1955 and later earned his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1959. While at St. John's, he was a part of their Army ROTC class. He was a United States Army Reserve captain from 1957 to 1963. After law school, he worked at a South St. Paul law firm before becoming an executive secretary to Governor Harold LeVander from 1967 to 1971. He went back to legal practice in the early 1970s and served in several private and public positions until 1978, when he decided, as a Republican, to seek a seat in the United States Senate. He was successful in the November special election held to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of Sen. Hubert Humphrey and went on to serve in the Senate for the next sixteen and half years before stepping down in 1995. During his Senate tenure, he was a key player in passing legislation for both clean air and Americans with disabilities. He also carved out a reputation as an expert on national healthcare reform. In 1995, he pleaded guilty to charges of misuse of public funds while in office and was given one-year probation. In 2005, he stated that he was no longer a supporter of the Republican Party and became an independent. He later endorsed both Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in their respective presidential runs.
U.S. Senator. He served in the United States Senate from the state of Minnesota from November 8, 1978 to January 3, 1995. He graduated from St. John's University in 1955 and later earned his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1959. While at St. John's, he was a part of their Army ROTC class. He was a United States Army Reserve captain from 1957 to 1963. After law school, he worked at a South St. Paul law firm before becoming an executive secretary to Governor Harold LeVander from 1967 to 1971. He went back to legal practice in the early 1970s and served in several private and public positions until 1978, when he decided, as a Republican, to seek a seat in the United States Senate. He was successful in the November special election held to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of Sen. Hubert Humphrey and went on to serve in the Senate for the next sixteen and half years before stepping down in 1995. During his Senate tenure, he was a key player in passing legislation for both clean air and Americans with disabilities. He also carved out a reputation as an expert on national healthcare reform. In 1995, he pleaded guilty to charges of misuse of public funds while in office and was given one-year probation. In 2005, he stated that he was no longer a supporter of the Republican Party and became an independent. He later endorsed both Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in their respective presidential runs.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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