Hubert Humphrey

Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr. (May 27, 1911 – January 13, 1978) was an American politician who served as the 38th vice president of the United States from 1965 to 1969. He also served in the United States Senate, representing Minnesota from 1949 to 1964 and again from 1971 to 1978. Humphrey was a strong voice for fairness and equal rights, and he played an important role in helping to pass laws that made sure everyone was treated the same, no matter their background.

Born in Wallace, South Dakota, Humphrey studied at the University of Minnesota. He became mayor of Minneapolis in 1945 and later helped create the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. In 1948, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he worked hard to end unfair treatment based on race. He helped write important laws and supported creating new programs to help people around the world.

As vice president under Lyndon B. Johnson, Humphrey supported the country's involvement in the Vietnam War, which was a difficult and divisive time. He later ran for president in 1968 but lost to Richard Nixon. Even after this, he kept working in the Senate until his death in 1978, always fighting for fair treatment and better opportunities for all Americans.

Early life and education

Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr. was born in Wallace, South Dakota, the son of a pharmacist and a Norwegian immigrant. He grew up in Doland, South Dakota, a small town with about 600 people. His family faced hard times when banks closed during a tough economy.

Humphrey went to high school in Doland but had to leave the University of Minnesota after one year because of money problems. He got a pharmacist’s license from a college in Denver and helped his father with their drugstore. Later, he returned to the University of Minnesota, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1939 and a master’s degree from Louisiana State University in 1940. He started working as a teacher and planned to get a doctorate but got busy with politics instead.

Marriage and early career

In 1934, Hubert Humphrey began dating Muriel Buck, a bookkeeper and graduate of Huron College. They married in 1936 and stayed together until his passing almost 42 years later. They had four children named Nancy Faye, Skip Humphrey, Robert Andrew, and Douglas Sannes. Humphrey often struggled with money and took paid speaking jobs to help support his family. He and his wife lived in a middle-class neighborhood in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and later built a lakefront home in Waverly, Minnesota.

During World War II, Humphrey tried three times to join the military but was not accepted due to health reasons. He worked with government agencies and taught political science at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 1943, he ran for mayor of Minneapolis but did not win. He helped merge political parties in Minnesota and worked on President Roosevelt’s reelection campaign in 1944.

Mayor of Minneapolis (1945–1948)

Hubert Humphrey served as the mayor of Minneapolis from 1945 to 1948. He was elected in June 1945 with a large majority of the votes. During his time as mayor, he worked hard to make the city safer and fairer for everyone. He helped create a group called the Council on Human Relations to bring people together and fight against unfair treatment of others. Humphrey also made sure that jobs in the city were open to everyone, no matter their background, which was a big step forward at the time. His efforts made Minneapolis a better place to live for all its residents.

1948 Democratic National Convention

The Democratic Party in 1948 was divided. Some members, mostly from the North, believed the government should protect the rights of all people equally. Others, mostly from the South, thought each state should decide its own rules about treating people.

At the 1948 Democratic National Convention, Hubert Humphrey and others wanted the party to take a stronger stand for fairness. They suggested adding a plan called a "minority plank" to the party's ideas. This plan asked for laws to stop unfair treatment, end separate schools for different groups of people, and make sure everyone had equal chances for jobs. Humphrey gave a famous speech saying it was time for the party to support everyone's rights.

The convention voted and agreed to support the minority plank. After this vote, some people from Mississippi and Alabama left the meeting in disagreement. They even started their own political group called the Dixiecrat party, hoping to change the election outcome. But in the end, President Harry S. Truman won the election, showing that the party could succeed without everyone from the South agreeing.

United States Senate (1949–1964)

Hubert Humphrey was elected to the United States Senate in 1948, defeating the current Republican senator with 60% of the vote. He began his service on January 3, 1949, becoming the first Democrat elected senator from Minnesota since before the Civil War. He was re-elected twice and became known for his strong support of liberal causes.

Humphrey was a leader in many important areas, including civil rights, arms control, and food stamps. He was also a strong voice for peaceful solutions and worked on ideas like the Peace Corps and a national peace agency. His cheerful and determined attitude earned him the nickname "The Happy Warrior" from his colleagues.

Presidential and vice-presidential ambitions (1952–1964)

Hubert Humphrey tried to become the Democratic candidate for president twice before becoming vice president in 1964. The first time was in 1952 as Minnesota's representative, but he only got 26 votes. The second time was in 1960, when he competed against Senator John F. Kennedy in the primaries. They first faced off in Wisconsin, where Kennedy’s well-supported campaign won, though by a smaller margin than expected. Humphrey didn’t give up and challenged Kennedy again in West Virginia. However, Kennedy’s campaign had more resources, and he won there as well, ending Humphrey’s hopes for the nomination.

Humphrey also won some primaries that Kennedy didn’t enter, like in South Dakota and the District of Columbia, but he received some votes at the 1960 convention even though he wasn’t a candidate anymore.

Vice presidential campaign

Further information: 1964 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection and Lyndon B. Johnson 1964 presidential campaign § Democratic national convention

After losing in 1960, Humphrey believed his best chance to become president was to first serve as vice president. When the 1964 presidential campaign began, he made it clear he wanted to be Lyndon Johnson’s running mate. At the 1964 Democratic National Convention, Johnson surprised everyone by choosing Humphrey as his vice president.

Humphrey gave an energetic acceptance speech, strongly criticizing his opponent, Barry Goldwater. He highlighted differences on important issues like tax cuts and civil rights, making Goldwater seem out of touch with most Americans. Humphrey traveled across the country, speaking to many groups and criticizing Goldwater’s positions. His speeches helped build support for the Johnson-Humphrey ticket, which won the election by a large margin.

Vice President-elect of the United States

After the election, Humphrey and Johnson went to Johnson’s ranch in Texas. Humphrey took a vacation in the Virgin Islands before preparing to begin his new role. He announced he would leave his Senate seat so that Walter Mondale could take his place. Johnson assigned Humphrey to help with civil rights programs. On the day before the inauguration, Humphrey spoke to the Democratic National Committee about the party’s unity after the election.

Vice presidency (1965–1969)

Humphrey became Vice President on January 20, 1965, filling a gap left since Lyndon B. Johnson became President after John F. Kennedy’s death in November 1963. He was not happy about the Vietnam War and tried to stop it from getting worse. When an attack happened on a U.S. base in Vietnam, Humphrey warned President Johnson that bombing alone wouldn’t help and might need soldiers on the ground too.

As Vice President, Humphrey often supported Johnson’s policies, even when many of his friends disagreed, especially about the Vietnam War. This made some people upset with him. He also appeared often on TV shows and made friends with famous people like Frank Sinatra.

In 1965, Humphrey spoke about important laws that could help the country. He traveled to different places, sometimes facing protests and tight security. He talked about helping poorer countries and creating groups to keep peace in communities.

Civil rights

In 1965, Humphrey helped lead efforts to improve equal rights. After some serious riots, his role was reduced. He suggested plans to fight poverty and racial problems, including special groups to help bring peace and order.

Foreign trips

Humphrey traveled to many countries to talk about peace, especially in the Vietnam War. He visited Japan, Europe, and Africa, meeting leaders and discussing ways to solve problems.

1968 presidential campaign

In 1968, Humphrey decided to run for President after Johnson dropped out. He had support from many workers and Democratic groups but faced challenges from other candidates and protests during the party meeting in Chicago. The year was difficult because of many sad events, including the deaths of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Humphrey lost the election to Richard Nixon by a very small margin.

Post-vice presidency (1969–1978)

After leaving his role as vice president, Hubert Humphrey taught at Macalester College and the University of Minnesota. He also worked with the Encyclopædia Britannica Educational Corporation.

Humphrey returned to the U.S. Senate in 1971 after winning an election. He served in several Congresses and held important positions, including chairman of the Joint Economic Committee.

In 1972, Humphrey ran for president but was not successful. He supported ending the Vietnam War and improving the economy. Later, he focused on issues like education, voting rights, and health care. Sadly, Humphrey passed away in 1978 after being diagnosed with a serious illness.

Death and funeral

Hubert Humphrey spent his last weeks talking with old friends and cheering up other patients in the hospital by telling jokes and listening to them. He passed away from bladder cancer at his home in Waverly, Minnesota on January 13, 1978, at the age of 66.

His body was honored in the rotundas of the U.S. Capitol and the Minnesota State Capitol before being buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. Many important people, including Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, President Carter, and Vice President Walter Mondale, came to show their respect. His wife Muriel was appointed by Minnesota governor Rudy Perpich to serve temporarily in the U.S. Senate until a special election. She later married Max Brown and became Muriel Humphrey Brown. When she passed away in 1998, she was buried next to Hubert at Lakewood Cemetery.

Honors and legacy

Hubert Humphrey was recognized with several important awards and honors. In 1978, he received the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for his public service. After his passing, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1979 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1980. The United States Postal Service honored him with a special stamp in 1980.

Many places and programs are named after Humphrey. These include the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, which helps people from around the world learn and share knowledge. There is also the Hubert H. Humphrey Terminal at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome stadium in Minneapolis, and the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, among many other schools, buildings, and centers named in his honor.

Portrayals

Hubert Humphrey has been played by actors in several films and television shows. Franklin Cover portrayed him in the 1982 TV film A Woman Called Golda. Bradley Whitford played him in the 2016 TV film All the Way. And Doug McKeon acted as Humphrey in the 2017 film LBJ.

Electoral history

Main article: Electoral history of Hubert Humphrey

Hubert Humphrey was a well-known American politician. He served as the 38th vice president of the United States from 1965 to 1969. Before that, he was a senator for Minnesota from 1949 to 1964 and again from 1971 until his passing in 1978. His elections showed how people in Minnesota and across the country trusted him to lead and help make important decisions for the nation.