A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life, 32: At the State Convention

Republican State Convention Program, Front Cover, 1960

"The Republican State Convention of 1960 was a spirited affair. It was at the Leamington Hotel in Minneapolis and ran on for three days, with business including endorsements for governor and U. S. senator, and the election of national convention delegates. The long agenda tried the patience of a couple of my supporters who were not used to the methodical ways of political conventions. Dave Lilly was one of them. He turned to me late one night while the proceedings were droning on, and said, 'Elmer, right now, I think I know more about politics than I want to know.' But when the moment came to endorse a candidate for governor, the suspense was already over….The convention endorsed me by acclamation, and the party came together nicely behind my candidacy."

Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

"A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life" is on display through August 15 in the Exhibit Gallery, Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus.

A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life, 31: The Governor's Race, 1960

Campaign Letter and Stickers, 1960

"When I left the legislature in 1958, I truly thought I was done with elective office. Fuller needed me, and with the family, community activities, and the farm, I had enough to keep me occupied."

"Other people began to encourage me to run. I talked to some of my oldest political allies in St. Anthony Park. In fact, they may have been the ones to approach me. Ever since my election to the state senate, those friends had harbored high ambitions for me. I used to temper their eagerness by saying, 'I've got a family. I've got a business. Take it easy.'"

"At first gradually, then more speedily, influences built in favor of a run for governor. I must confess that I was receptive. Eleanor was involved in the exploration process, and she, too, looked positively on the idea. There was no great moment of decision for the two of us. That I would be a candidate just emerged in our thinking. One might say that natural forces took over. I announced my candidacy officially on January 5, 1960."

Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

"A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life" is on display through August 15 in the Exhibit Gallery, Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus.

A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life, 30: The Andersen Letter

"The Andersen Letter," State Senate Newsletter, March 8, 1957

The construction of the interstate highway system, highlighted in this issue of Andersen's letter to constituents, became an issue in the 1962 gubernatorial campaign. "These were times of unprecedented activity for the [transportation] department, as the federal funding floodgates swung open to the states for construction of the interstate highway system. A great deal was happening, very quickly, so there was much for political opponents to second-guess….In the summer of 1962, Minnesota was ranked third among the states, behind only Maine and Colorado, in prompt use of available federal funds to purchase rights-of-way and materials."

Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

"A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life" is on display through August 15 in the Exhibit Gallery, Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus.

A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life, 29: State Senator

Campaign Flyer, State Senate Election, 1950

"I had to win my senate seat all over again in November 1950. After my hard-fought victory in the special election in February 1949, the campaign twenty months later was an anticlimax. I faced only token opposition. Much to my gratification, St. Anthony Park turned out strongly for me again. My opposition was even weaker in 1954, the third and final time I ran for the senate."

Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

"A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life" is on display through August 15 in the Exhibit Gallery, Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus.

A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life, 28: Special State Senate Election, 1949

Campaign Flyer, State Senate Election, 1949

"It probably is not accurate to say that I was a prominent person when I ran for the legislature the first time, but I certainly was active. Someone on my campaign committee once remarked, 'Elmer, for all the activities you've been in, you're sure unknown!' That comment expresses the challenge every non-incumbent faces."

Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

"A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life" is on display through August 15 in the Exhibit Gallery, Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus.

A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life, 27: Special State Senate Campaign, 1949

Postcard, Special State Senate Campaign, 1949

"I meant it when I told my Fuller colleagues after the disappointing 1948 election that I was through with politics for awhile, but I had not abandoned my goal of someday running for the legislature. I still loved the human interplay of politics, the competitive struggle for power, the premium put on ingenuity and resourcefulness. But I was not interested in running against [Charles N.] Orr or [Claude] Allen. In January 1949, at the start of a new legislative session, it did not appear that either of those two legislative titans would step aside anytime soon. Then, on January 10, Orr had a heart attack while driving to work, and died. A special election was called for February 8, just a month later….Immediately, I began to think about filing. A number of my fellow Republican Party workers urged me to run….Eleanor and I talked it over. She said, 'You've had this on your mind for so long, you'd better do it.' That sealed it. I decided to run."

Image courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

"A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life" is on display through August 15 in the Exhibit Gallery, Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus.

A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life, 26: Eleanor

Portrait of Eleanor in her St. Anthony Park Home

"A number of major decisions confronted our family in the 1940s and 1950s, as my involvement in business, politics, and the community deepened. Though Eleanor often let me take the lead, we always made big decisions together. Eleanor was not as quick to decide a question as I was. She would generally raise more questions, to be sure I was thinking through all the alternatives and possible consequences. She would caution me against entering into things too hastily, and urge me to gather all the salient facts. Her standard comment was, 'We don't have to decide that right now, do we?' But when she saw that I really wanted to do something and convinced herself that I was not going to get into trouble, she would assent. Then she became energetic in her assistance."

Image courtesy Elmer L. and Eleanor J. Andersen Family

"A Man's Reach -- A Transforming Life" is on display through August 15 in the Exhibit Gallery, Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus.