Wednesday, July 1, 2009

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.

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