Mondale, Walter Frederick (1928-2021), was vice president of the United States from 1977 to 1981 under President Jimmy Carter. Before becoming vice president, Mondale had been a U.S. senator from Minnesota. He was known as a liberal who supported government action in many fields. Mondale was the Democratic nominee for president in 1984. He lost to his Republican opponent, President Ronald Reagan.
In 2002, Mondale ran again for a seat in the U.S. Senate but was defeated. Democratic Party leaders had asked Mondale only about a week before the election to replace Senator Paul D. Wellstone on the ballot. Wellstone had died in an airplane crash on Oct. 25, 2002.
Early life.
Mondale was born in Ceylon, Minnesota, on Jan. 5, 1928. His father was a Methodist minister. Walter, the sixth of seven children, was nicknamed Fritz as a boy. He graduated from the University of Minnesota and from the university’s law school. He practiced law in Minneapolis until 1960. In 1955, Mondale married Joan Adams of St. Paul, Minnesota. The Mondales had three children—Theodore, the oldest; Eleanor Jane; and William, the youngest.
Political career.
Mondale began his political career in May 1960, when Governor Orville L. Freeman of Minnesota appointed him attorney general of the state. Mondale had managed Freeman’s third successful campaign for the governorship. Mondale was elected to a full term as state attorney general in November 1960 and won reelection in 1962.
In 1964, Governor Karl F. Rolvaag appointed Mondale to the U.S. Senate to replace Hubert H. Humphrey, who had been elected vice president of the United States. Mondale won election to a full term in 1966 and was reelected in 1972. As a senator, Mondale became known for his liberal views. He voted for bills that favored civil rights, consumer protection, education reform, and campaign financing reform.
The 1976 Democratic National Convention nominated Mondale for vice president. In the election, Carter and Mondale defeated their Republican opponents, President Gerald R. Ford and Senator Robert J. Dole of Kansas.
As vice president, Mondale took on many more assignments than had been customary for a vice president. His duties included visiting foreign nations and advising Carter. Presidential historians credit Mondale with expanding the role of vice president into that of a partner of the president.
In the 1980 presidential election, Carter and Mondale again became the Democratic nominees. But they were defeated in their bid for a second term by their Republican opponents, Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.
In 1984, the Democratic National Convention nominated Mondale for president and, at his request, Representative Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York for vice president. Ferraro was the first woman ever chosen for the vice presidency by a major U.S. political party. In the election, Mondale and Ferraro were defeated by Reagan and Bush. From 1993 to 1996, Mondale served as U.S. ambassador to Japan under President Bill Clinton. After completing his service as ambassador, Mondale returned to Minnesota to practice law. Mondale died on April 19, 2021.
