Harold LeVander
Encyclopedia
Karl Harold Phillip LeVander (October 10, 1910 March 30, 1992) was an American politician. He served as the 32nd Governor of Minnesota
from January 2, 1967 to January 4, 1971 as a Republican, having defeated incumbent Karl Rolvaag
, a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
(DFL), in the 1966 election.
LeVander was born in Swede Home, Nebraska (near Stromsburg
, Polk County
) and attended high school in Watertown, Minnesota
. He graduated in 1932 from Gustavus Adolphus College
, and then attended the University of Minnesota Law School
. After graduation he worked as assistant county attorney for Dakota County
, from 1935–1939. He married Iantha LeVander, the daughter of William Robert and Kathleen (Graham) Powrie, in 1938, and they raised a family of three.
LeVander also worked for the law firm of Stassen & Ryan, located in South St. Paul
, while teaching speech and coaching debate at Macalester College
. He was also active in local commerce, acting as President of South Saint Paul's Chamber of Commerce from 1952 to 1954 and as President of the South Saint Paul United Federal Savings and Loan Association
from 1953 until 1967. He was politically connected, having worked with future Governor (1939–43) Harold Stassen
and future U.S. Representative
(1935–41) Elmer Ryan
in their law firm.
LeVander took the governorship in 1967, and for the first time since 1953, the Republicans held the governorship and both houses of the legislature: the Minnesota State Senate (45–22), and the Minnesota House (93–42). During his term the first Minnesota sales tax was created. He favored "initiative and referendum" and vetoed two bills that did not contain it. He also created the Metropolitan Council
, the state Pollution Control Agency, and the inaugural Human Rights Department. During his term, the legislature ratified the Twenty-sixth Amendment
, which lowered the minimum voting age nationwide to eighteen.
In a surprise move in 1970, LeVander declined to seek reelection, returning to his law practice and business interests, becoming a director of The St. Paul Companies
(1973–1981), the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
(1974–1981), and the Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce (1975–1978).
Governor of Minnesota
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial...
from January 2, 1967 to January 4, 1971 as a Republican, having defeated incumbent Karl Rolvaag
Karl Rolvaag
Karl Fritjof Rolvaag was a U.S. politician and the son of Norwegian-American author and professor Ole E. Rølvaag...
, a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
(DFL), in the 1966 election.
LeVander was born in Swede Home, Nebraska (near Stromsburg
Stromsburg, Nebraska
Stromsburg is a city in Polk County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,232 at the 2000 census.- History :Stromsburg was settled early in Nebraska history. A group of Swedish settlers coming from the town of Ockelbo arrived in the 1860s after several years in Illinois. This group had a...
, Polk County
Polk County, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,639 people, 2,259 households, and 1,570 families residing in the county. The population density was 5/km² . There were 2,717 housing units at an average density of 2/km²...
) and attended high school in Watertown, Minnesota
Watertown, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,029 people, 1,078 households, and 775 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,808.0 people per square mile . There were 1,100 housing units at an average density of 656.6 per square mile...
. He graduated in 1932 from Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in St. Peter, Minnesota, United States. A coeducational, four-year, residential institution, it was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans. To this day the school is firmly...
, and then attended the University of Minnesota Law School
University of Minnesota Law School
The University of Minnesota Law School, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, is a professional school of the University of Minnesota. The school offers a Juris Doctor , Masters of Law for Foreign Lawyers, and joint degrees with J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A, J.D./M.A., J.D./M.S., J.D./Ph.D.,...
. After graduation he worked as assistant county attorney for Dakota County
Dakota County, Minnesota
Dakota County is the third most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county is bordered by the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers on the north, and the state of Wisconsin on the east. Dakota County comprises the southeast portion of seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul, the thirteenth...
, from 1935–1939. He married Iantha LeVander, the daughter of William Robert and Kathleen (Graham) Powrie, in 1938, and they raised a family of three.
LeVander also worked for the law firm of Stassen & Ryan, located in South St. Paul
South St. Paul, Minnesota
South St. Paul is a city in Dakota County, Minnesota, immediately south and southeast of the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is also southeast of West St. Paul, Minnesota. The population was 20,160 at the 2010 census. It is notable as one of the historic major meat packing cities in the United...
, while teaching speech and coaching debate at Macalester College
Macalester College
Macalester College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1874 as a Presbyterian-affiliated but nonsectarian college. Its first class entered September 15, 1885. The college is located on a campus in a historic residential neighborhood...
. He was also active in local commerce, acting as President of South Saint Paul's Chamber of Commerce from 1952 to 1954 and as President of the South Saint Paul United Federal Savings and Loan Association
Savings and loan association
A savings and loan association , also known as a thrift, is a financial institution that specializes in accepting savings deposits and making mortgage and other loans...
from 1953 until 1967. He was politically connected, having worked with future Governor (1939–43) Harold Stassen
Harold Stassen
Harold Edward Stassen was the 25th Governor of Minnesota from 1939 to 1943. After service in World War II, from 1948 to 1953 he was president of the University of Pennsylvania...
and future U.S. Representative
United States Congressional Delegations from Minnesota
These are tables of congressional delegations from Minnesota to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Minnesota became a state on May 11, 1858.-United States Senate:- Delegates from Minnesota Territory :...
(1935–41) Elmer Ryan
Elmer Ryan
Elmer James Ryan was a United States Representative from Minnesota.He was born in Rosemount, Dakota County, Minnesota, May 26, 1907. He attended the public schools, was graduated from the law department of the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis in 1929, was admitted to the bar the same year...
in their law firm.
LeVander took the governorship in 1967, and for the first time since 1953, the Republicans held the governorship and both houses of the legislature: the Minnesota State Senate (45–22), and the Minnesota House (93–42). During his term the first Minnesota sales tax was created. He favored "initiative and referendum" and vetoed two bills that did not contain it. He also created the Metropolitan Council
Metropolitan Council
The Metropolitan Council or Met Council is the regional governmental agency and metropolitan planning organization in Minnesota serving the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area. The Met Council is granted regional authority powers in state statutes by the Minnesota Legislature. These powers...
, the state Pollution Control Agency, and the inaugural Human Rights Department. During his term, the legislature ratified the Twenty-sixth Amendment
Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution limited the minimum voting age to no more than 18. It was adopted in response to student activism against the Vietnam War and to partially overrule the Supreme Court's decision in Oregon v. Mitchell...
, which lowered the minimum voting age nationwide to eighteen.
In a surprise move in 1970, LeVander declined to seek reelection, returning to his law practice and business interests, becoming a director of The St. Paul Companies
St. Paul Travelers
The Travelers Companies is the largest American insurance company by market value. It is also the second largest writer of U.S. commercial property casualty and the third largest writer of U.S. personal insurance through independent agents. Travelers has headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota and...
(1973–1981), the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is an organization started by Billy Graham in 1950. The main focus of the BGEA is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible...
(1974–1981), and the Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce (1975–1978).