Jens Otto Krag
Encyclopedia
Jens Otto Krag (September 15, 1914 – June 22, 1978) was a Danish
politician
. He was Prime Minister from 1962 to 1968 and again from 1971 to 1972.
Krag was born in Randers
, Denmark
. He joined the Danish Social Democratic Party
youth organization in 1930 and rose through the ranks of the party. In the 1930s he moved to Copenhagen
and studied economics at the University of Copenhagen
while remaining very active in the party.
During World War II
, he was Danish supply director and advisor to the labor unions on economic matters. He was elected to Parliament (Folketinget) in 1947 and became Commerce Minister. He supported the strengthening of the Danish military and Danish membership of NATO in 1949.
In 1950 Krag resigned from Parliament partially due to a conflict with Vilhelm Buhl
and H. C. Hansen
and, in order to become more fluent in the English language
and see more of the world, requested a position at the Danish embassy in the United States. He received the position, and was in America until 1953 when he was re-elected to parliament and became a minister without portfolio
. He was minister of the new department of foreign economic affairs from 1953 until 1958 and Foreign Minister from 1958 until 1962.
In September 1962 he succeeded Viggo Kampmann
as Prime Minister and leader of the Danish Social Democratic Party. He was Prime Minister until February 1968 when the Social Democrats lost power. He became Prime Minister again in 1971 when his party returned to power.
Less than a year into his first term as prime minister, the opposition held a referendum
which rejected a set of land laws already passed by Krag's government.
During his second term as Prime Minister, Krag campaigned particularly for European cooperation and unity. He sponsored a referendum for Denmark to join the European Economic Community
. In 1972 the referendum passed, but the nation was divided over the issue, and Krag resigned, claiming that he had become tired of politics. His last role in public life was as the European Common Market representative to the United States from 1974 until 1975.
Krag is widely recognised as one of the greatest politicians of all time in Denmark. He was in the front-line of politics for 25 years, holding high ministerial offices for most of that time. He managed to raise Denmark's profile on the world stage, striking up strong relationships with fellow European leaders as well as American presidents Kennedy and Johnson. His list of political achievements is also one of the most impressive, overseeing one of the longest periods of economic expansion in Danish history. However, his largest achievement, and the one he himself was most proud of, was taking Denmark into the European Economic Community
in 1972. With that task accomplished he felt he could retire at a high point.
Krag was at one and the same time one of the most charismatic and withdrawn Danish politicians ever. He never enjoyed the attention he had to subject to, and many people found him rather arrogant. According to his most thorough (and quite sympathetic) biographer (Bo Lidegaard
, Krag I-II, 2001/2002) he never truly settled into the role as a politician, always considering himself on the way 'to somewhere else'. Apparently the post he always dreamed of holding was that of governor of the central bank. Only when he had definitively quit politics in 1972 did he start realising that he would miss it. He didn't manage to fill that space during his remaining years.
His private life was very colourful, but ultimately rather sad. In addition to fathering a child outside wedlock, he was married twice. Krag has a daughter, Astrid Helene (born 1962), by his second wife Helle Virkner. Both marriages ended in divorce, largely due to his own persistent infidelity. Already during his time in politics he struggled with alcoholism, an illness that became more pronounced after his retirement. He died of heart failure in Skiveren, Denmark
at the age of 63.
In the Danish TV series Krøniken
(2004–2006) he was portrayed by the actor Lars Mikkelsen
.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was Prime Minister from 1962 to 1968 and again from 1971 to 1972.
Krag was born in Randers
Randers
Randers is a city in Randers municipality on the Jutland peninsula in central Denmark. It is Denmark's sixth-largest city, with a population of 60,656 . Randers city is the main town of the municipality and the site of its municipal council.-Overview:Randers municipality has 94,750 inhabitants...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. He joined the Danish Social Democratic Party
Social Democrats (Denmark)
The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
youth organization in 1930 and rose through the ranks of the party. In the 1930s he moved to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and studied economics at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
while remaining very active in the party.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was Danish supply director and advisor to the labor unions on economic matters. He was elected to Parliament (Folketinget) in 1947 and became Commerce Minister. He supported the strengthening of the Danish military and Danish membership of NATO in 1949.
In 1950 Krag resigned from Parliament partially due to a conflict with Vilhelm Buhl
Vilhelm Buhl
Vilhelm Buhl was Prime Minister of Denmark from 4 May 1942 to 9 November 1942 as head of the Unity Government during the German occupation of Denmark of World War II, until the Nazis ordered him removed...
and H. C. Hansen
H. C. Hansen
Hans Christian Svane Hansen , often known as H. C. Hansen or simply H. C., was a social democrat and Prime Minister of Denmark from 29 January 1955 to 19 February 1960 as the head of the Cabinet of H. C. Hansen I and II. Before becoming Prime Minister, H. C...
and, in order to become more fluent in the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and see more of the world, requested a position at the Danish embassy in the United States. He received the position, and was in America until 1953 when he was re-elected to parliament and became a minister without portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
. He was minister of the new department of foreign economic affairs from 1953 until 1958 and Foreign Minister from 1958 until 1962.
In September 1962 he succeeded Viggo Kampmann
Viggo Kampmann
Viggo Olfert Fischer Kampmann was the leader of the Danish Social Democrats and Prime Minister of Denmark from 19 February 1960 until 3 September 1962. His cabinet before the 1960 election was called the Cabinet of Viggo Kampmann I and the cabinet he formed after that election was called the...
as Prime Minister and leader of the Danish Social Democratic Party. He was Prime Minister until February 1968 when the Social Democrats lost power. He became Prime Minister again in 1971 when his party returned to power.
Less than a year into his first term as prime minister, the opposition held a referendum
Danish land laws referendum, 1963
A referendum on land laws was held in Denmark on 25 June 1963.. The four land laws, which had already been passed by the Danish parliament, were rejected by voters...
which rejected a set of land laws already passed by Krag's government.
During his second term as Prime Minister, Krag campaigned particularly for European cooperation and unity. He sponsored a referendum for Denmark to join the European Economic Community
Danish European Communities membership referendum, 1972
A referendum on joining the European Economic Community was held in Denmark on 2 October 1972. The result was 63.3% in favour with a turnout of 90.1%...
. In 1972 the referendum passed, but the nation was divided over the issue, and Krag resigned, claiming that he had become tired of politics. His last role in public life was as the European Common Market representative to the United States from 1974 until 1975.
Krag is widely recognised as one of the greatest politicians of all time in Denmark. He was in the front-line of politics for 25 years, holding high ministerial offices for most of that time. He managed to raise Denmark's profile on the world stage, striking up strong relationships with fellow European leaders as well as American presidents Kennedy and Johnson. His list of political achievements is also one of the most impressive, overseeing one of the longest periods of economic expansion in Danish history. However, his largest achievement, and the one he himself was most proud of, was taking Denmark into the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
in 1972. With that task accomplished he felt he could retire at a high point.
Krag was at one and the same time one of the most charismatic and withdrawn Danish politicians ever. He never enjoyed the attention he had to subject to, and many people found him rather arrogant. According to his most thorough (and quite sympathetic) biographer (Bo Lidegaard
Bo Lidegaard
Bo Lidegaard is a Danish historian, diplomat, and editor in chief of daily broadsheet newspaper Politiken.He is the son of authors Mads Lidegaard and Else Lidegaard. Bo Lidegaard graduated from Gentofte Statsskole in 1976, and became cand. phil. in history at the University of Copenhagen in 1984....
, Krag I-II, 2001/2002) he never truly settled into the role as a politician, always considering himself on the way 'to somewhere else'. Apparently the post he always dreamed of holding was that of governor of the central bank. Only when he had definitively quit politics in 1972 did he start realising that he would miss it. He didn't manage to fill that space during his remaining years.
His private life was very colourful, but ultimately rather sad. In addition to fathering a child outside wedlock, he was married twice. Krag has a daughter, Astrid Helene (born 1962), by his second wife Helle Virkner. Both marriages ended in divorce, largely due to his own persistent infidelity. Already during his time in politics he struggled with alcoholism, an illness that became more pronounced after his retirement. He died of heart failure in Skiveren, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
at the age of 63.
In the Danish TV series Krøniken
Krøniken
Krøniken is a Danish television drama which aired on Sunday evenings between January 2004 and January 2007...
(2004–2006) he was portrayed by the actor Lars Mikkelsen
Lars Mikkelsen
Lars Dittman Mikkelsen is a Danish actor who graduated from the National Theatre School of Denmark in 1995. He is the brother of actor Mads Mikkelsen and is married to actor colleague Anette Støvelbæk.- Filmography :...
.