Walter Mondale was an American Democrat politician, diplomat, and lawyer who served as the 42nd vice president of the United States and represented Minnesota in the United States Senate.
Born January 5th, 1928 in Cleylon, Minnesota, Mondale’s political success made him one of the most notable Minnesotans. Mondale began his political career in 1960, when appointed as Minnesota Attorney General. In 1964, when Democrat Hubert Humphrey left the Senate to become vice president, Mondale was appointed to succeed him. Mondale served Minnesota as a U.S. Senator until 1976, when he was elected as vice president in Jimmy Carter’s presidential win. Mondale ran as the democratic nominee in an unsuccessful bid for President of the United States in 1984, losing to republican Ronald Reagan. Mondale's selection of U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro of New York as his running mate made him the first major-party presidential nominee to put a woman on the ticket. Mondale later served as ambassador to Japan in President Clinton’s administration. Returning to Minnesota in 1996, he joined the Minnesota legal community, and enjoyed the role of elder statesman to contemporaries.
April 9, 2003 - MPR’s Dan Olson reports from the Mondale Lecture Series. A panel of Democrats, led by former Vice-President Walter Mondale, remember the so-called, "fabulous 89th", the Congressional session where many of this country's most familiar social programs became law.
June 7, 2004 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan has passed away, at the age of 93. He spent the end of his life in seclusion battling Alzheimer’s, but his legacy lives on. Midday takes a look at the lasting effects Reagan has had on America's economy, foreign policy, and domestic political landscape.
December 27, 2004 - MPR’s Mark Zdechlik prepared this documentary, looking back at Minnesota's battleground role in the 2004 race for the White House. Includes numerous interviews and speeches.
May 20, 2005 - Former Vice President and Minnesota Senator Walter Mondale shares his thoughts about Nixon’s trip to China in 1972, and of Minnesota Opera's performance of "Nixon in China" by John Adams.
January 4, 2006 - A special Voices of Minnesota program, with Minnesota's highest-ranking elder statesman , Walter Mondale in the studio talking with MPR’s Gary Eichten.
January 24, 2006 - Family and friends of the late Senator Eugene McCarthy gathered at St. John's University in Collegeville for a memorial yesterday. This is an excerpt of Walter Mondale speaking at memorial service.
September 18, 2006 - MPR’s Stephen Smith moderates a civil rights panel discussion with an author, an activist, a teacher and a former vice president of the United States at the Children's Theatre Company of Minneapolis.
August 14, 2008 - MPR’s Tom Scheck reports on Obama campaign focus on senior citizen votes. Report includes comments from Walter Mondale, former U.S. vice president; Josie Johnson, local civil rights leader; and Tom Steward, spokesperson for presidential candidate John McCain.
August 25, 2008 - As a DNC spotlight interview, Midmorning host Kerri Miller speaks with former U.S. Vice President, U.S. Senator and Ambassador Walter Mondale about the civil rights struggle of Democratic national conventions past, and his experience as a Democratic presidential nominee.
March 17, 2009 - Two senior statesmen reflect on public life and civic engagement. Former Vice President Walter Mondale and former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger discuss their experiences in public life and the need for civic engagement.