And good evening. Once again, I made your change in Minnesota's state government was announced today change which some observers say could have repercussions for several years to, Minnesota's political system next half-hour will examine that change into tail. Minnesota state law requires the governor to fill vacancies in the United States Senate opening will occur. When Walter Mondale resigns from the Senate to become Vice President of the United States today Wendell Anderson held a news conference to announce how he'll replace Mondale. Bob Potter has a report to absolutely no one's surprise Wendell Anderson announced today that he will resign as governor of Minnesota and the appointed to Walter Mondale senate seat by Rudy perpich who will assume the governorship Anderson and perfect praised each other in their formal statements Anderson calling his successor bright and honest and dedicated to the people of the state for his Park perfect said Anderson will be an excellent Senator and that he is leaving Minnesota with a surplus in the treasury a good climate for progressive government and a friendly legislature. The changes announced today won't actually occur until Walter Mondale officially resigns as Senator. He doesn't have to do that until he is inaugurated as vice president, but he may very well do it sooner than that to give Addison just a bit more seniority than other new Democratic senators elected last Tuesday. However, Anderson said he has not talked to Mondale about the resignation date in his announcement Anderson confirmed what political observers had forecast months ago even during Hubert Humphrey's brief presidential effort that the governor had designs on higher political office. He offered these details on how he reached his decision first visited with Rudy perfect show last Friday morning at breakfast and told him in a general way with my my feelings were but that I wanted some time to think about it and it was called yesterday toilet and then told him my decision It was a much more difficult decision to make then when people think because I I love my work is Governor. It has given me a tremendous personal satisfaction and I enjoy very very much Lydia Minnesota. My nine-year-old daughter this morning said the daddy if I had known that by supporting Jimmy Carter It meant that we had Lea Minnesota. I would have done it. And I think that my six-year-old son knows more about the poles and I thought because his response to sister was one Daddy's no longer in the Senate will be living in Minnesota and me, so don't worry. Anderson was asked his views on the appointment process and it's possible effects on reelection in 1978. Who would you want to replace Seneca Mondale in the United States Senate? I want every one of those poles by good margins. I think those poles were accurate. They also asked a question. You think the governor's should an effect upon himself to the Senate and I'm a Geordie said that he should not I think those polls are also accurate. I don't think the people Minnesota like the appointment procedure. Neither do I it is also my my strong belief that in November of 1978 and had a State Convention prior to that time and then a primary that I will be judged on my performance in the Senate and in on my performance as Governor, I don't fear submitting my name for the for the vote of the people. I prefer that process but I I had several Alternatives when I looked upon the situation I could have appointed summer. At a time. I totally rejected that people Minnesota wood would have been without effect of representation for 2 years. No one would take a lame-duck appointee. Seriously. I did consider a special session are bringing it a bill for the next session legislature to provide for an elective procedure. I felt that by the time that was accomplished at the man or woman that would have survived all of that would go down to the Washington for a relatively short. Of time the 100 on the seniority list and be in a position where the down must have to come back immediately and run for re-election. I would remind you that Precinct caucuses are in about 15 months so that the people in Minnesota going to have an opportunity to express their point of view on the decision that I've announced today, and I'm Rudy's performance very very soon Anderson predicted that within his own party is strong as Challengers will be Congressman Don Fraser Bob Bergland and Rick Nolan house Speaker Martin, Sabo Senate Majority Leader, Nicholas Coleman and Turnage. In Spanish if Anderson survives the dfl endorsement in primary. He believes his strongest GOP opponent in the general election in 1978 will be the first district Congressman Al quie home Anderson describes a strong affected member of Congress Anderson side of his confidence in perfect and his own concern with national issues as reasons for deciding to take a senate seat himself. I think the number one problems that we Face are obviously unemployment. Inflation we got to do something about the energy crisis. I think that the farmers of America are deserving of better treatment that goes of the issues that President Jimmy Carter talked about during the campaign. Those are certainly issues that I would support the he and Fritz Mondale on very enthusiastically. I do think that as a governor and I think that there are many well-intentioned federal programs that they have wrapped up with so much red tape with so much Federal bureaucracy that by the time they get out here they're almost worthless and I hope that I be back around I've had and state government will help me cut through some of that red tape and eliminated Henderson declined to be more specific specific assignments. He expressed. Hope they would be complementary to Hubert Humphrey's. Anderson and prep H had relatively little to say about the new state Administration, but they were asked if all type agency administrators will be asked to submit their resignations. So perfect can install people of his choosing and state government. I do not have any resignations unsigned in a drawer some place. I would like to have the rooty respond to that if you'd like. I hope that all the Commissioners stay on I like to see you so smoothly transition. As possible. I think that this Administration has done an outstanding job and that exceed continue and wanted to make sure that it continues is to retain those people that I hadn't heads of departments. The next seven weeks are Are some of the busiest times for a a governor governor designate the budget. Of time and I just hope that Rudy will be able to have as much input as humanly possible so that when he presents a State of the State address in early January a budget address two weeks after that that it will be a privilege Gunner perfect State of the State address. I got my purpose budget and I'm sure that we can achieve that at least a couple of problems perfect may find a bit sticky in the next legislative session. Of course, there is a sports Stadium another Isley continuing controversy over Powerline Construction in Western and Central Minnesota, which Anderson has left to local officials out of the courts and there is reserve mining company Perfect refuse to commit himself to wholehearted support of Anderson's plan to subsidize reserves construction of attaining disposal site at milepost play. Do a lot of listening and I guess learning the next 6 to 8 weeks. We have to make sure the reserve does continue to dumped into Lake Superior very obviously and after something about retaining those jobs the proposals have come from Governor Anderson and support his proposal Reserve situation. The present time they have a 3 District judges now inspecting the sites. So it changes from week to week and we'll see what develops the next 2 or 3 months. Minnesota Governor designate Rudy perpich who join Senator doesn't Wendell Anderson at a news conference at the Capitol. This is Bob Potter 3D FL legislative leaders expected Anderson to take the senate seat and the expressed confidence in Rudy perpich. Dan Olson gathered house Speaker Martin Sabo house with tax committee chairman William Kelly and Senate Majority Leader Nicholas Coleman's reactions to today's announcement. I think the decision by the governor is very appropriate and I have been supportive and I think it's the best way to see if the people of Minnesota have continuity in the United States Senate. Are you and your colleagues in the Senate looking forward to the governorship of mr. Perfect. What we think we had a pretty remarkable six years. We need it for years that we've been in control and we're looking forward to more of that. Apparently whatever we've done in total has been acceptable to the people of the state of Minnesota. They send a lot of us back this time. So I am looking forward to it. I was looking forward to the session when I thought it might be Governor Anderson and I'm looking forward to session now. I know it's going to be Governor purpose. Are you with all fascinated by some of these other questions at this announcement to raises it for example of someone has said that you might become president of the senate or are you not interested in that The Logical stepping stone. I respect the office of lieutenant governor think it's very important, but I think that maybe I can do more as majority leader of the Senate and I could as lieutenant governor first of all, Disable, what's your reaction to the announcement? Well, I expected it always assume the governor would be the next senator from Minnesota and Senator Mondale was vice president and I thought it was a logical choice for the governor to make that's my judgment that to Lieutenant Governor will get along fine with the legislature. We had a very good working relationship with the governor and his staff and then I would expect we'd have the same with the people who work for one for Rudy perpich. First of all, mr. What was your reaction to the announcement by Governor Anderson this morning, I was concerned that there may be a so-called caretaker person appointed to the US Senate in and I guess I think I would not have been a good decision. I don't think anyone can help with like lieutenant governor. An individual he's very personable and so on but in this role I think is the key question is going to be for the people who he has working with him because it's clear that any Governor or elected officials in that kind of position can't do all things by themselves, but there will be interested in also and whether he's going to maintain or support a lot of the programs that doesn't understand is supporting now and cuz we we find ourselves in general agreement with 178 and that I said, I expect the Republican party to the Seas on that opportunity and maybe some of the Republicans who has not been so visible recently as a candidate Bill Kelly chairman of the house tax committee and before house Speaker Martin Sable and Senate Majority Leader Nicholas Coleman. I spoke with Dan Olson. Independent Republicans expect their fortunes to improve as a result of the day's developments. John Morley has that story independent Republican party chairman Chuck Slocum said that Anderson couldn't regret his self appointment to the US Senate come election day 1978 and made a mistake and arranging to have himself name the next United States Senator while he admitted that the people did not support government by appointment today. He said that because of the seniority factors and because the elections coming up in a couple of years why we could we could adjust to that and I think that that in itself is a critical critical critical issue in the 78 US Senate campaign. I wouldn't doubt if the governor will have problems in his own party and I think we're going to have some opportunities not only for this US senate seat, but for the governorship, I look at personality is like a Congressman Al Queen the Congressman Bill frenzel National committeeman Rudy boschwitz. Mary Carlson former lieutenant, governor Jim gets so Moorhead mayor Duane Holberg among many that they could well take a new interest in running for Statewide office and see some possibilities and some IR party Chairman Truck Slocum like a number of other Republicans and some Dia Fellers State House minority leader Henry cervical voice to regret that our position traditionally filled by voter preference was filled by the preference of just two men Anderson and per pitch. I believe because when the way Anderson did a pointer any effective range for the appointment and he'll give the Republicans a much better opportunity to collect many people to the legislature and the Statewide office in 1978. It would be very difficult to assess what kind of a job you could do in and in that short of time. I suppose you're engaged on a very substantial PR campaign to guarantee or to help assure his relaxing House minority leader Henry cervical Republican congressman and friends all are out of the country this week and not available for comment but Republican National committeeman Rudy boschwitz himself on vacation in California relayed his reactions to Anderson statement today through a spokesman Anderson's action is about as surprising as the sun rising in the East there never has been any doubt that he would decide he really was the best man for the job. His self-seeking action will come back to haunt him in the event that Wendys survive the dfl primary for the US Senate 1978. He will have a formidable Republican opponent to get by in the general election that year. I look forward to keeping a close watch on the incoming perpich Administration and I predict that he will face very strong opposition when and if he goes before the voters, Bosch which one unknown factor which could play a big part in the future political fortunes is Senator Hubert Humphrey's Health. Should he for any reason to have to resign before his new term expires in 1982 the possibility of a special election rather than another Governor's appointments. So close in time would create another chance at seeking a US senate seat by independent Republicans to John Willie Lee historical experience of Governors who appointed themselves to the Senate isn't especially encouraging one study shows that five of six who took that route to Washington. We're not really, but as reporter Bill shimmering learned Wendell Anderson's chances of staying on for several more terms as Governor might not have been very good either Sebring talk today with Harding. Noblitt professor of political science at Concordia College in Moorhead. Very well for her to better serve having someone be a senator who expects to stay there and they would be appointing someone on an interim basis. What is the history of Governors are appointed sells effectively become senators and re-election of a little kid who is the individual God defeated my friend 5 and got defeated. We're within a week to Let It Go positions anyway, and it may well Alabama that has been defeated no matter how they want about becoming Senator. You mentioned that he couldn't stay as Governor as long as he could have sent it to her hot. Why is that? Is there a natural progression that is just seems to be some of the customs and practices of American politics. New York for 15 years, but then I've been a few other lengthy one but these are exceptional I am talking to former Governor Freeman been so long is simply because anything that the state does with people don't like they blame him for what he had anything to do with it or not. He's the only person whose name they know the people who like what he did Thunder forget this obviously they say in the Senate to see him. Definitely Carl Hayden. Is there a Theodore Greenville 93 and somebody said it all your life, but I'm certainly about a little respect of the Sun and all that was what will happen with effects of the governorship. I think it's not only you do it. Concordia College, I'm Bill team running has Junior Senator, but who is Minnesota's next governor who is Rudy perpich or Rudy perpich is well known to many people in northeastern Minnesota among them dick daily was followed perfect as long for little history your thoughts and perfect and what minnesotans might expect from their new governor Rudy perpich is a very smart tough political operator who shouldn't be sold short the governor and waiting came out of the rough-and-tumble Arena of Iron Range dfl politics and should be ready for almost anything the rest of the state might throw at him. What's more he succeeded as did his brother state senators, Tony and George Well knocking heads with a powerful machine of longtime congressman John blatnik. Rudy perpich took some pretty extreme anti mining company positions in early campaigns, but is Iron Range attitudes began to moderate somewhat in recent years with the stable year-round employment of the bombing taconite industry. They perfect rhetoric about big steel began to soften as well. We mention the longtime antagonism with congressman John block Nick who have become an institution in northeastern Minnesota Rudy perpich very much wanted that seat many think he could have taken it two years ago when blotnik retired but surprisingly the lieutenant governor passed up the opportunity Senator Humphrey was Ill at the time many observers think perpich stayed in the lieutenant Governor's chair and the expectation that Governor Anderson would soon be moving on to Washington if that was the scenario. It just took a couple of years longer to happen. In any case Rudy for a bitch instead masterminded the campaign of his brother Tony for the dfl party endorsement for Congress and they want the feeding blot next hand-picked successor James Oberstar in a prolonged bitter 8th District dfl party convention at Grand Rapids Oberstar. However, later challenge Tony perfect in the primary. He won the nomination easily handing the perfect as one of the few setbacks. I can remember the perfect just incidentally align themselves with the McCarthy movement in 1968 when blatnick and the rest of the party regulars, we're supporting Senator Humphrey for the presidency. The animosity still runs strong between the perfect and block nicobar star camps the suggestion. In fact, the governor Anderson appoint Elder Statesman block. Nick is a two-year caretaker Center. We're at least in part design to deny perpich a gubernatorial incumbency. I think we'll find Rudy perpich and activists colorful Governor. Most people have forgotten that shortly after becoming lieutenant governor in 1971. He grew restless with a non activity of the office threatened to resign and gained both increased responsibilities and a raise in pay in the past 18 months for a pitch has maximized his post as state Bicentennial chairman to build a political base around the state. We're told the lieutenant governor would speak to any group of a half dozen or more Gather in a church basement anywhere in Minnesota and would put in long long hours making such a peer insists. That effort should give him a head start in seeking Eli. Turn to a full term two years. Hence. Finally don't be fooled by really perfect his blunt style and ethnic syntax. It's typically Iron Range and may to the Metropolitan near make the new governor sound. None too bright. He's actually very smart. He's tough and politically Savvy and will I expect a choir some Polish? It should provide an interesting. Of Governor watching at the state capitol. This is Nick Daley in Duluth, Claudia Hampton Inn, Duluth has prepared a profile of Rudy perpich one based on interviews with friends and members of his family. Rudy perpich. His story is classic Americana Minnesota's true-to-life version of Rich Man Poor Man. He is the eldest son of a father who came from Yugoslavia to work in the mines on the Iron Range and the mother who is education allowed her to provide an important service to fellow residents of the Carson Lake Mining locations. She read and wrote letters for the immigrants who couldn't do so themselves state senator George perpich brother of the future governor. Iroquois family of the oldest brother is always sort of the leader of the children of the family and broody would certainly I want to look up to you. Various jobs, we've always been workers. We all started in the mind young we had paper route. We've used to raise our own food pantry not all of it, but we always had chickens and pigs and calls and my father insisted that we worked. capacity very fortunate in that we have that very good parents. I'm going to remember the early days of poverty playing football. You didn't have a regular job and there are other memories to Rudy is sophomore class president of Hibbing Community College seeking and getting a special place for college students to gather at Hibbing High School where the college was then located later. He fought for a separate campus for the college. The Iron Range interpretive Center was another project he made happen throughout his career Rudy perpich has never forgotten his roots and it's possible that this very quality will cause him anguish as Governor longtime political adversary called Oculus suggest some hard decisions ahead. Finally someone from the Iron Range has succeeded to the highest office in the state of Minnesota. However, I feel that there are going to be some very serious 40 in the area from which you came as compared with putting on the balance scale with his own political realities and Faith might be with a Statewide electric for reelection, which I believe he will do three years from now. So in the bicentennial year the state Bicentennial chairman, who is the son of an immigrant a man who struggled for his own education and saw to it that his brothers went to college to will become Northeastern Minnesota's first governor, whatever your politics that says something about the possibilities of the American system. uncordial Hampton Inn, Duluth I'm happiest when I'm outside the same phone when I'm out in Osage Minnesota with the people in this is why I like my position was a major importance in that area attention to the 1975 perpich was in Morehead at the time working on Minnesota's Bicentennial celebration jobs, like heading up Bicentennial celebrations are not usually the stuff of which major political careers are made but they are the kinds of jobs at Lieutenant Governors are often assigned to and perfect told reporter bills simmering back in May of 1975. How do you like being lieutenant governor politics? Everything else has changed since I've been sitting Governor. I have much more pain no more opportunity to meet people and see the conditions and I just decided this term that Pulling up to the most important thing in life to go back to my practice and to my family and I'm going to do. whatever I think is right in the If it goes, it doesn't okay, and if it doesn't go back to my Dentistry, you just don't see your family and before you know, it says it's going up like random people saying he was for stuff that's ridiculous to the point. I mean he wanted to see the reserve. The one the major reasons you have to coerce was it needs a god day and night that most of us are and what your family is up and plus has a lot of days to process. You lose some of your own humanness in that process to press some of the important things that make you a full person. Did you cut off from your family and those important hunting or someplace? You just say why don't this hit home Fridays in Friday night, and I'm with the family Saturday Sunday in the summer months. We we spend more time together again Fortune have a good wife that does an excellent job with the children because I'm not so much a tank. I just very difficult explain what what keeps your going in this business sometimes gets in your blood is going to get out as a meeting at the poles and maybe subconsciously strikeout and save the pitiful consequences may be feeling to meet us when we going to get out your office State northwell and Anderson moved up. I like that opportunity. I have no wish to go to Washington just don't care for the community weenies District position opened up. I just had no interest in that position this way to be Minnesota. I do have enough to spend more time with my family and everyone if I was in Washington Rudy perpich talking with Mel C meringue back in May of 1975. They shouldn't let the people in Minnesota have a special election. And when the people find out that he is evidently appointed himself to this position. I think they're going to be pretty ticked off about it. What kind of Senator do you think Kevin Anderson will make I can be a good Senator. I like them. What do you think is going to be the next time I agree with that, but I think it's alright. I thought I don't see anything wrong with it. What is what do you feel that way? Well, it's a political writer. There's no reason they are there's nobody can stop them. I don't think Because he was born in his cabin and he hasn't got a whole lot there unless he does something is Senator. I don't think it's Justified and I wouldn't vote for him unless unless he does something effective. You should do that, but I vote for him when I'm old enough to vote is the best qualified person to stay right now who's the center position most? Most experience in government and probably the most popular and well-known so far some thoughts from the people in Fargo-Moorhead and Worthington. Comments on Governor Wendell Anderson's decision today to resign a decision which will make lieutenant governor Rudy perpich the next governor of Minnesota a decision, which presumably will make one Bill Anderson state senator. This program was written and produced by Bob Potter technical directors this evening Mike Moriarty and Paul Kelly. I'm Gary eichten.