Walter Mondale, former vice president, has died at the age of 93

Former Vice President Walter Mondale died Monday at the age of 93, his family confirmed in a statement. Mondale, who was the Democratic nominee for 1984 and was also a longtime senator from Minnesota, died “peacefully to natural causes.”

“It is with deep sadness that we share news that our beloved father passed away today in Minneapolis, Minnesota,” Mondale’s family said.

The son of a minister, Mondale, known as Fritz, became one of Minnesota’s best-known political figures in a state known for Democratic politicians. He was elected in 1964 to replace then-Vice President Hubert Humphrey, a mentor, in the Senate. In his twelve years in the U.S. Senate, Mondale followed in the footsteps of Humphrey, the lead author of the Civil Rights Act, to pursue civil rights and other progressive issues.

In the statement of his death, Mondale’s family emphasized his work to pass civil rights legislation and the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act.

“The 1968 Fair Housing Act was one of his proudest and hardest fought achievements,” Mondale’s family said. “During his years in the U.S. Senate, he understood the sense of reckoning that this country faced at the time, and he was committed to working with Hubert Humphrey, Josie Johnson, Roy Wilkins and so many others. We are grateful that he has the opportunity to see the rise of another generation of civil rights in recent months. ‘

Georgia’s Governor Jimmy Carter, who was unlikely to win the Democratic nomination in 1976, turned to Mondale when he needed a ‘Northern Presence’ on the card – and someone with a Liberal record. Despite being relatively unknown, the pair have now triumphed over President Gerald Ford, who has been severely weakened by Watergate and Vietnam.

In a statement after Mondale’s death, Mr. Carter Mondale called him a “dear friend” and said he considered himself the “greatest vice president in the history of our country”.

“During our administration, Fritz used his political skill and personal integrity to transform the vice presidency into a dynamic, policy – driven force never seen before and still exists today,” he said. Carter said. “He was a valuable partner and a capable servant of the people of Minnesota.”

President Biden issued a statement late Monday saying: “It is with great sadness that Jill and I learned of the passing of Vice President Walter Mondale, but with great gratitude that we are one of our country’s most dedicated patriots and civil servants. friend could call. a mentor. ‘

Former President Obama tweeted on Monday night that Mondale “is pursuing progressive issues and changing the role of VP – so leaders want” @JoeBiden can be the last in the room when making decisions. By choosing Geraldine Ferraro, he also paved the way for @VP to make history. ‘

Mondale attended Macalester College in St. Louis. Paul attended before transferring to the University of Minnesota, where he also earned his law degree. He served two years in the U.S. Army and married his wife, Joan, in 1955. The couple had been married for almost 60 years until her death in 2014. They had three children: Ted, William and Eleanor, who died in 2011.

Mondale first became involved in Democratic party politics in 1948 when Humphrey, then Minneapolis’s mayor, elected him to the Senate. Humphrey received national attention in that election and called for the Democratic Party to focus on civil rights. That set the tone for Minnesota Democrats for decades to come.

Mondale practiced law in Minneapolis before being elected as Attorney General in 1960. He won two elections in his own right before being elected to replace Humphrey in the Senate.

As a senator, Mondale campaigned for the Civil Rights Act, as well as environmental protection, consumer protection, tax reform, school desegregation and filibuster reform.

Mondale ran for the Democratic presidential candidate in the 1976 election, but stepped down early before running for office. Carter’s running mate was elected. Mr. Carter, who introduced himself as an outsider who would clean up Washington, needed an insider on the ticket. The pair carried the South along with some major northern states – including New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio – and won 297 electoral college votes.

Mondale was the first vice president to have an office in the White House, and he was a close adviser to Mr. Carter. Mondale traveled widely and was instrumental in the Camp David agreements, his family said.

But Carter’s presidency is plagued by what he himself called the ‘crisis of confidence’ during a speech known as the ‘malaise speech’ which, according to The New York Times Mondale, advised him not to hold. Republican challenger Ronald Reagan ran for the White House in the 1980 election, winning all four states except Washington and DC

Mondale was the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in 1984. But he had a surprise up his sleeve: he made history by choosing Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate, the first woman ever on a big party ticket. There would still be no woman on the ticket before Sarah Palin was in 2008, and a woman would only be elected vice president until Kamala Harris in 2020.

In a statement Monday night, Harris called Ferraro’s choice a bold and historic choice. Harris said Mondale led an extraordinary service life.

But Mondale’s campaign does not match Reagan’s rising popularity. At the 1984 Democratic National Convention, Mondale bluntly said he would raise taxes, and Reagan opposed the well-known “morning in America” ​​ad. During a presidential debate, Reagan smoothly processed questions about his advanced age and joked “I’m not going to exploit my opponent’s youth and inexperience for political purposes. ‘Mondale would later say he thinks that was when the campaign ended.

Mondale and Ferraro would lose every state except Minnesota and Washington, DC Mondale returned to Minnesota to exercise rights, but he returned to public service in 1993 with the election of President Bill Clinton. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan and also chaired a two-party group to study campaign finance reform, and in 1998 served as President’s Special Envoy to Indonesia.

Mondale briefly returned to election politics in 2002 after Senator Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash 11 days before the election. Following Wellstone, Mondale, then 74, was elected to replace the late senator on the ballot. In 2003, he told Minnesota Public Radio it was a “joy” to return to the campaign.

But Wellstone’s memorial turned into something of a political rally, and Republicans accused the Democrats of playing politics with a tragedy. Mondale was defeated by Norm Coleman – the last time a Republican won a Senate seat in Minnesota.

Mondale largely retired from public life. In his last days, after sending a final farewell letter to 300 of his current and former staff members, he was inundated with phone calls – including from Mr. Biden and Harris – a spokesman said.

He writes to his staff:

“Well, my time has come. I’m eager to rejoin Joan and Eleanor. Before I go, I wanted to let you know how much you mean to me. Never had a better official by their side!

“Together we have accomplished so much and I know you will continue the good fight.

‘Joe in the White House is definitely helping.

“I always knew it would be good if I arrived somewhere and was greeted by one of you!”

-Jamie Yuccas, Kristin Brown and Ed O’Keefe reported.