Paul David Wellstone was an American Democrat politician, academic, and author who represented Minnesota in the United States Senate from 1991 until he was killed in a plane crash in Eveleth, Minnesota, on October 25, 2002.
Born July 21, 1944 in Washington D.C., Wellstone was a professor at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and a community organizer in Rice County prior to entering public office. Wellstone gained national attention after his upset victory over Republican incumbent Rudy Boschwitz in the 1990 US Senate election. In his 1996 reelection campaign, he defeated Boschwitz in a rematch. As a member of the Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, Wellstone was a vocal leader of the progressive wing of the national Democratic Party.
July 3, 1995 - Paul Wellstone, Minnesota U.S. senator (D), discusses the latest in Congress. Topics include rescissions bill, balanced budget, defense spending, cuts, and energy renewables. Wellstone also answers listener questions.
August 24, 1995 - Live broadcast from the Minnesota State Fair featuring U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, DFL-Minnesota. Wellstone answers questions from fair-goers and MPR listeners.
December 29, 1995 - Paul Wellstone, Minnesota U.S. senator, discusses attempts to balance the federal budget in Washington, a shutdown possibility, his upcoming campaign for re-election in 1996, and environmental issues. Wellstone also answers listener questions.
August 22, 1996 - Excerpt of U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone stumping with constituents at the Minnesota State Fair. MPR’s John Rabe briefly interviews Wellstone.
October 18, 1996 - MPR’s Bill Wareham profiles Paul Wellstone’s arrival and subsequent education on being a U.S. Senator in Washington D.C. Wareham looks at Wellstone’s personal and political history. Interviews include fellow senator David Durenberger and numerous political supporters and activists.
February 12, 1997 - Paul Wellstone is planning to retrace Robert Kennedy's tour of the South to focus attention on the plight of the poor. The tour is also prompting questions about whether Wellstone aspires to higher national office. Al Eisele says Wellstone's candidacy would probably be met with surprise on the hill. Eisele is editor of "The Hill," a political newsletter in Washington D.C. He also served as an aide to Vice President Mondale.
March 24, 1997 - MPR’s Karen Louise Boothe reports that hundreds of people rallied at the State Capitol on behalf of a bill that would restore the cuts in benefits to legal immigrants in the new federal welfare reform law.
November 21, 1997 - Minnesota’s U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone joins Midday to talk about his "Poverty Tour" which concluded this week, and his possible campaign for President. He'll also answer listener questions about issues before Congress.
April 13, 1998 - MPR political commentators Bob Meek and Tom Horner will be in the studio to assess the Wellstone Presidential bid, the governor's race and other political issues. Program begins with report from Mark Moran in Iowa.
May 29, 1998 - Senator Paul Wellstone is definitely campaigning for health care reform and possibly for President. Wellstone has introduced a bill in the Senate that would provide health coverage for all Americans. He has been traveling around the country talking about his proposal.