I've got to go you got to go. Let's put them together. What do you say for you were Humphrey on Election Day ride on Beth Humphrey train. I don't bed hop free trade. What I wondered if I told you. I believe in the power of prayer rev 2 years ago. But I also believe that the Lord's busy he needs a little help. Well the working men and the farmers to brother. But I want to tell you something you're out here. And you can get out and do the work but these elections are never going to be one by us sitting around patting each other on the back there. Never going to be one by saying he isn't Humphrey a great guy and I hope what we've got to do in a very real sense is almost like the gospel. You got to go on out and save the Sinners you got to go out and get the boats and you got to go out and talk to organize. I'm asking you to do something very special. You know who the leaders are in your congregation. Every congregation has to have leaders you get ahold of them tomorrow morning. You say you just talked to Reverend Humphrey last night. Hubert Horatio Humphrey was born May 27th, 1911 in Wallace South Dakota. His life was politics is nearly continuous Public Service since 1945 is a mayor Senator and vice president was rooted deeply in concerns for people. I remember how the topsoil was blown off. Just blowing off and it was to write down to hard-pan and I can remember the government to sending out big tractors and bulldozers and cleaning out the ditches and getting the topsoil back on. What was the what was the Prairie Land? I can remember those restaurants piling up the dirt on the barn so that you could walk right from the ground right on up like it's a heel right up on top of the barn. Those are my memories that will always live with me. And by the way, they have affected my political Outlook the great deal. I am very sensitive to the lamb and the weather conditions in the relationships between land and the people as with all of us Humphreys philosophy of life was strongly influenced by his early days. His father owned a drug store in South Dakota during the Depression years as a result of that experience Humphrey sympathies remain throughout his career the farmer the working person the small business entrepreneur. I don't want your Millions mister. All I want is a regular visitor to give me back my job again. I don't think you have the this these these Traditions is Heritage that you get that hangs. Like I'm a midwesterner from the from the Dakotas the child of the depression and I I know that hangs in me it just right inside of me under there for when I see Bank rates go up. For example, even though I know that you can't expect to have 4% interest in this day and age it irritates me, you know, and I I met and I may have made kind of lose my temper sometimes if not, my temper my judgment and what I'm saying about it job. Is Ronald Reagan speaking to you from Hollywood, you know me as a motion picture actor, but tonight. I'm just a citizen pretty concerned about the national election next month. And this is why we must have new faces in the Congress of the United States Democratic base. This is why we must elect not only President Truman, but also men like Mary Hubert Humphrey of Minneapolis, the Democratic candidate for senator from Minnesota. Mayor Humphrey up 37 look, like in fact it was Mary Hubert Humphrey who was largely responsible for cleaning up the corruption protection rackets gambling and illegal liquor activities, which flourished in Minneapolis in the early 40s at the same time. Humphrey was a leader and uniting the mutually mistrustful labor and academic wings of his party. He was a leading spokesman for the progressives while sharply critical of the Communists and left-wing elements. So it was not surprising that local party leaders. Look to Humphrey for the 1948 Senate election. At the national Democratic Convention that year Humphrey was one of the most powerful forces behind a strong platform statement on civil rights. A report. Minority Report a report that spells out our democracy a report that the people of this country town and will understand and a report that they will enthusiastically I claim on the great as you are civil rights. Yes. This is far more than a party matter every citizen in this country has a stake in the emergence of the United States as a leader in the Free World that world is being challenged by the world of slavery. Our demands for democratic practices. In other lands will be no more effective than the guarantee of those practices in our own country. Delegate I do not believe that there can be any compromise on the guarantees of the civil rights, which we have mentioned in the Minority Report. There will be no MLB no watering down if you please of the instruments on the principles of the civil rights program. Who knows who sang My Friends $2 who's saying that we are rushing this issue of civil rights? I say to them we are 172 years. Who knows who saying there's an infringement on states rights has arrived in America product party to get out of the Shadows of states rights and a walk or slightly into the bright Sunshine of Human Rights. I do not think the federal government is a referee. I believe that the federal government has to weigh in on the side of people to adjust inequities to hopefully you open up opportunities to remove impediments from Individual opportunity and and activity Humphreys idea of the federal government is to make a liberty more than the absence of restraint. You're not a free person if you're hungry poor unemployed and sick Hubert Humphrey was one of the key legislators behind the social reform programs of the early sixties, but he wasn't always so effective the 37 year old freshman senator from Minnesota had much to learn about the ways of the Senate Club when he arrived in 1948. Considered a liberal Firebrand. He immediately took on the seniority system some of the most powerful senators of the day Harry Byrd Richard Russell Robert Taft. He discovered that a loose Coalition of Southern Democratic conservatives and Northern Republicans could easily thwart liberal programs whenever they wanted the Liberals on the other hand tended to be independent disorganized or interested in supporting a cause then in passing legislation. At one point Humphrey decided the compromise was not a dirty word. And when the Democrats took control of the senate in 1954 Humphrey became the link between the Liberals and the New Majority Leader Lyndon Baines Johnson throughout the 50s Humphreys Effectiveness as a legislator grew and toward the end of the decade. He began touring foreign countries and meeting with heads of state including the key to Christophe encouraged by his success Humphrey in 1968 made his first serious attempt at the presidency carnivals. Are you He's the man for me. Yes. We need free and the White House the White House. We need in, Wisconsin. the man from The Man from Minnesota Rams squarely into the well-financed highly-polished campaign of John Kennedy Humphrey found that despite his leadership role in the Senate. He was relatively Unknown by voters outside Minnesota. He toured Wisconsin and West Virginia in bus and car Caravans while the Kennedys have their own private jet unable to buy advertising rent adequate office space at times even pay the phone bill Humphries effort was no match for Kennedy's having lost two key primaries Humphrey gave up his presidential bid concentrated on his own Senate re-election and later campaign for the Kennedy Johnson ticket. Back in the Senate Humphrey became the Jordy whip a member of the Inner Circle. He served on key committees like agriculture Foreign Relations Appropriations. He helped push through some of the most important bills of the Kennedy Johnson years including the nuclear Test Ban Treaty the Civil Rights Act. The Peace Corps countless others in later years. These programs would come under criticism. But throughout his career Hubert Humphrey continue to believe in an activist federal government, all of these programs. You must have the willingness and the courage to cut them out, but Let me put it on the line or those that talk about that these programs ought to be done away with. They're only talking about relieving some of the large multinational corporations that conglomerates that huge semi monopolistic in monopolistic Enterprises relieving them of Taxation the state legislature of Minnesota cannot tax Exxon. It cannot text AT&T it can only text that little segment is here. There are poor people in America are elderly people in America. They need medical care. They need food many of them. They need housing many of them. There are many things that have to be done. Now. The only way that can be done on an equitable basis and paid is by the taxing power of the Congress of the United States the federal government and I believe that some of our good Democrats are being conned into an old old play that has been underway in this country for years namely where the big ones are trying to get rid of their tax burdens and put it over on the localities in the states. And then what are you get you got your sales taxes up and you get your property tax. Because that's the only way you can pay for these are for these things that have to be done Humphrey work even harder on social programs after the Kennedy assassination. He helped President Johnson is old son of colleague pursue legislation for the Great Society. They're working relationship renewed Johnson shows Humphrey for his vice president in 1964. Vice President Humphrey was played by the same problems that have beset evriholder of the nation's second-highest office few specific duties. No real power no independence from the president, but it was Humphries loyalty to Lyndon Johnson on the Vietnam War which proved to be his biggest problem by 1968. The nation was sharply divided over Vietnam Johnson decided not to seek re-election Humphrey won the Democratic presidential nomination, but lost much liberals support to his old Minnesota Senate colleague Eugene McCarthy many McCarthy followers. Shout out the election refusing to vote for a man. They believe would continue Johnson's War policies Humphrey. Finally did break Wisconsin on Vietnam during a speech and Salt Lake City just a few weeks before the election before I did anything about speaking on change of policy on Vietnam. I consulted with our lead it with our ambassadors and it is a matter of public record that Ambassador here among whom I considered one of the truly Great America. Spelt that any movement on my part in the early days of September would have jeopardized the possibility of successful peace negotiations. I had a choice. I'm getting a headline and maybe a little impetus in my election. But running the risk of jettison or a gruening destroying the possibilities of Peace negotiations. And I decided that the one thing that I owed to the country as a vice president of the United States and not just as a candidate for president was to beat responsible President Johnson. Finally got those negotiations opened in May of 1968 and the critical. Was in September it appear that there might be some breakthrough. So the question was did the vice president of the United States not candidate Humphrey. Seem to change publicly the American posture. Which the president would have had to repudiate that would have helped me and it surely would have it surely would have put them to go see a shins in a very difficult very difficult posture. I listen to a man that I trusted very much. And I was told at the time in the middle of September Senator or mr. Vice president. This is not the time to make it talk like you're contemplating. But before I made the Salt Lake City speech I consult best with Ambassador Harriman in Paris by long-distance telephone, even from Salt Lake City. I've never told anybody this before so you're getting it straight and we went over that speech line by line and I was told at none of these things that you're saying here at this time. It's the vice president will in any way jeopardize our position here in Paris. I wish you well some argue later that if Humphrey had changed his position on the war just one month earlier. He could have beaten Richard Nixon said it would have been that much been more beneficial because there was still the bitterness the tongue from the Chicago convention. I matter which I have no control over. anti-war demonstration play motorcycle. I was campaigning in a. Of time in which there was so much noise so much restlessness so much static so much attention and it was difficult to get our message through one of the messages that I was planning to get through was it if I were given the chance I would end that war because I knew it had to be ended but I knew it had to be ended Emma systematic bases. Secondly. I was trying to get the message across that when you were elected president, you're not liking a man your electing a Court Supreme Court Circuit Courts district courts are electing District Attorney's US Marshals your electing Federal Trade Commission Securities Exchange Commission, the whole gamut of government because many of these people live long after in politics. I mean, they're on the job long after the president out of office and the American people are going to pay for mr. Nixon Administration much longer than the four and a half years that he was in office. There are traditions and presidents that have been established that will plague us for years to come after losing the 1968 election. Humphrey was out of public office for the first time since 1945. It declined President Nixon's offer to become the US ambassador to the United Nations and instead accepted a joint teaching job at Macalester College in the University of Minnesota traveled and lectured extensively and most important you had time for family and personal reflection of public man now in private life, Well, I'm quite a conservative man. My wife says I'm a terrible conservative and I'm always putting up a fuss when this house has changed. I like to wear my clothes out if I get a new suit, I let it hang in the closet for maybe a year or two before I put it on because I have worn out the old clothes and leaving hard work. I may be a very is Midwestern work ethic Traditions. I have a an appetite for many things. I like you. I like sports. Even I'm a sports fan. For example the baseball football basketball you name it? But I also like to participate I'm a little older now, but I still participate I like outdoor activity. I don't get to go as much as I would like. I'm have a smorgasbord appetite for life, whether it's classical music or rock music. I love it. I like to dance. So I live I love to go to Africa. Play I love to read and by the way on Saturday morning. I love the comics. As a matter of fact Pink Panther is one of my favorite television shows and I'll give you an idea of the private life of Hubert Humphrey. I like beer cheese and crackers to eat children. I have nine grandchildren are very precious to me. We take time out with them and we have fun together because I'm a child at heart. I really am. I I don't believe in being an old stodgy old fossil. I mean you got to live then let it go and then enjoy it if you've ever seen me and I have a good time. I enjoy going to church on Sunday and I might Club in the middle of the week. Now that makes people think there's something wrong with me. I enjoyed the meditation of the church. I really do enjoy the peace of mind that I get at a Sunday service and I I just find it the great refreshing experience for me. Some free really enjoyed politics most of all sew in McCarthy decided not to seek re-election to the senate in 1970 Humphrey seize the opportunity to return to his old haunts while he never regained his former power Humphrey became of persistent effective critic of the next and then Ford administrations excoriating the Republicans on foreign policy energy and economics. If you didn't have massive legislative power, he did use his committee assignments to Rally public support to his views and he never lost sight of the presidency on Edmund muskies campaign faltered in 1972 Humphrey eddard and one string of primaries only to lose to George McGovern in The crucial State of California. Humphrey refused to campaign actively in 1976 but made it clear he'd happily accept the draft of a deadlock convention was Jimmy Carter's impressive performance ruled that out. The happy warrior piled up his biggest Senate Victory ever 1.3 million minnesotans demonstrated overwhelming support for their most famous public figure. Humphrey is a senator a Neighbour a friend. We're going to stick with him all the way to the end. He used to come over just to help us out. It's our turn to help him without any down or you thank you Senator Hubert H Humphrey. 425 years of distinguished Public Service, Jefferson Jackson Day dinner April 5th 1974 I've never forgotten what a blade Stevenson said about anything like this. He said the flattery is a good thing if you don't inhale it. A good Lord. I have been breathing deeply here all night literally gasping and enjoying every minute of it every minute of it, but I must confess to you that I am deeply touched. I'm a Sentimental Man. I don't even like this is almost more than you can take. Unless any of you have any doubts about the evening? 25 years of service 25 years is my first step. There's a lot to go yet. I want to say to this party if your bleeding pessimist you're in the wrong house. I have on the mini faith in the ability of the American people to overcome bad leadership corruption indifference or whatever else. It is. The history of our Republic tells me that and I don't want to see my party the party of which I'm proud to be a member wringing its hands. beating its chest and being the party of pessimism and the prophet of Doom and Gloom where a party like within here tonight. We have some fun and we should check that one out of town, but it ought to be there ought to be a spirit of public happiness. We have to be happy to share in political participation. We ought to be joyful that we live in a country like this where you can even have the right to be wrong. And then you have the time to correct the wrongs. That's what I want on party to believe in that we can realize the Impossible Dream. That's nothing stand in our way. So my message tonight, let's build let's grow a mine. You don't mind do you? You heard Rockefeller sounds this way most of the time. He's nice. Fella 2. I couldn't help but think of your elbows mention this to me tonight the table yes yesterday that I introduced the resolution in the Senate. After Hank, Aaron hit his 714 home run. It was just a resolution to congratulate Hank Aaron 714. But now he was looking to the 750 That's my kind of a man not sitting there happy with the fact that he has another time a Great Hero Heroes of the past or only inspiration for the future. I'm a man. I want to do. We'd like to thank so you Minnesota Historical Society for helping preparing this broadcast production and mixing by Lynn Cruz. This is Bob father speaking.