(00:00:02) This is Pat Kessler here at the capital LP has just come into the room full of supporters. There's a large crowd here. Lou Wong Berg has lieutenant governor is also here are linear doll is in the room can congressman-elect. and independent Republican state party chairman Vernon Apple as you hear it's a joyous crowd shortly before noon. We received a telegram from Governor Rudy perpich. We are told that purpose offered his congratulations to mr. Cui and said that he would cooperate fully with we during the transition period in government. Mr. Cui is standing at the table now with his family. The crowd is pushing forward. Mr. Cui waving to the crowd (00:00:54) will go up to the front. Thank all the working press who have been working so closely with us and during the campaign all the voters of the state of Minnesota for the tremendous support. We received this election our heartfelt. Thanks go to all of you for making this possible. I like to read to you a telegram from Governor Rudy perpich says congratulations on your Victory and the weeks to come you'll find my staff and I will cooperate fully in the transition process. I know that we can work together in the best interest of the citizens of the state of Minnesota best wishes for the purpose family to the Qui family sincerely Rudy perpich. (00:01:48) There's nothing like (00:01:49) Victory (00:01:51) you come to the day after the election. I must mention a few words because the purpose family have not had that experience and that's tough for any individual and their family and I want all of the family of Rudy purposes as well as the governor to know that we hold him in the highest regard and respect. I thank him for his willingness to cooperate in every way to make this transition as smooth as possible for the citizens of the state of Minnesota. Rudy purpose has done a lot to help the state of Minnesota, and I think we ought to give him a tremendous. Thanks for what he's done. Case any of you are wondering how the folks are up here. This is Gretchen you seen a lot during the camp Aid. This is going to be your next (00:02:47) first lady. (00:02:54) And you're running my running mate who's now the lieutenant governor elect the state of Minnesota Lou Weinberg. And Jane, do we call you the second lady? The state was to tremendous people who wouldn't been possible for Lou and I without Gretchen and Jane the work they did and the support they gave all through this entire campaign. I'd like to introduce to you. Also the members of the cui family who are here. We going to go over stand by Sarah so we can match you up with this is our son Joel and his wife Sarah right here and the next is Dan. Dan is from Montana by the way, Joe and Sarah are here in st. Paul and Dave and Jenny coffin our daughter Jenny and her husband Dave who are from, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over on this side is our oldest son Fred and his wife Mindy who are in Butte Montana right now. And this is our youngest son Ben who is living with us put a presently and Bloomington is going to move with us over to some of the Avenue. Imagine this has been a traumatic time politically for the state of Minnesota and the people have made their choice. I'm thankful that yesterday was a beautiful sunshiny day. I'm thankful that the campaign aired the issues and brought them out to the people can make a choice and so that can be no second guessing the people have made the decision. It made it clear. It's an awesome responsibility that's placed on those of us who have now been elected to office in the state of Minnesota for the first time. It was also for the two United States senators who have been elected to office because the people of the state of Minnesota want to be involved in their (00:05:02) government. They have a feeling for the (00:05:04) state and a sharing together and it's best way I can explain it is real a spirit that exists between people and make them proud to be minnesotans and so as Lou and I move ahead now and putting our government together. Going to select the best possible people we can and those positions where we're going to have the opportunity to make appointments. We're going to walk through and make certain that that government is responsive to the people and the opportunity for the people to express themselves. I laid out issues during the campaign. I want to pursue with the state legislature. I'm pleased to see the tremendous results. I understand it now. It's sets that 6767 and it reminds me of another time when there was a pit even balance that they're trying to figure out who is in control of the legislature understand this 45 that possibly there will be a recount and would find out how it turns out when open finally as done but it leaves us it gives us an opportunity now to move with the program in the state of Minnesota that I've laid out some and I'll be telling you about more in the future. This isn't a good day to do it also Gretchen and I hope to spend a few days together and a little vacation so we can get acquainted with each other different than having everybody know who We are and become celebrities in that and that way my father is very ill and I don't know whether we'll be able to leave or not. And that's something that's occurring really special tremendous person 93 years of age was lived a Wonderful Life and loves us Lord and his as he is moving to that time with total peace. What's going to happen is really a beautiful thing that's happening with him. Also. I want to thank (00:06:51) two people who have been (00:06:52) my chairman and chairwoman during the campaign Walter Johnson who began with me from the very beginning and Betty Kramer who moved a little bit later into it and then Bob and erga who is with us here who was a campaign manager. I told Bob when we win he's going to be looked on as a genius. But when you look at all the things in a tough test, I mean that's the most difficult task of all to be the campaign manager because I could go out and meet the people on have that reward that comes with a handshake and say we're with you Al, you know that a candidate could practically live on that hardly have to eat (00:07:30) because (00:07:33) you really feed on it and you recall tremendous person in Minnesota politics Hubert Humphrey and how he did that with just joy in his politics. This really is too many as you can you could recognize you practice feet on it as well. But Bob and ago did that superb job and I want to thank him publicly for all of the people here for the great job you do. We have a transition period now and I've asked dick Bragg who was originally with Governor lavenders office to sort of head up the transition for me to get that feel together because Dick and I walk together for a long time. He was with the previous administration has a feeling for the governor's office. So you can look to him and the others will be filling in with him on it. Also. I just want you to know that I want to spend this time between now and the inaugural as much as I possibly can working on building this government that's going to be tough for some people for want me to show up to speak at various organizations as funny as soon as you get elected governor. I have no everybody's gonna want me to be there and talk with them. I want to spend the time working on on the state government. I want to share with you totally. Look what I'm doing. I recognize as we walk through in the past you I've indicated there are times when you have to talk to people individually and are to develop that understanding that I Want to Do privately for the rest of what a layout you're going to have a totally open government with me you find out anything that's happening because the public money and public officials and all the people who will be appointed by myself will know that everything you do is going to be open to the public for you to to totally see. I'm also wanted to spend (00:09:19) Sundays with my family in every way possible. (00:09:23) So I want to tell you that I don't want to it except on a rare occasion to be anything doing anything on Sunday the spending with the family you ought to know that early see you'd be aware. So that's what I've got to say this morning and boy is going to be great working with you folks for the next four years (00:09:46) governor-elect. I think we may be taking some questions from the audience. Because of the quality of the candidates you go along with with that or (00:10:10) at least I sure feel like one of us know as I look at the other people who are running this time. I believe that the Republicans feel that the best quality of candidates. They really ever have as a total group. I want to put one against anybody else who served in the past because we have two outstanding Governors who have served before that. We know in recent times L Merrill Anderson and Harold Evander, so I'm not saying anything about that but the total group and also as independent Republicans, we were completely unified any of those battles that were philosophically philosophical differences in the party didn't exist at all. People. Just put those in the back burner said we're going to win this time. I think those are the really the strength of the independent Republican party and I felt good in those last two days where those of us were running for Statewide office and are going to stay in the state where Running together and making appearances together so you can see the group and the quality and caliber of (00:11:04) them. (00:11:13) No, I don't plan to do that. I plan on carrying that 1 through 2 to the n and my staff I have an exceptionally good staff and they'll be working on the constituents needs. This was mostly this involved in now because there won't be any further legislation Carl Perkins asked me if I'd come down for a hearing in Kentucky school lunch. And I told my figure we better send somebody else to the committee down to do that in the next month rather than it going myself as I indicated to you. However, I will not take my retirement benefits. Secondly, I'm going to be out in December to close up the office and then work with Arlen hird all to make that transition as easy as possible. And we really have an outstanding person who succeeded me in the Congress (00:12:14) you face an incredibly difficult task in a couple of months and just getting a handle on what's happening in the budget making process and trying to Fashion a budget. How soon are you going to try to get involved in that process (00:12:30) today? I was just over talking to some of the people and Commissioner of administrations office to get the schedule and how the budget hearings are going to be held and tomorrow. There will be a budget hearing held going to have some people there. I hope to involved Self directly on that just as soon as possible, you know Gretchen comes first. And that's for I probably won't be there tomorrow with it. But we're going to move immediately onto it and we have to take a look at that that budget because it has to fit the programs that I'm going to develop and it is your right as an incredibly short time to (00:13:05) do that. We remain confident that you can find enough money to finance your (00:13:10) yes, certainly am I hope to since I don't have them ready to go now talking to some individuals. Yeah, I was very aware of the law that you shouldn't promise another person that job in order to get your own and therefore I didn't talk to anyone before hand. So today we're just beginning to that and my first intent is get that whole organization that those who I do ask to fill those roles will then know what their responsibilities are and that's the first understanding has to be done and I hope to have them a place in first of January. Yes, I'd like to do that as soon in December as possible to start making those announcements that will be filling those (00:14:04) positions. (00:14:09) The question from Bob is will there be new people and every position I'm not going to just absolutely say everybody has to go but most everybody. Yeah week. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I began today and until we go on vacation. I'll be personally involved in it. We're going to have a little Gap in there. Otherwise, I will. Yes, right. We have planned to go tomorrow. I'm going to go down see Dad this afternoon in Northfield. Yes the retirement home there. His name is Albert. The second one. Well first in the house that has to be both of the groups after me to find out who the leaders are. I plan to meet at just as quickly as I can with those 67 give or take independent Republicans in the house and the 19 in the Senate and then first talk to the leaders on the dfl side on it because we need to know each other and start working on the programs and I would expect they are like the people I served with in the Congress who has always been a democrat-controlled Congress and but I've served on for they have the best interest of the state at heart right now and they don't have to work on getting rid of me for a while because I have a four-year (00:15:53) term. Do you have any specific Mission? (00:16:01) Well, I just want to go and talk about that. I don't know. (00:16:07) You're inheriting some volatile situation such as the Boundary Waters problem in the northern part of the statement power line project is central part of the state and oil pipeline through your old congressional district. Do you plan to take a personal role at any of those (00:16:25) issues? Yes evidence to the fact that I have and the crude oil pipeline down through my district and I plan to in the future and as you look at all of those protests As One Red Thread that runs through all of them, they believe that the government is telling them how to run their lives and they want a voice in it themselves. I believe that's where one has to start with and any time when you have that kind of a head-butting loggerheads that they reached the one who asked to have the other side to give had better make some gives on the on the government side and that's why I'm dealing with a crude oil pipeline the pushing towards putting that line alongside. The railroad is the kind of The farmers were looking for in the farmers were very Cooperative individuals. Once you deal with a realistically with their problem because I know that one. Well those tile lions are important to the livelihood of the farmers and nobody can tell them all we're going to do this not hurt you at all. They had all the effort and expense of putting those tie lines in and they are going to have the crops without them as we have to be aware of that you support Yes, I was the one who first suggested and pushed the rerouting of it right (00:17:35) there were times. I thought in the last couple weeks that you look less than confident and optimistic about your chances going into the voting booth yesterday. Did you think you think you would win or were you uneasy about it? (00:17:51) Or I thought I was going to win yesterday. I could just tell you my own feelings on it. I was pretty confident through August, especially when that poll showed me even even up then I began to worry and after the primary and what happened in the primary election, I became very concerned and really from the primary until just about the end of October. I didn't think I was going to win. I didn't tell anybody but Gretchen about that but and worked as hard as I could during that period then I started building up and I became then aware that the possibilities of winning we made that two-day trip on Monday or the and Monday it was very obvious to me that we're going to win obviously is going to be And so as I started building in on then I realized well, that's a big task. You got a front of me. I'll walk (00:18:52) understand that you took a poll that showed you time just just before the election some others another Pool behind the (00:19:01) party the party took one that showed us about a point and a half ahead and the st. Paul papers. I recall had one that's only one point behind and the Minnesota Paul had made it was four points behind and they're they're asking the same people at ask knocked over and asked in September so I didn't have as much confidence in that but you're asking what do I think of them? I think they give you an idea of the way people are moving. But when the movement is on there's no way they're going to be able to tell what's going to happen on Election Day because it was so apparent. Is there a people who hadn't made up their mind and even on Sunday? Monday people said to me I haven't made up my mind yet. I said is there anything that I can say the help you and they said no there wasn't they just wanted to think that one up make up their own mind. I don't want anybody pouring anything on them anymore after that. You just heard I had to wait to see how that turned out. But the ones in that last week and a half who had made up their minds by Monday Sunday and Monday you could see where they were moving. That's what made me feel good on it. What made the difference I believe the one that started it out was the audit commission papers working papers and when the to dfl Senators, mr. McCutcheon, mr. Coleman had their press conference here at that time. I could see the way that would affect the people and I think that's where it started. The second was the debate and I can see a visual visible difference after the debate and then after that sort of built (00:20:29) on itself. During the campaign you pledged that running made would have a much more active role in previous Lieutenant Governor's what might that (00:20:40) all right now he has to talk to his Board of Education in Bemidji. And so I don't want first he has to do that. I don't want to talk about anything that's going to give me any trouble and talk to his board. But Lou is going to be a very integral part of my Administration. We haven't laid it out specifically what it is, but you'll know soon as we get it down on paper and I want Lou working with me this whole period of time up to the administration and with it and so he'll have a very effective at administrative responsibilities with me and also have visibility around the state as lieutenant. Governor. You'll never wonder who my lieutenant (00:21:18) governor. (00:21:24) He would be very good at that. Especially an education expect be doing that myself to (00:21:39) taxes School a major revision of priorities. Are you studying? (00:21:58) Now we're going to move into that because see I didn't want to do that just unilaterally because there are teachers their administrators. There are parents or school board members specifically that need to have an input with that. I want to lay out the broad aspect of where I'm going to go and I think they are excited about the possibilities there and we'll put those details together. So we'll have the legislation ready when the legislature meets and same way on the other proposals that I (00:22:24) made. That's right. (00:22:38) That's right. That's right. Because as I said, the population of the state is not going down the part of the school enrollment in elementary secondary school is and so if they just continue to make the same expenditures for Education with the increase, of course to offset inflation, then we can keep those programs out there and then have smaller classes so they can give the individual attention. And when I worked in the legislation in the 57th session of legislation, we passed the programs for special education for handicapped. That's when we finance that on programs rather than just enrollment. So we have that principle laid out there already in one area of educational I think has worked extremely (00:23:21) well. What is going to be your top priority considering way to legislate (00:23:31) the priorities that I have laid out three constitutional amendments. They want to work on and initiative and referendum a limitation on spending somewhere what Michigan had on the ballot this year and then the limitation on taxes. So we won't have the automatic increases priority will be the tax cut proposals but I made and then very high in the priorities which I had a hard time not going with right to begin in the beginning. Is that the whole education area because when you look at the future of the state, but we do in education and developing the character and the Knowledge and Skills of students probably has more to do with the cost of government the long run we talk about welfare retraining and Corrections than anything else we have to do and when you talk about individuals for instance with specific learning disability say dyslexia, and there's many a person who's in jail because they Couldn't learn how to read and so we need to help them. Learn how to read in a non-traditional way. I think those are the skills that now have been developed out of research where he can reach young people and that to me is really the future that I'd like to help them all look for (00:24:38) your plans are going to be easier to implement. - I (00:24:42) just oh, yes. Yes. It's really well. It'd be much easier. And as I said before the fact that helped we twins in itself has some political Dynamics to it but to have now the increase in the legislature to that size you just recognize that if the state senate had been up for election to might have carried both (00:25:04) bodies. What are the results of this election? (00:25:10) Well, they came in once too often. (00:25:12) And when I when I went (00:25:16) up to Duluth or two individuals that said to me that until that time they were going to vote for all dfl. And they said they'd had it and they weren't going to anymore and you know, when you find couple people know there's all kinds of other individuals. I feel that way as well. And so they made the same mistake. They did two years earlier in the 7th District to learn their lessons. The others who are going to working with specifically I'll add two other names is Bob Renner and Bob and Rita. (00:26:01) Fantastic, nothing wrong with me the getting one night of sleep won't help. (00:26:10) Lou anything else you want to lay on the people now get used to being able to talk as lieutenant governor. (00:26:15) Well, (00:26:17) I guess I share with you an incident that shared with about thornburgh last night as we're flying back from that fly around our planes are put in a holding pattern and we haven't we going over see Paul for some reason we banked the capital of lit up happen to sit there on the end of the wing for a little bit and having the feeling we'd have from last couple of those two days of traveling you sort of felt that things were going right. But again, you don't know and I had the thought, you know, I'm a little afraid to lose but I'm also a little bit afraid to win because it's an awesome kind of responsibility and just very hopeful that things are going to involve a lot of people moving in the right (00:27:02) direction of coming months. Good, okay. Let's go. We've been listening to governor-elect Al quie and Lieutenant governor-elect. Lou Wong Burger. We was gracious in his victory. He said he held Governor purpose and Governor purposes family in the highest regard. He (00:27:22) said he did not want to make any concrete proposals as to how the state government will be changed, but he did announce that dick brag will be in charge of the transition period Bragg is a former staffer from former Governor Harold lavenders office. He said his new governor's office is already making plans for The Changing of the Guard and he said his priorities will be constitutional amendments for initiative and referendum government spending limits tax limitation and education and finally governor-elect Qui said he felt the stunning GOP sweep was a result of dfl divisiveness. (00:27:57) Biology Victory and by all accounts. It has been a republican victory in milk soda, and we are talking with a former Governor armor L Andersen of Minnesota who has been very interested in the ups and downs of the Republican Party. First of all, most of his life Governor Anderson. First of all, welcome and I'd like to get your reaction to election day result in Minnesota radish winning the Republican Party apparatus winning for these Republican voters about I'm sure the dressing their party work very hard. I'm sure the Republican Party worked very handy in the day to work very hard, but I think based on the election results, I think thing going on a whole lot more fun and really enjoying our whole lot more fundamental curdling artificially reality of corralling a paper ality tivity. When of the voting of the people a is the duty of the voting of is one of the interesting things it wasn't a Carlos is didn't go but at the very same time Spanish was winning by a big margin and so I was just so thrilled at many aspects of it from the standpoint of encouraging us in our pride in our state and the people of our state Rudy boschwitz for example will become one of the very few Jewish Senators here. He has from Minnesota and the tolerance of our people did that wasn't an issue. Nobody paid any attention at he just to find person. He's a fine man. What does it matter where he came from or what is nationality? So I thought it was a very important thing that as a person that was the way he was running and likewise all the way across the the resentment of the short campaign against on Frasier reflected so favorably on our people in many parts, Arch of the country and sometimes distressingly here there seems to be too great a tolerance 440 mudslinging and false charges and so on but here the people just weren't going to stand for even Democrats within the party who might be expected to Rally to their party. This wasn't a party Victory. It wasn't a party lost. The people were were expressing their essential sense of decency. They're essential sense of of Tolerance and understanding and acceptance of people of all Races colors and Creeds and I just think it was a glorious night not so much because some Republicans win though. I must say it's been a long drought that and it's kind of fun to to have some winners. I think was far more significant than that and we'll have many repercussions we mentioned before we began taping here that that there's enormous significance in the election of cui. And a switch in some of the legislative races as it will affect reapportionment. (00:31:02) I wanted to ask about those legislative races. We know now that Republicans have pulled close to even in the Minnesota House of Representatives in terms of balance and numbers and I'm wondering will this mean that the Minnesota Legislature or the house at least will be stalemated or does your recollection of legislative history in Minnesota tell you that we won't have a legislative stalemate that will have cooperation and that legislation will be able to be passed (00:31:29) along. I don't think we'll have a stalemate but I don't think we'll exactly have cooperation either but but here again legislators particularly tend to be very sensitive to their constituency and and they there's a limit to how much politics they can play on important issues and I believe on reapportionment which will be taking place in the 1981 legislative session after the 1980 census. Is very important and I think it's very good for the state that we have a party controlling the governorship different from the party that may still control the legislature at least one house and there will be an election intervening in the Senate. So there's still more can happen before that 81 reapportionment. But if it were to happen, at least this much will be true. The dfl will not be able to override a republican. Governor's veto. They must work together and people who served in the legislature or in governmental offices know that after election. There's a good deal of of gathering around issues rather than strictly party lines and something so rather than feeling it might have been better if one party had it all so there'd be no big fighter hassle or I think it's so infinitely much better that we have this balance. That is just going to require that legislature and Her to agree on a sensible balance that both can live with II do think it's going to take a high degree of skillful management, but I believe everyone will agree that that that in Al quie. There's going to be a governor who was very skillful at being understanding of opposing viewpoints. Although he was a minority member of the Congress. He was the ranking minority member on the house education and labor committee and and on many bills of great import. It was his leadership that frequently brought a solution that everybody could live with on some of the difficult problems in education and labor so I I would look for tenseness but not (00:33:45) impasse. I know we talked earlier Governor Anderson about the voting habits of minnesotans and this must certainly be a piece of interesting history this election yesterday. I noticed as I walked into the During Booth yesterday that one had to pay a certain amount of attention to the lever one. Wanted to pull if we were going between parties or among parties in certainly easy with the lever voting machines to go straight down the line. What does that tell you about? Voting habits of Minnesota the fact that there was no sweep (00:34:13) of one. Well, if the the interesting another interesting thing in Minnesota that reflects part of the fine composition of our state is that our largest block of Voters in Minnesota the independent voters not the dfl not three perfect Republican or pretty small minority in recent years. We do have independent voters and I think one of the most significant things about yesterday's election May well be that it was the greatest split election balloting in our history and it's obvious from the totals that were Republicans were elected in DF ehlers elected and legislative races in one place one and another place law. There was an enormous amount of selective voting and it's true that the know Very very few people just go in and blindly vote a straight slate anymore in Minnesota. And I think again that's greatly to the credit party organization is important but when you pick and choose between two parties and then then you'll get a healthy rivalry. It's like the the Wolves and the Moose suppan up in the island in the National Park up there. They tend to hold each other to their best performance. I wanted to ask you two (00:35:31) something related to that (00:35:34) in your recollection of History. (00:35:36) Do you believe that the the vote we saw yesterday is is indicative (00:35:42) of the mood of the people. Let me put it to you (00:35:44) this way. The question has been asked often whether or not the electorate was responding to cries of tax cut or too high and inflation. (00:35:52) Do you see the (00:35:52) response of Voters in yesterday's election as one of Going out the incumbents or The Rascals as some might say and calling for New Blood to cut (00:36:02) taxes. Not quite that simple. I don't think I do think our legislature had become somewhat arrogant particularly in paying themselves High per diem and salaries and pensions and I think that was much more of an irritant to people and maybe those legislatures realized I think the people of Minnesota are willing to pay for a good education and good Services. I think they want prudent spending and I think they came to feel as result of the Great Lakes commission exposure and some of the other things that they were just throwing money around a little little too fast and loose also the lack of indexing of income tax was just generating huge amounts of money going into the state's coffers without any change in the tax structure. So I think correction Are people will be will be looking for I guess in the whole area of taxing and spending I think maybe the greatest thing yesterday was a feeling that spending at the federal level must be brought down or taxes up to balance that federal budget and the and in that way to get it may be the single biggest contribution to ending inflation is to get our federal budget in balance and I believe if it was clearly put two are people that look we've got to cut some spending but we may even have to increase taxes. We've got to put a halt to inflation and that'll be the biggest contribution your own welfare. I think in that area I think in Minnesota people want prudent spending, but they don't want to sacrifice our University our colleges our elementary secondary education are fine program is special education. Good care. Mentally ill so on. I think there's some concern in areas of welfare and unemployment insurance where there have been abuses we don't want to abuse but I think we're willing to pay for a high level of Public Service the Supreme Court race in Minnesota. (00:38:12) Not an unexpected result perhaps but perhaps an unexpected style of campaigning for the to Supreme Court. (00:38:19) See I thought is terribly unfortunate. I served on the Constitution study commission and we recommended and I'd like to see this revived in light of this campaign. We suggested that judges not stand for election against an opponent who could file a it's unseemly and cost too much and it has all sorts. What we recommended was that a sitting judge named be on the ballot for approval or disapproval to continue or to be removed if continued they go on if the vote of the people is That we want to change then there was a commission that would screen candidate make recommendations to the governor. And then he would appoint we would just do away with this process of subjecting a sitting judge to the necessity of organizing a campaign raising money. And and and and of course, I think it was there was and kind of an anti woman element in this thing that it seemed like that maybe Rosalie wall could be easily defeated because she was a woman. Well, I hope we're getting over that nonsense and I just hope that more and more women will submit themselves to the election process and other offices we could well use many more women in Minnesota Government at all levels of operation and I was so pleased at the Rose Lee wall did as well as she should but she never should have been subjected to the kind of Challenge and then the nastiness of that campaign. And it's I believe the people are going to learn that the people of Minnesota just won't stand for that kind of thing anymore. (00:40:03) Finally one other question the party endorsement system in the case of the dfl errs, Apparently party endorsement stuck in this case the to unendorsed candidates. Mr. Matson. Mr. Short did not make it for the Republicans. I'm less clear on the outcome there. What is your feeling about the endorsement process? Is it (00:40:21) working? Yes. I think the endorsement process is is working. But I also think the primary system should work. I think the endorsement process should be a recommendation but that the people's vote should be the final determination and and therefore ordinarily the primary winner should become the supported candidate of the party but in both of these cases, I think you have to hand it to the you might say the Integrity the personal Gritty of many people in the dfl party that they wouldn't endorse match they repudiated him. So the even though he won the Primary, they wouldn't accept him the same way with Bob Short, even though he's a longtime Democrat and a lot of ways fine fellow and that a great success the kind of a campaign just turn them off. I think it wasn't so much that the endorsed candidate Was Defeated that wasn't the issue but it was the kind of campaign that was used to defeat Don Frazier who is a highly, you know, admirable person in many ways, even though etiological e people might differ but to dump him in the vicious way. It was really done. That's what I think was repudiated. So I think the the party endorsement system is fine. I think the primary election should be at the top of that but it's just as we've come to feel that even me. Terry Personnel if ordered to do something that violates human decency. It isn't to be done. (00:42:05) Thanks a lot Governor Elmer L Andersen for visiting with us (00:42:08) today. Green shade real good to be here. Thank you. (00:42:11) Dan Wilson recorded that conversation with former Governor Olson little bit earlier this (00:42:16) morning right now. It's 15 minutes (00:42:19) before one o'clock and joining us live in our Studios is University of Minnesota History Professor High (00:42:25) Berman Professor Berman. What happened? Well, I think we saw last night one of the numerous historic shifts that have taken place in Minnesota politics of any number of which we can probably focus on but I think the one that we saw a lot last night really began with the September 12th Primary in effect. I think that Bob shorts coattails dragged the top of the ticket of the dfl down to defeat The top of the ticket going down to defeat may have been the result of Republican planning. I'm not sure that it was but it certainly suggests that the Republican crossover in September September 12th in the dfl primary was a major factor in the defeat of the top of the ticket last night at suggestions that this was in part the strategy of some Republicans at least and of course, they were following the lead of Bob Short who invited them in I'm not suggesting they were doing it on their own it was of course conversation. I had on September 13th with Senator Ash back the Senate minority leader who chart Langley said that many of his Republican friends voted dfl primary, and he meant mentioned specifically re Planck who was the campaign treasurer. For mr. Queens campaign, there's another set of reasons. I think the dfl party was in disarray largely because of that primary, but I think that was coming in any case mainly because the dfl has systematically moved away from its social reform objectives. It is alienated. It's its liberal reform wing and without the liberal reform Wing, there is no sense of commitment and sense of political activity on the part of a large segment of the dfl. I think too. There's another thing that we should keep in mind and that that basically the the national results Seem to suggest that not only Minnesota but the rest of the nation is in a volatile stage incumbents were in trouble many parts of the country some changes in Senate and gubernatorial races suggest that that the malaise of the Minnesota voter was felt around the country. I think there's a combination of these things. Let me further remark that these are off-the-cuff remarks a day after before. We had a chance to look at all the figures before we had a chance to really consider all of this. This is just off the cuff kind of (00:45:27) remarks. Well, I don't think we'll hold it over your head won't keep this tape and play it back right? Here's later and say (00:45:33) you talk about the malaise of the (00:45:35) Minnesota voter. Why was it that the dfl was unable to respond to that sentiment (00:45:40) a combination of reasons? I think I think the dfl itself was on the defensive for a number of reasons. Uses I think the major one being of course the absence of add-on Fraser at the top of the ticket the lack of any kind of ideological Spectrum at the top of the ticket. The other reason of course is that that Senator Anderson was under vigorous attack for acts committed or omitted or alleged acts committed or emitted specifically his appointment. They the governor was subject to a last minute Campaign which focused on the audit commission papers over which he had no control, but nonetheless it certainly negatively affected his Public Image with large numbers of Voters. Another thing that really interested me is that the large turnout anticipated yesterday and to some extent confirmed by the voting statistics show that the Just turn out took place in the Republican strongholds in southern Minnesota. I haven't seen all the figures yet. I'm seeing the northern Minnesota figures, but the northern Minnesota figures do not suggest a massive turnout up there the Twin Cities area the metro area turnout was moderate to heavy and it did not of course result in a kind of margin for even the strongest of the dfl top of the ticket candidates Governor perpich that was necessary to overcome southern Minnesota Republican votes, you mentioned a minute ago about (00:47:29) the fact that there was the dfl in your view has moved away from its liberal (00:47:34) tradition, but you didn't see in the campaign any of the (00:47:38) candidates espousing liberal causes (00:47:41) even Rudy perpich who has been a liberal certainly in his in his career (00:47:46) was talking tax cuts. Everybody was talking tax cuts not Programs to help those who are in need and that was a nationwide Trend (00:47:53) to that is correct one wonders. Therefore if had there been a strong liberal somewhere in that (00:47:59) mix if that would have made any difference in (00:48:01) this it would have I think it would have you know, it's interesting that the absence of Abaddon phrase with the top of the ticket meant a kind of of resignation on the part of those dear fellows who are committed to social change social social reform things of that nature without that commitment and without the energy of that commitment. The rest of the dfl is in trouble. (00:48:26) Let's talk a little bit about the legislature which seems to me to be perhaps the well certainly one of the biggest stories of this election the independent Republicans picked up 32 seats in the Minnesota house. If the preliminary figures are correct would (00:48:40) only go down and be (00:48:41) weary constant so on but at any rate far more than even their most optimistic projections now, (00:48:50) To what do you attribute (00:48:51) that is that sort of a Statewide kind of thing again legislative races seem to be so personal in a way. And (00:48:57) yes, I think it's it's part of the Statewide kind of attitude particularly in a volatile situation where the voters are unsure what party stand for what individual stand forth. There. It is the tendency to vote out the incumbents and vote in some new blood many of the victims of that kind of attitude. Of course where some of the more prominent members of the dfl House leadership and thinking in terms of people like Bill Kelly who was the tax committee thinking in terms of peak petrify. So was assistant Majority Leader, they went down to defeat largely because the Republicans Did Mount a good campaign in terms of candidates and also because of the attitude that kick the Rascals out the allegations of fraud which by the way will soon discover was just as true as the allegations of of mismanagement and the 35 scandal in 1962. In other words unfounded certainly had an effect the you can't constantly make such allegations without it rubbing off people say well if it's repeated often enough they may be something true that some truth to it and I think in this connection, I think that that it was an effective campaign if one can say a dirty one. (00:50:39) Well, what about the 67 66 6 well, I thought it was going to be 67 and 6700. (00:50:47) I'm sorry minute. You're talking about historical. No, no, no. (00:50:49) I was talking about the balance in the in the legislature now if there is a if there's an even tie like that what kind of an impasse can you imagine happening? (00:50:58) Well, first of all, I don't think there will be an even tie. I think that that that one or the other of the caucuses will come out with with a narrow majority. But if there is an even tie obviously they're going to have to be some kind of arrangements made as to who will be speaker who will be Majority Leader. What will be the majority caucus won't be the minority caucus and that of course is something that would have to take place in negotiations between the leadership of both caucuses. (00:51:23) Just an interesting aside on a on that topic there was a listener who called a while ago who said that same thing happened in the state of Michigan in about nineteen fifty eight or so, they were 55 Republicans 55 Democrats. And the day the session opened. One of the Democrats was having surgery. So that was that's could be the outcome of that with (00:51:42) that very often happens of one. Some person is absent that will make the majority. Well what next for the (00:51:47) dfl. How does it recoup? (00:51:50) Well, I think that the FL will recoup. It's certainly not a an unmitigated disaster as a occurred to the farmer labor party say 1938 after all the dfl did win in Congressional races and four of the eight Congressional races, and it does have a number of constitutional officers. I think that that where the dfl goes depends on what the performance of the two Republican Senators and the Republican Governors going to be like, I think it's hard to predict, you know, it's hard to predict what the future will be but I can't predict one thing with certainty the dfl is not dead just as the Republicans weren't dead after Watergate (00:52:38) and they certainly proved it in this election records and you can say that for sure. What do you expect from from the (00:52:46) the administration Well, it's hard to really predict what Al quie Administration will do. I think he certainly will put in his own Commissioners. Now that the state legislature has made it possible for the governor to replace Commissioners at their will at the governor's will that is he certainly has indicated in his acceptance or Victory statement that he's going to go with the priorities that he said in The Campaign which essentially is initiative referendum tax-cutting and spending limitations while at the same time keeping up the high level of educational spending and services. He did suggest that I'll take him at his word at this point is the restoration of (00:53:37) balance a positive factor in your (00:53:39) view. Well, yes, it did of course keeps both political parties in fighting trim if that's you know, if that is a positive accomplishment. Yes. I think I think finally as far as the dfl it probably has gotten rid of its spoiler the last two decades. Mr. Short was a spoiler in 66 or help big spoiler and 66. Mr. Short was the spoiler in 56 and now he was a spoiler in 78. I think that that was the short has nowhere else to go but prop possibly by the Minnesota Twins, (00:54:22) you're really really convinced that it was Bob Short whoo-hoo cause the defeat of the dfl ticket this (00:54:29) time given the fact that that it did preclude the full spectrum of ideological commitments in the dfl on the top of the ticket. Yes, given the fact that mr. Short alienated a sizable segment of the traditional dfl voters. Yes. Well, thank you very (00:54:50) much University of Minnesota History Professor High Berman speaking with us live here in our in our Saint Paul Studios.