Karl Rolvaag

Karl Fritjof Rolvaag (July 18, 1913 – December 20, 1990) was an American diplomat and politician who served from March 25, 1963, to January 2, 1967, as the 31st governor of Minnesota. A member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party, he was the son of the author and professor Ole E. Rølvaag.

Karl Rolvaag
Rolvaag in 1961
United States Ambassador to Iceland
In office May 9, 1967 – March 27, 1969
President	Lyndon Johnson Richard Nixon
Preceded by	James K. Penfield
Succeeded by	Luther I. Replogle
31st Governor of Minnesota
In office March 25, 1963 – January 2, 1967
Lieutenant	Alexander M. Keith
Preceded by	Elmer L. Andersen
Succeeded by	Harold LeVander
36th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
In office January 3, 1955 – January 8, 1963
Governor	Orville L. Freeman Elmer L. Andersen
Preceded by	Donald O. Wright
Succeeded by	Alexander M. Keith
Personal details
Born	Karl Fritjof Rolvaag (1913-07-18)July 18, 1913 Northfield, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	December 20, 1990(1990-12-20) (aged 77) Northfield, Minnesota, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Florence Amelia Boedeker (divorced) Marian Rankin MacKenzie ​ ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	2
Profession	Politician, soldier

The 1962 election was held on November 6, but the results were not known until a 139-day recount was completed in March 1963. Rolvaag won the closest gubernatorial election in state history, defeating the incumbent, Elmer L. Andersen by 91 votes out of over 1.3 million cast. He is one of only five Minnesota Democrats to win a gubernatorial election with a Democrat in the White House.

Background

A native of Northfield, Minnesota, Rolvaag lived in his hometown and graduated from St. Olaf College. He then fought in World War II, rising to the rank of lieutenant and commanding a tank. After the war, he went to Norway to learn about politics before returning home to Minnesota. He unsuccessfully ran for the United States House of Representatives in 1946, 1948, and 1952. From 1950 to 1954, Rolvaag served as chairman of the DFL. In 1954, he was elected lieutenant governor and Ray Hemenway became DFL chairman. In 1962, Rolvaag ran for governor and won. The election was famously close, decided by only 91 votes.

Governorship

Compared to his predecessors, both DFLer and Republican, Rolvaag was a moderate governor. He was the first Minnesota governor to serve a four-year term. The legislature was dominated by conservatives during his term, and Rolvaag vetoed more legislation than any of his predecessors.

Rolvaag is remembered for a leadership role in bringing reform to the state's institutions for the mentally disabled, leading to improved conditions and treatment for people with developmental disabilities. He also changed the organization of the state's junior colleges. Formerly, the local school board ran each college separately; Rolvaag designed a coordinated statewide system with the goal of putting every Minnesotan within commuting distance of an institution of higher education. He also bitterly opposed significant expansion plans by the state colleges and vocally opposed designating a second state research university. Fort Snelling was restored into a museum during his term.

In 1964, after Hubert Humphrey was elected Vice President of the United States, Rolvaag appointed Walter Mondale to Humphrey's seat in the United States Senate.

When Rolvaag ran for reelection in 1966, his party did not endorse him, opting instead for Lieutenant Governor Sandy Keith. Rolvaag entered the DFL's primary with a cry of "Let the people decide!" and roundly defeated Keith. He lost to Republican nominee Harold LeVander in the November general election.

Later life

In 1967, after leaving office, Rolvaag was appointed United States Ambassador to Iceland by President Lyndon Johnson. He returned to Minnesota in 1970 and was elected to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. He resigned that post in 1975 in order to seek treatment for alcoholism. His alcohol addiction eventually led to the end of his 37-year marriage, but he overcame his heavy drinking in the 1980s. Rolvaag stayed out of politics the rest of his life, but helped others work through their problems with alcoholism, attending meetings and giving talks in places as nearby as his hometown of Northfield and as far off as Sweden. In 1982, he married Marian Rankin Mackenzie, a friend from high school with whom he had reunited at their class's 50-year reunion. He had two children from his first marriage.

Rolvaag died at his home in Northfield on December 20, 1990, aged 77.

Sources

• Minnesota Historical Society,
• The New York Times, Ex-Gov. Karl Rolvaag, Minnesotan, 78, Dies, December 21, 1990

Papers

Correspondence, political files, subject files, personal files, news clippings, print materials, and sound and visual materials of Karl F. Rolvaag are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.