Hubert Humphrey

Hubert Humphrey
Born	Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr. May 27, 1911
Birthplace	Wallace, South Dakota, United States
Died	January 13, 1978 Waverly, Minnesota, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, pharmacist, professor
Known for	38th Vice President of the United States, lead author of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, co-founder of Americans for Democratic Action
Education	University of Minnesota (B.A.); Louisiana State University (M.A.)
Spouse(s)	Muriel Buck Humphrey
Children	4
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom (posthumous, 1980)

Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr. (May 27, 1911 – January 13, 1978) was an American politician who served as the 38th vice president of the United States from 1965 to 1969 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. A defining figure in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party during the mid-twentieth century, Humphrey represented Minnesota in the United States Senate across two separate tenures—from 1949 to 1964 and again from 1971 until his death in 1978. His political career spanned more than three decades and encompassed roles as mayor of Minneapolis, United States senator, Senate Majority Whip, vice president, and presidential nominee. Humphrey was the lead author of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, introduced the first legislative initiative to create the Peace Corps, and co-founded both the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) and Americans for Democratic Action. His 1948 speech at the Democratic National Convention calling for an end to racial segregation marked a turning point in the national debate over civil rights. In the 1968 presidential election, Humphrey secured the Democratic nomination amid deep internal party divisions over the Vietnam War but lost the general election to Republican Richard Nixon. His legacy as a champion of civil rights, arms control, and social welfare legislation endures in American political life, and his name continues to be honored through institutions including the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, which brings accomplished professionals from around the world to the United States for academic study and professional development.

Early Life

Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr. was born on May 27, 1911, in Wallace, South Dakota, a small town in the eastern part of the state. He grew up in a family that was politically active and intellectually engaged. His father, Hubert H. Humphrey Sr., was a pharmacist and local Democratic officeholder in a region dominated by the Republican Party. The elder Humphrey instilled in his son a deep interest in politics and public affairs from an early age.

The Humphrey family felt the effects of the Great Depression acutely, and young Hubert was compelled to help support the family. He trained as a pharmacist, earning a license and working in his father's drugstore in Huron, South Dakota, for a number of years. This experience gave him firsthand knowledge of the economic hardships facing rural Americans during the Depression era and shaped his later advocacy for social welfare programs and economic justice.

Humphrey eventually left South Dakota to pursue higher education and a career beyond pharmacy. He attended the University of Minnesota, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He later obtained a master's degree from Louisiana State University, studying political science. His academic training deepened his commitment to progressive politics and prepared him for a career in public service and education.

In the early 1940s, Humphrey moved to Minneapolis, where he began to build a career in both academia and politics. In 1943, he became a professor of political science at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. That same year, he made his first bid for public office, running for mayor of Minneapolis in a campaign that ended in defeat. The loss, however, did not deter him from political engagement; instead, it galvanized his determination to build a stronger political organization in Minnesota.

Education

Humphrey attended the University of Minnesota, where he earned his bachelor's degree. He subsequently pursued graduate studies at Louisiana State University, where he completed a master's degree in political science. His academic training provided the intellectual foundation for his career in politics and public policy, and his time at both institutions exposed him to diverse perspectives on governance, economics, and social justice. After completing his graduate education, Humphrey returned to Minnesota, where he joined the faculty of Macalester College as a professor of political science in 1943.

Career

Early Political Career and Mayor of Minneapolis

Humphrey's entry into organized politics began in earnest in the mid-1940s. In 1944, he played a central role in the founding of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), a merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party. This new political organization became a dominant force in Minnesota politics and provided Humphrey with a powerful base from which to launch his career.

In 1945, Humphrey was elected mayor of Minneapolis, a position he held until 1948. As mayor, he made sweeping changes in Minneapolis City Hall, undertaking reforms that reshaped the administration of the city. His tenure as mayor established his reputation as an energetic and reform-minded leader and positioned him for a national political career.

In 1947, while still serving as mayor, Humphrey co-founded Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), a left-wing organization that distinguished itself by its anti-communist stance. The ADA sought to promote liberal policies—including support for civil rights, labor unions, and social welfare programs—while firmly opposing communist influence in American politics and the labor movement.

1948 Democratic National Convention and Election to the Senate

Humphrey's national prominence rose dramatically at the 1948 Democratic National Convention. He delivered a landmark address in which he successfully advocated for the inclusion of a strong civil rights plank in the party's platform, calling for an end to racial segregation. The speech was one of the most consequential moments at a twentieth-century political convention, as it prompted a walkout by several Southern delegations and helped reshape the Democratic Party's position on civil rights.

In November 1948, Humphrey was elected to the United States Senate from Minnesota, succeeding Joseph H. Ball. His election marked the beginning of a Senate career that would span, in total, more than two decades and place him at the center of nearly every major domestic policy debate of the postwar era.

United States Senate: First Tenure (1949–1964)

Humphrey served three terms in the Senate, from January 1949 to December 1964. During this period, he became one of the Senate's most prominent liberals and a leading advocate for civil rights, disarmament, and social welfare legislation.

Among his most significant legislative achievements was his role as the lead author of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in American history. The act outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and it dismantled the legal framework of segregation that had persisted in the United States for nearly a century. Humphrey shepherded the legislation through the Senate, managing the complex parliamentary process required to overcome a prolonged Southern filibuster.

Humphrey also introduced the first legislative initiative to create the Peace Corps, an idea that was later adopted and expanded by President John F. Kennedy. He chaired the Select Committee on Disarmament, reflecting his longstanding interest in arms control and international peace. In the latter part of his first Senate tenure, from 1961 to 1964, Humphrey served as Senate Majority Whip, the second-ranking leadership position in the Senate Democratic caucus.

Humphrey sought the Democratic presidential nomination in both 1952 and 1960, but was unsuccessful on both occasions. In 1960, he competed in the primaries against Kennedy, most notably in the West Virginia primary, which Kennedy won decisively, effectively ending Humphrey's campaign.

Vice Presidency (1965–1969)

After John F. Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson acceded to the presidency. Johnson chose Humphrey as his running mate for the 1964 presidential election, and the Democratic ticket won a landslide victory over Republican nominee Barry Goldwater. Humphrey was inaugurated as the 38th vice president of the United States on January 20, 1965, succeeding Johnson, who had held the office under Kennedy.

As vice president, Humphrey served as a key ally of the Johnson administration's domestic agenda, including the Great Society programs that expanded federal investment in education, healthcare, and anti-poverty initiatives. However, his tenure was increasingly overshadowed by the Vietnam War. Humphrey publicly supported the administration's war policies, a position that created friction with the growing anti-war movement within the Democratic Party and the broader American public.

1968 Presidential Campaign

In March 1968, President Johnson made the surprise announcement that he would not seek reelection. Humphrey launched his campaign for the presidency, entering the race relatively late compared to anti-war challengers Eugene McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy. Rather than competing in the primaries, Humphrey focused on winning the support of delegates from non-primary states and securing the backing of the Democratic Party establishment.

Robert Kennedy's assassination in June 1968 further roiled the Democratic contest. At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Humphrey secured the nomination amid chaotic scenes of protest and police violence outside the convention hall. The deeply divided convention and the broader turmoil of 1968—marked by assassinations, urban unrest, and widespread opposition to the Vietnam War—cast a long shadow over Humphrey's candidacy.

Humphrey chose Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine as his running mate. In the general election, he faced Republican nominee Richard Nixon and independent candidate George Wallace. Humphrey's campaign was hampered by divisions within the Democratic Party over Vietnam, limited fundraising, and the perception that he was too closely tied to Johnson's war policies. He attempted to establish some distance from the administration's position on Vietnam as the campaign progressed, but the effort came too late to fully reunite his party.

On Election Day, Humphrey nearly matched Nixon's share of the popular vote, losing by less than one percentage point. However, the electoral vote margin was substantially wider, with Nixon winning 301 electoral votes to Humphrey's 191 and Wallace's 46. The defeat ended Humphrey's bid for the presidency and concluded his service as vice president on January 20, 1969.

Between Terms (1969–1970)

After leaving the vice presidency, Humphrey returned to private life and took a teaching position at Macalester College and the University of Minnesota. He remained active in Democratic Party affairs and public commentary. In February 1969, he visited Chicago and praised Mayor Richard J. Daley as part of an effort to unify the Democratic Party in the aftermath of the divisive 1968 campaign.

During this period, Humphrey offered public commentary on a range of national and international issues. In June 1969, he expressed support for President Nixon's efforts toward peace in Vietnam. He traveled to Europe in the summer of 1969, visiting Finland among other countries. He also criticized the Nixon administration's monetary policies, characterizing the tight money policy as harmful to the economy. In December 1969, he accused Nixon of "polarizing" the American people.

In early 1970, Humphrey called for a halt to nuclear arms tests and identified the economy as the key issue for the upcoming elections. He urged liberals to support law and order, and in May 1970, he offered assurances to Israeli leaders during a visit.

Return to the Senate (1971–1978)

In 1970, Humphrey won election to the United States Senate, succeeding Eugene McCarthy, who had not sought reelection. He returned to the Senate in January 1971, beginning a tenure that would last until his death in January 1978.

Upon his return, Humphrey resumed his advocacy on issues including hunger, nutrition, arms control, and civil rights. In May 1971, he and Senator George McGovern jointly criticized hunger and malnutrition in the United States. That same month, Humphrey publicly criticized the Americans for Democratic Action—the organization he had co-founded—for its call to impeach President Nixon, describing the move as premature.

In 1972, Humphrey entered the Democratic presidential primaries, seeking the nomination for a third time. He competed vigorously against a field that included George McGovern, Edmund Muskie, and George Wallace. On June 8, 1972, after suffering primary losses to McGovern, Humphrey considered challenging California's winner-take-all delegate rule at the convention. Ultimately, McGovern secured the nomination, and Humphrey declined an offer to serve as McGovern's running mate.

From 1977 to 1978, Humphrey served as Deputy President pro tempore of the United States Senate, an honorary position created specifically for him in recognition of his long career of public service.

Personal Life

Humphrey married Muriel Buck in 1936, and the couple had four children. Muriel Humphrey was a constant presence throughout his political career and, after his death, was appointed by the governor of Minnesota to fill his Senate seat, serving briefly in 1978.

Humphrey was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 1976. Despite his illness, he continued to serve in the Senate and remained active in public life. He died on January 13, 1978, at his home in Waverly, Minnesota, at the age of 66. His death prompted tributes from political leaders across the ideological spectrum. His Senate seat was subsequently filled by his wife, Muriel Humphrey, who served until a special election was held. That election was won by David Durenberger.

Recognition

Humphrey received the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1980, in recognition of his contributions to American public life. The award, the nation's highest civilian honor, reflected his long record of advocacy for civil rights, social welfare, and international peace.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, administered by the U.S. Department of State, was established in his memory. The program brings accomplished mid-career professionals from designated countries to the United States for a year of academic study and professional development. As of 2025, the program continues to accept applications from countries around the world, including Serbia, Kenya, and Yemen.

The Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota was named in his honor and remains one of the nation's leading schools of public policy. The Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C., which houses the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, also bears his name.

In 2025, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved a plan to replace the statue of Henry Mower Rice in the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol with a statue of Humphrey, reflecting his enduring significance to the state of Minnesota and to American political history.

Legacy

Humphrey's political career is closely associated with the expansion of civil rights protections, the growth of the American welfare state, and the liberal tradition within the Democratic Party. His leadership on the Civil Rights Act of 1964 placed him at the center of one of the most transformative legislative achievements of the twentieth century. His advocacy for the Peace Corps, arms control, and the alleviation of hunger and poverty reflected a consistent commitment to the use of government as an instrument of social progress.

His 1968 presidential campaign remains a subject of historical analysis and debate. A 2024 biography by James Traub, True Believer: Hubert Humphrey's Quest for a More Just America, examined Humphrey's career and his place within the broader history of American liberalism. The book and its reception reflect ongoing interest in Humphrey as a figure who embodied both the ambitions and the tensions of mid-century American liberalism, particularly the conflict between domestic reform and Cold War foreign policy commitments.

Humphrey's influence extended beyond his own career through the political figures he mentored and inspired. Walter Mondale, who succeeded Humphrey in the Senate in 1964 and later served as vice president under Jimmy Carter, was among those who built upon Humphrey's political legacy in Minnesota and nationally. The DFL party that Humphrey helped found remained a significant force in Minnesota politics for decades.

His time as mayor of Minneapolis, though brief, left a lasting imprint on the city's governance and political culture. Historical assessments have credited his mayoral tenure with introducing sweeping administrative reforms that modernized city government.

The continued operation of the Humphrey Fellowship Program, the naming of public buildings and academic institutions in his honor, and the 2025 effort to place his statue in the U.S. Capitol all attest to the durability of his reputation as one of the most consequential political figures in twentieth-century American life.