GORDON ROSENMEIER the Little Giant from Little Falls

GORDON ROSENMEIER The Little Giant from Little Falls

Steven Dornfeld

e had been out of office for with either of the major political par- the members who caucused with the more than three years and ties and did not believe the legislature Conservatives regarded themselves relegated to the relative ob- should get caught up in partisan as Republicans, and most members Hscurity of his law practice in politics. In Rosenmeier’s view, the leg- of the Liberal caucus regarded them- Little Falls. But when friends held a islature of his era had an outstanding selves as DFLers. But Rosenmeier dinner in 1974 to recognize former record and “its particular genius” was had little time for—or interest in— state senator Gordon Rosenmeier, its nonpartisan nature.3 partisan politics. He proudly declared, they did not have any trouble drawing Regarded as the most powerful “I have never so much as been to a a crowd. The assemblage of more than legislator of his time, the senator precinct caucus and I don’t know what 800 people included three Minnesota was a brilliant intellect, gifted orator, goes on.”5 governors, a third of the Minnesota and master of Senate rules who was Second, Rosenmeier—although Supreme Court, two members of Con- widely respected, if not feared. On the never serving as Senate majority gress, and scores of legislators.1 eve of Rosenmeier’s recognition din- leader—amassed enormous political Known in political circles as “The ner, former Republican Gov. Harold power. During the 1950s and 1960s, Little Giant from Little Falls,” Rosen- LeVander said, only partly in jest, “I he was the leading member of the meier cast a huge shadow during his happen to be one of eight governors Conservative clique that dominated three decades (1940–70) as a state who served under him.”4 the Senate, if not all of state govern- senator. He led the way in creating Among Minnesota legislators past ment. That clique included Sens. the State Planning Agency, the Pollu- and present, Rosenmeier stands out Donald Wright of Minneapolis, chair tion Control Agency, the Metropoli- for several reasons. First, he was a of the Tax Committee, and Donald tan Council, and the state’s regional product of, and defender of, the state’s Sinclair of Stephen, chair of the Fi- development commissions—and re- part-time, nonpartisan, “citizen leg- nance Committee. During his final structuring many other governmental islature.” He served during a period years in the Senate, Rosenmeier was units. Rosenmeier also helped mod- when legislators met only in odd- simultaneously chair of the Judiciary ernize the legislature, pushing to es- numbered years, had little in the way Committee, the Civil Administration tablish the Senate’s first professional of staff, drew upon their private-sector Subcommittee on State Departments, research staff. “He was a visionary,” experience, and appeared on the bal- the Finance Subcommittee on Educa- Democratic-Farmer-Labor Gov. Rudy lot without party designation. Most of tion, and the Committee on Commit- Perpich said of Rosenmeier, who died in 1989 at age 81.2 Rosenmeier was successful be- STEVEN DORNFELD was a political reporter, editorial writer, and editor during a 37-year cause of his considerable legislative career at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Tribune. He researched and wrote this article with the help of a Mondale Research Fellowship from the University of Minnesota’s skills and his ability to reach across Humphrey School of Public Affairs. the political aisle. He did not identify

148 MINNESOTA HISTORY tees, which selected the senators for Finally, Rosenmeier was a differ- ordon Rosenmeier, the oldest all conference committees with the ent kind of conservative than those G of three children, was born in 1907 House. Those posts, plus his alliances who emerged in the post-Reagan era. in Royalton, just south of Little Falls. with key senators, gave Rosenmeier He actually believed in government His father, Christian, was an attorney influence over a broad range of leg- and constantly tinkered with it, trying and his mother, Linda, had been a islative issues. Former Sen. John T. to make it more effective. Rosenmeier schoolteacher. Christian Rosenmeier (Jack) Davies, a Minneapolis Liberal served for eight years as chair of the was elected Morrison County attorney who served with the Little Falls sen- Senate Civil Administration Commit- 1912 and to the Minnesota Senate in ator for 12 years, said Rosenmeier tee, which had jurisdiction over all 1922, where he served for a decade “could get whatever he wanted, pretty bills dealing with the organization of and was selected by the Conservatives much, in the Senate.” Four times government. He gave up that position as majority leader. Gordon and his in the late 1950s and 1960s, Rosen in 1963 to become chair of the coveted siblings grew up in Little Falls in a meier’s colleagues ranked him as the Judiciary Committee, but continued Victorian-style home with four wrap- “most effective senator” in polls con- to play a leading role on issues involv- around porches and formal gardens ducted by the Minneapolis Star.6 ing government operations. overlooking the Mississippi River.

Gordon Rosenmeier at his desk in the Senate, where he served for 30 years

WINTER 2014–15 149 He never married and continued filed a lawsuit, noting that Rosen- successful practice with clients rang- living there until his death.7 (The meier had recently passed the Califor- ing from local farmers and merchants structure now houses the Little Falls nia bar examination and contending to the Weyerhaeuser and Musser lum- Convention and Visitors Bureau.) that he was not a legal resident of ber interests.10 After graduating from Little Falls Minnesota. The legal challenge was Rosenmeier got a second chance High School, Rosenmeier earned rejected, but the political damage had to run for the Senate in 1940 following a bachelor of science degree from been done. News stories at the time the death of Sen. Frederick Miller of the University of Minnesota in 1928 said flatly, and without attribution, Little Falls, and he defeated Brainerd and a law degree from Stanford Uni- that Rosenmeier had filed “in com- City Council member Vic Quanstrom versity in 1932. He later said that he pliance with his father’s dying wish.” by a margin of nearly two-to-one. Over inherited his interest in law from Years later, however, Rosenmeier told the next three decades, Rosenmeier his father: “I don’t know of a time friends and an interviewer that his would be challenged for re-election when I didn’t think I would become father actually did not want him to just once before his defeat in 1970. a lawyer.” But he insisted he never remain in Little Falls, believing that In 1944 he was re-elected in absentia had “an abiding interest in politics.” “the ceiling was too low.”9 while serving with the U.S. Navy’s Rosenmeier did tell of visiting his Earning a living in a small town Pacific fleet during World War II.11 father at the state capitol in his youth during the Great Depression was a and encountering legendary Gov. struggle for anyone. “Oh, those were Floyd B. Olson on the steps.8 grim days,” Rosenmeier recalled. esks in the Senate chambers Shortly after graduating from “We got $1 for making a deed, $5 for Dare paired, and Rosenmeier’s seat- Stanford, Rosenmeier was called defending a man in Justice Court and, mate in his first term was Liberal Sen. home when his father became crit- at the outside, $25 for District Court. B. G. (Bill) Novak, a grocer from St. ically ill, and he joined his father’s I would only charge $5 for an ab- Paul. Despite the differences in their law practice just a month before stract. So you had to work like hell to backgrounds and political outlooks, Christian Rosenmeier’s death in 1932. get enough money to pay the rent.” the two grew close and remained Persuaded by family friends, Gordon But he survived lean times. John E. seatmates until Novak retired from entered the race for his father’s vacant Simonett, later a justice of the Minne- the Senate in 1958. “He was smart—he Senate seat but was defeated. It did sota Supreme Court, joined the firm knew what was going on,” Rosenmeier not help that one of his opponents in 1951, and they developed a highly said of his colleague. “When I was in

Rosenmeier and companion in his Little Falls home, 1970, and the house as it looked in 1980

150 MINNESOTA HISTORY Reminding constituents that he was “A Voice for Rural Minnesota,” undated campaign brochure the service, he took care of all of the local legislation here. I’m sure that of all the people, I owe him the most.”12 Tending to the needs of his district, which included Morrison and Crow Wing counties, Sen. Rosenmeier played a leading role in expanding Camp Ripley, the National Guard training facility near Little Falls that his father helped create; establishing a state hospital and a community college in Brainerd; and designating the Charles Lindbergh home as a state historic site. Increasingly, however, he was drawn to issues of statewide Two years later, Rosenmeier was ing population fair representation significance. In 1949 he cosponsored involved in a less-praiseworthy effort through the House, while giving rural Republican Gov. Luther Youngdahl’s to cement rural control of the Senate areas “an adequate voice” through the fair employment practices bill, which in the Minnesota Constitution. The Senate. The proposed amendment was aimed at ending discrimination legislature was under strong pressure was opposed by DFL Gov. Orville based on race, religion, or national to reapportion itself, as the state’s Freeman, the editorial page of the origin. One newspaper account said legislative districts had not been Minneapolis Tribune, and the League Rosenmeier drew applause from the redrawn since 1913 and huge popula- of Women Voters, among others. galleries with a floor speech that tion disparities had developed among And the voters rejected it in 1960, “was regarded as the most eloquent them. The U.S. Supreme Court had 661,009–600,797. Subsequent reap- and telling argument of the session not yet handed down its landmark portionment plans, enacted in 1961 in support of the bill.” The bill was redistricting decisions—those would and 1965, shifted some 12 Senate seats defeated 34–29 that year but was not come until 1962 and 1964. But in and 24 House seats from rural Min- enacted six years later with Rosen 1958, a Minnesota citizens’ group filed nesota to the metro area.16 Veteran meier’s support.13 a lawsuit in federal court, alleging rural senators remained in charge of In 1957 Rosenmeier joined with that the 1913 legislative boundaries most Senate committees through the Liberal Sen. Donald Fraser to pass a violated the equal-protection provi- 1960s, but a dramatic shift in political constitutional amendment extend- sions of the Fourteenth Amendment. power clearly was underway. ing the terms of the governor and It noted that the population of House Over time, Rosenmeier became other state constitutional officers districts ranged from 7,290 in the an increasingly intimidating figure from two years to four. The amend- least populous to more than 107,000 in the Senate, thanks to his skills, ex- ment, ratified by the voters in 1958, in the most populous.15 perience, and alliances with key leg- greatly strengthened the hand of Rosenmeier aligned himself with islators. Many of those alliances were future governors. Fraser, who later a group of rural legislators to approve built during late-night drinking ses- served in Congress and as mayor of a constitutional amendment that sions in the Gopher Grill of the Hotel Minneapolis, remembers Rosenmeier would have allowed the Senate to be St. Paul, as its bar then was called. as an able lawyer and someone “not apportioned on the basis of geogra- “That’s how I first got to know Gor- as partisan as some members of his phy (such as counties) rather than don,” said former Sen. Keith Hughes, group—more willing to take a careful population and limited the five larg- a Conservative from St. Cloud. “That look at something somebody might est metropolitan counties to no more St. Paul bar was a very important part propose. I found him to be somebody than 35 percent of all Senate seats. He of the legislative process,” Rosenmeier I could work with and did work with touted it as a balanced proposal that later acknowledged.17 on a number of issues.”14 would assure the metro area’s grow- Hughes, who served as vice-chair

WINTER 2014–15 151 of the Judiciary Committee under Rosenmeier could be particularly the capitol was not air conditioned at Rosenmeier, said that the group was hard on officials of the executive that time. And he was coming down dominated by practicing lawyers who branch, regardless of their political pretty hard on me,” Brubacher said. knew how to pick apart bills. “That party. “He treated both sides—both He indicated that Rosenmeier was was a horrendous committee to go political parties—with studied con- among the first to come to his aid and through,” Hughes said. “It was like tempt,” said Robert Goff, who served that the two became good friends walking the plank, and Gordon led as an aide to DFL Gov. Karl Rolvaag. afterward.21 the charge.”18 Rosenmeier was no less “And by that measure, he was fair.”20 intimidating on the Senate floor. For- Perhaps the most dramatic incident mer Sen. Wayne Popham of Minneap- involving Rosenmeier came in the osenmeier’s final years in olis recalled an incident in the early late 1960s, when he was angered by R the Senate were perhaps his most 1960s when another junior member an executive order issued by Gov. productive. In 1965 he passed a bill to of their Conservative caucus had a bill LeVander. The senator felt the Re- create the State Planning Agency. Two on the Senate floor. publican governor had exceeded his years later came bills to create the powers and summoned Administra- state Pollution Control Agency and Gordon got up on the floor and tion Commissioner Rolland Hatfield to reorganize the Conservation De- started off saying something like, to appear before his committee and partment (now called the Department “This is the most terrible, dis- defend the order. of Natural Resources). He also was a graceful bill ever to come to the Hatfield did not get along well major architect of the legislation cre- floor of the Minnesota Senate. I with Rosenmeier and did not want to ating the Metropolitan Council. cannot imagine how this bill got testify, so he sent Assistant Commis- As someone who grew up on the out of committee. It’s a disgrace sioner Richard Brubacher in his place. banks of the Mississippi River and to this body.” His bald head was Brubacher said he had been warned in close proximity to Brainerd resort just getting pink. We were just sit- in advance that “Rosenmeier never country, Rosenmeier no doubt had a ting there and everyone was just asks a question he doesn’t know the special appreciation for Minnesota’s wishing it would end. I think even answer to. Don’t try to bluff him.” the Liberals. And Gordon went on After calling the meeting to order, Senate Finance Committee, 1963 (from for maybe 10 minutes. I think the Rosenmeier launched into a fierce left): Rosenmeier, unidentified aide, Donald other members of the body were grilling of Brubacher, and in the mid- Sinclair, J. A. Josefson, and Jack Davies, who thinking, “I don’t want this ever, dle of the proceedings the witness once said Rosenmeier “could get whatever he ever to happen to me.”19 fainted. “It was a very warm day and wanted, pretty much, in the Senate.”

152 MINNESOTA HISTORY In the early 1970s, Grant Merritt, Rosenmeier never asks a question the PCA’s executive director under DFL Gov. Wendell Anderson, had an he doesn’t know the answer to. opportunity to meet Rosenmeier, who appeared before the agency Don’t try to bluff him. board seeking a variance from PCA standards for a paper company. Mer- ritt said later that Rosenmeier “was not a flaming environmentalist” but lakes and waterways. Early in his leg- Pollution Control Commission, giving wanted state government to be more islative career, he involved himself in it the power to set pollution standards effective in protecting Minnesota’s issues relating to drainage, wetlands, and order communities to build resources. One of the great strengths and water quality. And he became sewage-treatment plants or contract of the law, Merritt believes, was the increasingly critical of the state De- with existing facilities. His bill was citizens board Rosenmeier created: “It partment of Health and its companion supported by Rolvaag, who also had provided a forum for people to come agency, the Water Pollution Control grown frustrated with the work of the in and air their views on important Commission. Created in 1945, the com- commission and the Health Depart- environmental issues. The staff would mission consisted primarily of state ment. While calling the 1963 measure make our recommendations and then agency heads for the Health, Conserva- “probably the strongest pollution we would have an open discussion tion, and Agriculture departments as control law in the United States,” that would be covered by the media. well as the Livestock Sanitary Board. Rosenmeier quickly concluded it was As a result, we received tremendous The commission met quarterly and was “too strong and too broad to be im- public support for what we were staffed by the Health Department.22 plemented by the existing, unaggres- doing.”26 By the early 1960s, the state was sive water pollution commission.” The State Planning Agency, confronted with serious environmen- The state needed an independent created more quickly, stands as an tal problems. Many communities pollution-control agency, “free of example of the bipartisan coopera- in the fast-growing Twin Cities area dependence on the Department of tion that was more common in that and throughout the state were dis- Health.”24 period. This new agency was charged charging raw or inadequately treated And so, Rosenmeier returned in with preparing an “integrated” sewage into rivers and lakes. Others 1965 with a bill to create a new state long-range plan for Minnesota and were relying on backyard septic sys- pollution-control agency. The mea- coordinating the planning among tems for waste disposal. In 1959 the sure passed the Senate but died in state agencies—to avoid having them Health Department reported that half the House. Two years later, his bill work at cross-purposes. It grew out of the wells it tested in 39 suburban was enacted into law. It dissolved the of discussions within the Minnesota communities were contaminated by Water Pollution Control Commission Outdoor Recreation Resources Com- septic waste. More pollution prob- and created the state Pollution Control mission, a 14-member, bipartisan lems surfaced in 1962–63 when two Agency (PCA) with a seven-member legislative panel that met between major oil spills occurred—one at an citizens’ policy board and an executive sessions. A subcommittee headed oil-company plant on the Minne- director appointed by the governor. by Liberal Rep. Fred Cina of Aurora sota River in Savage and the other The new agency was given broad produced a report in May 1965 rec- at a soybean-processing plant in powers to set and enforce standards ommending creation of the planning Mankato. Oil from the two spills ul- for water and air pollution, as well to agency and providing draft legis- timately flowed into the Mississippi study the problem of solid-waste dis- lation. Even before the report was River and converged near Red Wing posal. This came three years before the issued, legislation was introduced— and Hastings, killing an estimated creation of the federal Environmental by Rosenmeier in the Senate and 10,000 ducks and other wildlife. Gov. Protection Agency. Rosenmeier said Aubrey W. Dirlam, a Redwood Falls Rolvaag called out members of the he believed “Minnesota [water pol- Conservative, in the House. Within Minnesota National Guard in a futile lution] laws have been adequate but a month, the measure was unani- effort to save the ducks.23 administration has faltered. We hope mously approved by both houses. In In 1963 Rosenmeier succeeded in this new independent agency will take pushing the bill, Rosenmeier said he passing a bill strengthening the Water up where the old failed.”25 was concerned that the legislature

WINTER 2014–15 153 was making too many decisions in league, a nonpartisan public-policy Sen. Harmon Ogdahl of Minneapolis, piecemeal fashion that “didn’t fit into research organization, said that such offered the Citizens League proposal any plan, design.”27 a body was needed to solve “pressing for an elected council with broad plan- Rosenmeier also seemed con- areawide governmental problems” ning and operating powers, including cerned about the growing reach of involving regional planning, sewage responsibility for transit and sewers. the federal government in the 1960s collection and treatment, mass tran- Rosenmeier and Conservative Rep. under President Lyndon B. Johnson sit, and open-space preservation.29 Howard Albertson of Stillwater, chair and how this increased presence Rosenmeier had questioned the of the House Metropolitan Affairs might affect the balance of power need for such a body, saying he did not Committee, developed an alternative with states. Former U.S. Sen. David know what the “metropolitan prob- that provided for a planning and Durenberger, who served as Gov. lem” was. But he apparently saw that coordinating body appointed by the LeVander’s chief of staff (1967–71), political pressure for action was build- governor and assigned operating re- recently said that Rosenmeier saw ing. The turning point appeared to sponsibilities for transit, airports, and initiatives such as the PCA and State come at a conference held at the Col- other regional services to separate Planning Agency as “progressive state lege of St. Thomas (now the University metro agencies. The Rosenmeier- alternatives” to the expansion of the of St. Thomas) in November 1966 that Albertson approach ultimately federal government and powers, with was attended by many of the region’s prevailed in both houses. A staunch rules and strings attached.28 leading business executives. At that defender of state government’s legis- When it came to the Metropolitan conference, Rosenmeier changed his lative branch, Rosenmeier strenuously Council, though, Rosenmeier was stance, saying he favored the creation opposed a floor amendment to provide a reluctant convert. After several of a metropolitan council—although Federal presence: President Lyndon B. Johnson years of discussion and study, the perhaps not one as powerful as some flanked by Senators Eugene McCarthy and Citizens League issued a report in proponents envisioned.30 Walter Mondale along with (from left) early 1967 calling for the creation of As the 1967 legislative session un- Congressmen Donald Fraser and Joseph E. an elected regional planning and gov- folded, two metro-area Conservatives, Karth (rain hat) and Governor Karl Rolvaag, erning body with broad powers. The Rep. Bill Frenzel of Golden Valley and all inspecting Minnesota flood damage, 1965.

154 MINNESOTA HISTORY Rosenmeier insisted later that he Smart legislators know when to did not support the bill but merely wanted it to go to the Senate floor give ground and when to fight. where it would receive greater debate and scrutiny. Gage, the bill’s sponsor, recalled Rosenmeier giving him a similar explanation. Sen. Hughes, for an elected council, warning his the landmark U.S. Supreme Court the most vocal opponent of the bill colleagues to “consider what would decision in Roe v. Wade that struck in committee, agreed that rationale happen to your status as senators.” down state laws banning abortion. became “Gordon’s explanation during The amendment failed on a dramatic Various accounts have suggested that the [1970] campaign,” but added: “In 33–33 tie vote. A similar amendment Rosenmeier cast the tie-breaking vote the six years I served with Gordon, he was defeated 66–62 in the House.31 on the bill or voted “inadvertently” never did that with any other bill. If Frenzel, who later served in Con- when the committee secretary called he didn’t want a bill to come out of his gress, explained, “Smart legislators his name. In any event, the commit- committee, I guarantee you it didn’t know when to give ground and when tee minutes and multiple newspaper come out.”34 to fight, and that’s how Rosenmeier reports show that the vote was 11 to The abortion vote provided handled the Met Council.” The sena- 9, with Rosenmeier voting with the potent political ammunition for tor “might have thought it unneces- majority.33 Rosenmeier’s 1970 opponent, DFLer sary” but allowed the bill to become law after he “defanged” it by removing the elected-council provisions. “I still believe the council concept I favored would have been superior, but his council turned to be a good one too and, in my judgment, it was a powerful tool for development in our metro area.”32

n 1969 Rosenmeier was tripped up Iby a volatile issue that has been the undoing of many politicians: abortion. As chair of the Judiciary Com- mittee, he granted a hearing to a bill sponsored by Sen. Kelly Gage, a Con- servative from Mankato, to relax the state’s longstanding ban on abortion. It would have permitted abortions performed for “medical indications” and approved by a committee of five physicians appointed by the hospital. The bill was narrowly approved after the committee added an amendment requiring that the patient be a Min- nesota resident for at least 90 days. This action came four years before

Rosenmeier visiting with students at St. Francis High School, Little Falls, campaign season, 1970

WINTER 2014–15 155 Celebrating in the capitol by the honoree’s portrait on Gordon Rosenmeier Recognition Day, 1974. From left: Former Governor C. Elmer Anderson, siblings Margaret and Gordon Rosen- meier, and Governor Wendell Anderson.

Winston W. Borden, a 27-year-old uencies, including Brainerd residents lawyer from Brainerd who had been who vehemently opposed a state law preparing to challenge the senator requiring fluoridation of municipal for several years. Morrison County drinking water. “I want to carry our elected to the House in 1973, recalled was heavily Catholic and a hotbed of fight against forced fluoridation— that Borden “employed modern cam- anti-abortion activism. During the our fight for local government—to paign techniques—going door to campaign, Borden issued at least four the state Senate,” he wrote. “Our door, brochures, advertising. Gordon news releases charging that Rosen- opponent has had his chance to use never had to do that—he wasn’t used meier “betrayed the people . . . when his power to repeal the forced fluori- to that.” Wenzel also said Rosenmeier he voted for a bill that would have al- dation law—but he has not used his was not one to tout his own achieve- lowed virtual abortion on demand in power to do so.”36 ments. “The great things he did, he Minnesota.”35 Years later, Borden recalled that didn’t advertise. I don’t think people But abortion was hardly the only Rosenmeier easily became angry knew all of the great things that he issue that Borden employed against and did not perform well in the 1970 did. They didn’t understand how the veteran senator. In campaign campaign debates and forums. “He great and powerful this man was.”38 press releases, the challenger criti- was just not used to being chal- cized Rosenmeier for his support of lenged,” Borden said. “He was a fine the 1967 sales tax, opposition to low- legislator—did many wonderful ordon Rosenmeier might feel ering the voting age, support of the things. But the political thicket in G out of place in today’s highly par- regional development act, inadequate the street wasn’t something he was tisan and polarized political system. regulation of lobbyists, and alleged used to.”37 But he came along at just the right conflicts of interest—representing Rosenmeier no doubt was more time to help modernize the legisla- legal clients before the courts and var- skilled as a legislator than as a politi- ture and state government, better ious state agencies. Borden also sent cian. Former Rep. Stephen G. Wenzel, preparing them to meet the difficult targeted letters to numerous constit- a DFLer from Little Falls who was challenges in the decades ahead.

156 MINNESOTA HISTORY Notes

1. Minneapolis Tribune, Sept. 23, 1974, 1A. v. Sims, 377 U.S. 533 (1964); Minnesota House Re- Tribune, June 4, 1967, 15B. The council continues 2. St. Paul Pioneer Press, Jan. 18, 1989, 1A. search Dept., “Minnesota Redistricting Process: as a planning and coordinating body. It expanded Rosenmeier engineered the hiring of the first A Historical Review,” www.house.leg.state.mn.us in 1994, when the legislature eliminated sepa- Senate counsel, attorney H. Blair Klein, in 1967. /hrd/issinfo/MnRedistrictHist.pdf. rate boards for transit and sewer operations, By 1971 the counsel’s office had grown to eight 16. Minnesota Session Laws, Extra Session, consolidating them with the still-appointed lawyers who staffed Senate committees, re- 1959, Chapt. 47; Rosenmeier to legislator identi- council. searched issues, and drafted legislation. See fied as “Bill,” Nov. 12, 1959, Rosenmeier papers; 32. Bill Frenzel, e-mail to author, July 1, 2013. Steven Dornfeld, “Pioneering Legislative Staffer St. Paul Pioneer Press, Apr. 27, 1960, 1; Minneapolis 33. S.F. 998, 1969, microfilm, Legislative Ref- H. Blair Klein Dies,” MinnPost, Dec. 21, 2011, Tribune, May 22, 1960, 2F; Minnesota Legislative erence Library; Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973); www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2011/12 Reference Library, “State Constitutional Amend- St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 1, 1969, 1; Minneapolis /pioneering-legislative- staffer- h- blair- klein- dies. ments Considered,” www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl Tribune, May 1, 1969, 1. 3. Minneapolis Tribune, Feb. 17, 1963, 1. /mngov/constitutionalamendments.aspx; Davies 34. St. Paul Dispatch, Nov. 4, 1970, 1; Kelly 4. Minneapolis Tribune, Sept. 23, 1974, 1A. interview, 3. Rosenmeier is listed as a supporter Gage, recorded interview by author, Aug. 14, 5. Rosenmeier, interview by Minnesota His- in the Little Falls Daily Transcript, Oct. 28, 1960, 2. 2013, partial transcript, 1; Hughes interview, 2. torical Society (MNHS) staff, Nov. 4, 1985, tape 17. Keith Hughes, recorded interview by 35. News releases dated July 19, July 29, Sept. and transcript in Christian and Gordon Rosen- author, Aug. 7, 2013, partial transcript, 1; Rosen- 27, and Oct. 7, 1970, Winston W. Borden Papers, meier Papers, MNHS. The legislature met only in meier, interview by Hanson. MNHS. odd-numbered years until the approval of a con- 18. Hughes interview, 1. 36. Borden campaign letter to selected stitutional amendment in 1972. In 1973 DFLers 19. Wayne Popham, recorded interview by Brainerd residents, Oct., 1970, Borden papers. took control of both houses and enacted party author, July 31, 2013, partial transcript, 1. 37. Winston Borden, recorded interview by designation for legislative elections. 20. Robert Goff, interview by author, Mar. 16, author, July 1, 2013, partial transcript, 1. 6. Minneapolis Tribune, Mar. 1, 1959, 1; Royce 2013, partial transcript, 1. 38. Stephen Wenzel, recorded interview by Hanson, Tribune of the People: The Minnesota Leg- 21. Richard Brubacher, recorded interview by author, July 19, 2013, partial transcript, 2. islature and Its Leadership (Minneapolis: Univer- author, Sept. 23, 2013, partial transcript, 1. sity of Minnesota Press, 1989), 104; St. Paul 22. “The Legislative Interest in Our Lakes,” Pioneer Press, Jan. 1, 1969, sec. 2, p. 1; Jack Davies, undated speech, Rosenmeier papers; St. Paul Pio- The photos on p. 150 (left) and 156 (left) are recorded interview by author, July 22, 2013, par- neer Press, Oct. 28, 1964, 1; Minnesota Session courtesy the Morrison County Historical Society, tial transcript, 1; Minneapolis Star, June 13, 1961, Laws, 1945, Chapt. 395. Little Falls. All others are in MNHS collections, 13A (“a repeat winner”), May 28, 1963, 13A, May 23. St. Paul Pioneer Press, Nov. 18, 1996, 1; including 149, 151, 155, and 156 (right) in the 29, 1965, 1A. Stephen J. Lee, “Operation Save A Duck and the Christian and Gordon Rosenmeier Papers. 7. Biographies of Christian and Gordon Legacy of Minnesota’s 1962–63 Oil Spills,” Minne- Rosenmeier, www.mnhs.org/library/findaids sota History 58 (Summer 2002): 105. /00345.xml. 24. Minnesota Session Laws, 1963, Chapt. 874; 8. Minneapolis Tribune, Jan. 18, 1989, 1A; St. Paul Dispatch, Oct. 28, 1964, 37; “Legislative Rosenmeier, MNHS interview, Nov. 4, 1985; Interest in Our Lakes,” Rosenmeier papers. Rosenmeier, interview by Royce Hanson, 1986, 25. S.F. 1963, Journal of the Senate, 1965, 2818; in Videotapes and Audio Cassettes Compiled for Minnesota Session Laws, 1967, Chapt. 882; Rosen- Tribune of the People, MNHS. meier to Mrs. M. F. Oberstar, Izaak Walton 9. Brainerd Dispatch, Oct. 16, 1932, 1, June 7, League, July 25, 1967, Rosenmeier papers. 1932, 1; author’s recorded interviews with Jan 26. Grant Merritt, interview by author, Sept. Olsten and John Valen, both Rosenmeier’s long- 11, 2013, notes, 1. time friends, Sept. 25, 2013, Sept. 23, 2013, 27. “Planning in Minnesota,” Minnesota respectively; Rosenmeier, interview by MNHS Outdoor Recreation Resources Commission Re- staff, Mar. 7, 1986, tapes and transcripts in port No. 13, 1965, copy in Legislative Reference Rosenmeier papers. Library, St. Paul; S.F. 1716, Journal of the Senate, 10. Rosenmeier, MNHS interview, Mar. 7, 2789; H.F. 1775, Journal of the House, 3267; Minne- 1986; Minnesota History News, Minnesota Histori- sota Session Laws, 1965, Chapt. 685; Rosenmeier, cal Society, Mar.–Apr. 1989, 1. interview by MNHS staff, May 16, 1985, tape and 11. Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1941, 405; transcript in Rosenmeier papers. Minneapolis Tribune, Mar. 14, 1955, 9. 28. David Durenberger, interview by author, 12. Like Christian Rosenmeier, Bill Novak May 1, 2013, notes, 1. was succeeded in the Senate by his son, Edward, 29. Citizens League, “A Metropolitan Council who served for 16 years, 12 of them with Gordon for the Twin Cities Area,” Feb. 1967, http:// Rosenmeier. Minnesota Legislative Reference citizensleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07 Library, “Legislators Past and Present,” www.leg /205.Report.A-Metropolitan- Council- for- the- Twin .state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.aspx?ID=13607. Little -Cities.pdf. Falls Daily Transcript, Sept. 19, 1974, 8 (quote). 30. Minneapolis Star, June 17, 1966, 30B; 13. Little Falls Daily Transcript, Sept. 19, 1974, Upper Midwest Research and Development 1; Minneapolis Star, Mar. 26, 1949, 5; Minnesota Council, seminar invitation, Sept. 30, 1966, Session Laws, 1955, Chapt. 516. Rosenmeier papers; St. Paul Dispatch, Nov. 11, 14. Minnesota Session Laws, 1957, Chapt. 813; 1966, 17. Donald Fraser, recorded interview by author, 31. Minnesota House Research Dept., “1967 Aug. 12, 2013, partial transcript, 1. Proposals for a Metropolitan Council,” July 21, 15. Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962); Reynolds 1993, Legislative Reference Library; Minneapolis

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