GORDON ROSENMEIER the Little Giant from Little Falls
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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 of three children, was born in 1907 G 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 Simon ett, 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 dis- trict, 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.