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Walter Mondale remembered: What U.S. and…

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Walter Mondale remembered: What U.S. and Minnesota leaders are saying

By | news@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer Press
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

The family of Walter Mondale announced his death Monday evening. The son of a preacher who became the U.S. vice president was 93.

A beloved leader in Minnesota and national politics, many were quick to offer their praise and condolences.

President Joe Biden

“When I arrived in the United States Senate in 1973, Walter Mondale was one of the first people to greet me. Through his work as a Senator, he showed me what was possible. He may have been modest and unassuming in manner, but he was unwavering in his pursuit of progress. … There have been few senators, before or since, who commanded such universal respect. … It was Walter Mondale who defined the vice presidency as a full partnership, and helped provide a model for my service.”

President Jimmy Carter

Mondale campaigned with and served as Carter’s vice president. Carter called Mondale an “invaluable partner” who “provided us all with a model for public service and private behavior. Rosalynn and I join all Americans in giving thanks for his exemplary life, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family.”

President Barack Obama

Obama seemed to draw a direct line to Mondale’s vice presidency and the presidency of Joe Biden, who served as Obama’s vice president.

Obama said in a tweet: “Walter Mondale championed progressive causes and changed the role of VP — so leaders like @JoeBiden could be the last ones in the room when decisions were made.”

President Bill Clinton

The former president said Mondale had a “remarkable career — with deep policy knowledge, a tireless work ethic, and uncommon decency.

“Hillary and I loved him and will miss him very much.”

Vice President Kamala Harris

Harris, the first woman vice president, was elected 36 years after Mondale selected Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate in his own failed bid to become president.

“With that nomination, Vice President Mondale opened ‘a new door to the future,’ to borrow his words.” Harris said in a statement.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Former Vice President Walter Mondale and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar chat Monday, Jan. 5, 2015 as Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is sworn in during inauguration ceremonies in St. Paul’s Landmark Center. It was Mondale’s 87th birthday. (Scott Takushi / Pioneer Press)

The Minnesota senator considers Mondale a mentor and friend. She interned in his office while in college. Klobuchar said of Mondale, in part: “On the wall in the Carter Museum are Mondale’s powerful words: ‘We told the truth. We obeyed the law. We kept the peace.’ Those words summarize his life – he had a strong moral core that defined his every action, from how he treated people to his willingness to fight hard for policy that would improve the lives of Americans. That is the standard that we must hold ourselves to every day.”

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith

In addition to praising his public service, Smith said she’ll remember Mondale’s personable demeanor.

“He was also a true friend, full of lively questions, incisive and hysterically funny commentary, advice offered with his unique dry wit, birthdays remembered and lunches shared, preferably with onion rings,” Smith said.

Former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman

After U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone’s death weeks before the November 2002 election, Coleman, a Republican who had challenged Wellstone, found himself on the ballot against Mondale, who stepped in to fill the void on the ballot. Coleman, a former St. Paul mayor, won.

In a Facebook post, Coleman recalled the next morning: “And yet, despite his stature, prestige, and influence, it was Vice President Walter Mondale who called me at 7:00 a.m. the morning after the election, after having the White House switchboard track down my unlisted number, whose voice on the other end said, ‘Norm, you have been given the privilege of having one of the greatest treasures of life you will ever have in public service — the opportunity to serve the people of Minnesota in the United States Senate.'”

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum

McCollum described Mondale as “a global statesman, a national political leader, a remarkable legislator, and a man of tremendous moral authority.”

“Walter and Joan were a fantastic couple who always represented Minnesota and our country with grace, class, and dignity,” McCollum said in a tweet.

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig

Craig said Mondale was “one of Minnesota’s proudest sons.

“But more importantly,” she continued, “he was a champion for equality and a genuinely kind soul.”

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips

Phillips said of Mondale: “America and Minnesota have lost one of our finest statesmen from the greatest generation, and I’ve lost an extraordinary mentor. A man of principle, empathy, decency, and strength whose legacy should be a beacon to all of us during these difficult days.”

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar

Omar noted Mondale’s legacy of spearheading the Fair Housing Act of 1968, as well as his stances on voting rights and civil rights.

“Even in his twilight years, he remained a vocal advocate for progressive values and a voice of moral clarity,” she said.

Gov. Tim Walz

Minnesota’s governor noted Mondale’s work to create “a nation with a heart, a soul and a conscience. He believed that the greatness of America is found in the everyday men and women who build our nation, do its work, and defend its freedoms. And he fought tirelessly for those values until the very end of his life, imploring each of us through his example to continue the fight.

“We will miss terribly Fritz Mondale, the steady voice and vision setter for ideas great and small, people powerful and powerless, and justice waiting to be revealed.”

Attorney General Keith Ellison

In a nod to Mondale previously holding the office of Minnesota attorney general, Ellison, call Mondale “the original People’s Lawyer.”

“He once told me that of all the amazing jobs he’d had, being Attorney General was his favorite,” Ellison said in a statement.

Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman

Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, called Mondale a “role model, mentor and supporter.”

In a statement, Hortman said: “He was a hero to me and inspired me to become a lawyer and run for office. As a child, I wanted to grow up to be exactly like him.”

Minnesota Republican Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan

The chairwoman of the Republican Party of Minnesota described Mondale as kind and selfless family man as well as champion of higher education and the arts here in Minnesota along with his wife Joan.”

Carnahan said in a statement: “In spite of our obvious political differences, there is no denying that Mondale always had the best interests of his fellow Minnesotans at the forefront of his mind when governing and leading.”

“Our thoughts are with the entire Mondale family as we mourn his loss.”

DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin

Martin, who chairs the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, also described Mondal as a mentor. “Today, Minnesota has lost our North Star,” Martin said in a statement.

And Martin tweeted a statement from Mondale that he described as “Walter Mondale’s last message — sent out once he passed away this evening to all of his staff who worked for him over the years.”

It reads:

Dear Team,

Well my time has come. I am eager to rejoin Joan and Eleanor. Before I go I wanted to let you know how much you mean to me. Never has a public servant had a better group of people working at their side!

Together we have accomplished so much and I know you will keep up the good fight.

Joe in the White House certainly helps.

I always knew it would be okay if I arrived some place and was greeted by one of you.

My best to all of you!

Fritz

Dave Orrick and Mary Divine contributed to this report.

 

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