Stassen, Harold

Stassen, Harold (Edward) (1907–  ) governor; born in Dakota City, Minn. After putting himself through college and law school, he practiced law in St. Paul, Minn., serving as county attorney (1930–38). After taking the lead in reforming the Republican Party in Minnesota, he served as governor (1939–43) and reformed the state civil service. After serving in World War II as an aide to Admiral Halsey (1943–45), he was a delegate to the founding conference of the United Nations. Highly regarded as a young liberal Republican, he lost the 1948 nomination to Thomas Dewey, so settled for becoming president of the University of Pennsylvania (1948–53). He directed disarmament studies for Eisenhower (1955–58), practicing law in Philadelphia afterward. He became something of a national joke by announcing that he was running for president during every campaign starting in 1948.