Al Quie

Quie was born on his family's farm near Dennison, Minnesota, in Rice County. Three of his grandparents were Norwegian immigrants.[4] The farm on which he was born and grew up on had been first purchased by his grandfather upon returning to Minnesota from fighting in the Civil War. A third-generation farmer, he grew up on the farm learning to ride horses.[3]

He served in the United States Navy during World War II as a fighter pilot, seeing significant active combat, and is one of the last living politicians to have seen active combat in World War II.[3] Following his military service, he graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield in 1950, with a degree in political science.

Quie in 1977

Like his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father before him, Quie became a dairy farmer. A Republican, Quie was a member of the Minnesota State Senate from 1955 to 1958, representing the old 18th District, which encompassed Rice County in the southeastern part of the state.[5]

Quie was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election after the death of Representative August Andresen, and served from February 18, 1958, to January 3, 1979. He was a member of the 85th, 86th, 87th, 88th, 89th, 90th, 91st, 92nd, 93rd, 94th and 95th Congresses.[6]

Quie voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1960,[7][8] 1964,[9][10] and 1968,[11][12] as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[13][14][15]

Quie was briefly considered for Vice President of the United States in 1974 after Gerald Ford became president upon the resignation of Richard Nixon. The position was eventually taken by Nelson Rockefeller.[16]

Quie was elected governor of Minnesota in 1978.[2] During his single term, he dealt with an extreme budget crisis, and made some very tough and unpopular choices. He opted not to run again in 1982.[17]

Quie is a devout Lutheran.[18]

Quie’s grandfather joined the newly founded Republican Party and supported Abraham Lincoln for president in the 1860 United States presidential election.[19]

Quie is the oldest living former governor and oldest living former U.S. Representative.

Quie married artist Gretchen Quie in 1948. She died of Parkinson's disease on December 13, 2015, at the age of 88.[20]

In Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon Days, Quie is said to be the first governor ever to set foot in the mythical town of Lake Wobegon, "slipping quietly away from his duties to attend a ceremony dedicating a plaque attached to the Statue of the Unknown Norwegian" and making a few remarks.

• United States Congress. "Al Quie (id: Q000010)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Al Quie at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
• Al Quie Congressional Papers.
• Appearances on C-SPAN as Albert Quie
• Appearances on C-SPAN as Al Quie