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Elmer Austin Benson

1895-09-22 – 1985-03-13

Portrait of Elmer Austin Benson
The Elmer Benson campaign responded to the dissemination of Are They Communists or Catspaws, an antisemitic pamphlet written by Ray P. Chase, with this advertisement, published in The American Jewish World, the weekly Jewish community newspaper, the week before the election for governor. The ad accuses the Stassen campaign and its supporters of red-baiting and Jew-baiting, and implies their association with the Silver Shirts, a national pro-Nazi group with a following in Minnesota.Credit: Abe Altrowitz and George W. Kelley, Working Newspapermen's Volunteer Committee for the Reelection of Governor Benson

Life & Legacy

Elmer Austin Benson (September 22, 1895 – March 13, 1985) was an American lawyer and politician from Minnesota. In 1935, Benson was appointed to the U.S. Senate following the death of Thomas Schall. He served as the 24th governor of Minnesota, defeating Republican Martin Nelson in a landslide in Minnesota's 1936 gubernatorial election. He lost the governorship two years later to Republican Harold Stassen in the 1938 gubernatorial election.

Occupation & Career

politician, lawyer, businessperson, governor

Education

William Mitchell College of Law; Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Faith & Community

Lutheranism

Legacy Highlights

Church

Lutheranism

Education & Institutions

Mitchell Hamline School of Law · William Mitchell College of Law

Verified Legacy Record

Sources & Provenance

  1. Wikidata population candidate Q440203 — wikidata View source

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