Oral history interview with Elmer A. Benson

Titles: Oral history interview with Elmer A. Benson (Supplied title)

Description: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Benson was appointed state commissioner of securities by Governor Floyd B. Olson in 1933 and commissioner of banks later the same year. In 1935 he was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill an unexpired term and served until 1936. He was elected governor of Minnesota in 1936 but was defeated for reelection in 1938. He died in 1985. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Benson discusses his membership in the Farmer-Labor Party and his political beliefs. He talks about his appointment to the U.S. Senate in 1935 by Gov. Floyd B. Olson and his unsuccessful campaign in 1938 for a second term as Governor of Minnesota. He also provides stories about and assessments of political acquaintances, including Adolph and Otto Bremer, Floyd B. Olson, Philip LaFollette, Harold Stassen, Hubert Humphrey, Henry Wallace, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Orville Freeman and others.

Dates

• 12/1981 - 08/13/1983 (Interviews conducted 12//1981 and 8/13/1983.) (Creation)

Creation

• interviewee: Benson, Elmer A. (Elmer Austin)
• interviewer: McGowan, Martin J. (Martin James)

Identifiers

• Library Call Number: OH 22
• Accession Number: AV1990.168

Holding Type: Oral History - Interview

Quantity: 3 hours sound cassette 48 pages transcript

Format

• Content Category: sound recordings
• Content Category: text

Measurements

• 03:02:31 running time

Subjects

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