Humphrey, Hubert H. (1911–1978)

Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr., was the 38th vice president of the United States under Lyndon B. Johnson and is best known as one of the first advocates of civil rights. During his career, Humphrey served as mayor of Minneapolis, U.S. senator from Minnesota, and the 1968 Democratic presidential nominee. Humphrey is seen by some scholars as one of the last representatives of American progressivism, following in the footsteps of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Humphrey's Midwestern progressivism can be traced to his childhood. In his autobiography, Humphrey notes that two major influences in his life were the land in South Dakota and his father, who supported the Democratic Party. During his doctoral study at the University of Minnesota, Humphrey decided to enter the Minneapolis mayoral race in 1943, ...