Orville Freeman | |
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16th United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
In office January 21, 1961 – January 20, 1969 | |
President | John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson |
Preceded by | Ezra Taft Benson |
Succeeded by | Clifford M. Hardin |
29th Governor of Minnesota | |
In office January 5, 1955 – January 2, 1961 | |
Lieutenant | Karl Rolvaag |
Preceded by | C. Elmer Anderson |
Succeeded by | Elmer L. Andersen |
Personal details | |
Born | Orville Lothrop Freeman May 9, 1918 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
Died | February 20, 2003 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | (aged 84)
Resting place | Lakewood Cemetery |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Jane Shields (m. 1942) |
Children | 2, including Michael |
Education | University of Minnesota (BA, LLB) |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
Rank | Major |
Battles/wars | World War II • Battle of Bougainville |
Orville Lothrop Freeman (May 9, 1918 – February 20, 2003) was an American politician who served as the 29th governor of Minnesota from 1955 to 1961, and as the U.S. secretary of agriculture from 1961 to 1969 under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He was one of the founding members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party and influential in the merger of the Minnesota Democratic and Farmer-Labor parties. Freeman nominated Kennedy for president at the 1960 Democratic National Convention.