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The Political Career of Floyd B. Olson
New introduction by Russell W. Fridley An extraordinary political leader who forged Minnesota's successful Farmer-Labor coalition during the 1920s and 1930s, Governor Olson was a powerful, charismatic, and complex person. In this fascinating biography, Mayer describes the man and his turbulent times.
329 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1951
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 3, 2020
Floyd B. Olson (1891-1936) was one of the more notable state governors during the New Deal years.
Who knows what he might have accomplished had he not died in office.
He was born in 1891 in Minneapolis of Norwegian Swedish ancestry and did go to University of
Minnesota for a year and dropped out. He worked on the railroad moved to Seattle temporarily
where he worked as stevedore and joined the International Workers Of The World. The mission of
the IWW was ingrained within Olson the rest of his life.
Returning to Minneapolis he became an attorney, became an assistant attorney in the Hennepin
County Attorney's office and come 1921 when the Attorney resigned in disgrace for taking bribes
Olson became Hennepin County Attorney where he was elected on his own right twice.
As County Attorney Olson bought successful cases against the Ku Klux Klan and the Minnesota
Citizen's Alliance another radical right wing organization. He also joined the Farmer Labor Party
and ran for ofrfice under that banner. In Minnesota they were the second party the Democrats a
distant third.
He ran for governor in 1924 and lost, but come the Depression Olson was elected governor in 1930
under the Farmer-Labor banner became governor and won 3 two year terms. He faced a Republican legislature for the time he was there.
Still he managed to pass a state income tax, expanded environmental protections, and a state minimum wage law. His biggest crisis a trucker's strike which turned violent. Olson was pushed
to call out the National Guard to restore order. Minneapolis was under martial law for 2 months.
Who knows where he might have gone if pancreatic cancer hadn't taken him in 1936. His administration to this day remains a model for what a third party radical can do with public support. This book will tell you how he did it.
Who knows what he might have accomplished had he not died in office.
He was born in 1891 in Minneapolis of Norwegian Swedish ancestry and did go to University of
Minnesota for a year and dropped out. He worked on the railroad moved to Seattle temporarily
where he worked as stevedore and joined the International Workers Of The World. The mission of
the IWW was ingrained within Olson the rest of his life.
Returning to Minneapolis he became an attorney, became an assistant attorney in the Hennepin
County Attorney's office and come 1921 when the Attorney resigned in disgrace for taking bribes
Olson became Hennepin County Attorney where he was elected on his own right twice.
As County Attorney Olson bought successful cases against the Ku Klux Klan and the Minnesota
Citizen's Alliance another radical right wing organization. He also joined the Farmer Labor Party
and ran for ofrfice under that banner. In Minnesota they were the second party the Democrats a
distant third.
He ran for governor in 1924 and lost, but come the Depression Olson was elected governor in 1930
under the Farmer-Labor banner became governor and won 3 two year terms. He faced a Republican legislature for the time he was there.
Still he managed to pass a state income tax, expanded environmental protections, and a state minimum wage law. His biggest crisis a trucker's strike which turned violent. Olson was pushed
to call out the National Guard to restore order. Minneapolis was under martial law for 2 months.
Who knows where he might have gone if pancreatic cancer hadn't taken him in 1936. His administration to this day remains a model for what a third party radical can do with public support. This book will tell you how he did it.
July 24, 2025
A fascinating read about a famous Minnesota Governor who had national political aspirations. The author who earned his Phd. in history from the University of Minnesota weaves a story of a charismatic leader who attained office through a third party, the Farmer-Labor party against a back drop of a national depression and labor strife including the infamous Mpls. truckers’ strike of 1935. The reader is able to see how Floyd B. Olson used his political skills to successfully get elected three times as governor of Minnesota. Anyone interested in this time period, political leadership or Minnesota history will find this an interesting read.
April 15, 2021
Actually rated it at 3 and 1/2. More at www.cloquetriverpress.com.
Peace.
Mark
Peace.
Mark
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews