On August 28th, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson selects Hubert Humphrey to be his vice presidential running mate.
Humphrey was born and raised in Wallace, South Dakota. His mother was a Norwegian immigrant, and his father, Hubert Horatio Humphrey Sr was a licensed pharmacist and merchant who served as mayor and a town council member. Humphrey Junior spent most of his youth in nearby Doland. The future Vice President earned a pharmacy degree and helped run the family business for a time, but being a pharmacist was not what he wanted to do. In 1937, he moved to Minnesota to pursue a degree in political science.
When America joined the fighting in World War II, he tried to enlist in the military but was rejected on account of color blindness and other physical issues. So he completed his studies and began teaching at the college level.
In 1945, Hubert Humphrey was elected mayor of Minneapolis, and his political career was launched. He served three terms representing Minnesota in the U.S. Senate. Humphrey also made several unsuccessful runs at the presidency, but during his Senate career, had a hand in crafting some of the most important legislation of his time, from the 1964 Civil Rights Act to Medicare.
In 1992, South Dakota recognized Humphrey's achievements and his status as a native son. A stretch of state Highway 37 between Groton in the north and Highway 34 to the south was dedicated in his honor. It passes through Doland and Huron, a route that Humphrey would have been more than a little acquainted with.
Production help is provided by Brad Tennant, Dakota Wesleyan University.