mn_gov_HUMPHREY
ATTY. GEN. HUBERT "SKIP" HUMPHREY III
Age: 56 Born: June 26, 1942; Minneapolis, Minnesota Education: University of Minnesota, J.D. (1969); American University, B.A. (1965) Military: None Family: Married - Nancy Lee; Three children Hometown: New Hope, Minnesota Religion: Methodist Career: MN Attorney General (1983-present); President, National Association of Attorneys General (1993-94); MN State Senator (1973-82); Practicing attorney (1969-82) |
• Born Hubert Horatio Humphrey III, he is the son of Minnesota's most famous politician -- the late U.S. Senator and Vice President Hubert Humphrey. After his father's death on January 13, 1978, his mother was appointed to fill the seat for the remainder of the term. His mother died earlier this year on September 20. Most Minnesotans know the younger Humphrey by his nickname, Skip.
• In 1948, when Humphrey was six, his father was elected to the U.S. Senate, and the family moved to the Washington, DC area. He attended Maryland public schools, but when he reached high school, his parents sent him to a military boarding school in Minnesota. Humphrey returned to Washington for college, where he attended American University. At a mixer his sophomore year, he met Nancy Lee Jeffery, and they married the following year, when Humphrey was 21 years old. After graduating from American in 1965, he moved back to Minnesota for law school. He received his degree in 1969 and joined a Minneapolis firm.
• Humphrey decided to run for a State Senate seat that was open in 1972. With his father lending a hand in running the campaign, he won the election. Although many people thought he was just riding on his father's coattails, Humphrey soon proved himself to be an able politician. He served in the State Senate for a decade.
• In 1982, the incumbent attorney general ran for governor, and Humphrey decided to un for the position. In his first statewide bid, he was elected with 62% of the vote. Yet, the Humphrey name has not always carried the day. In 1988, he challenged U.S. Sen. David Durenberger for the seat once held by his father and then his mother after his father's death. Humphrey lost to Durenberger by more than 300,000 votes. However, in Humphrey's last three elections for attorney general, he has been the largest vote-getter in the state.
• In his 15 years in the attorney general's office, Humphrey has made a name for himself as an activist fighting for consumer and environmental protection and cracking down on crime. But he is most recognized for his efforts in challenging the tobacco industry. Humphrey was the second state attorney general in the nation to file suit against the industry, and his refusal to participate in the national settlement, ultimately won a $6.1 billion windfall for his state.