A Reflection: Time for Teaching, Example

Human Rights according to Hubert Horatio Humphrey Jr

“The time has arrived in America for the Democratic Party to get out of the shadow of states’ rights and to walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights. …

[T]his is the issue of the 20th century.

P

eople of all kinds—all sorts of people—… are looking to America for leadership….

[T]hey are looking to America for precept and example. …

We cannot use a double standard—there’s no room for double standards in American politics—for measuring our own, and other people’s policies. Our demands for democratic practices in other lands will be no more effective than the guarantee of those practices in our own country.…

For all of us here…, for millions who have sent us …, for billions of the human family, our land is now, more than ever before, the last best hope on earth. … 

I know that we can, and I know that we shall begin … the fuller and richer realization of that hope, that promise of a land where all … are truly free and equal, and each (person) uses his freedom and equality wisely [and] well.”  [Minor edit, emphasis added]

Biographical Brief

H

ubert Horatio Humphrey Jr.

Early, Formative Years

Son of son of Norwegian immigrant, Ragnild Kristine Sannes, and licensed pharmacist and local politician Hubert Horatio Humphrey Sr.
Attended Methodist church and became a scoutmaster of the church’s Boy Scout troop
Earned pharmacist’s license from Capitol College of Pharmacy in Denver, Colorado, assistant pharmacist to his father (1931-1937)

Married Muriel Buck, stayed married for 42 years (1936-until his death)

Bachelor of Arts degree (1939, University of Minnesota), earned master’s degree, taught political science (1940, Louisiana State University)

Instructor and doctoral student, star on the university’s debate team (1940-1941, University of Minnesota; joined American Federation of Teachers, and was supervisor for the Works Progress Administration) 

State director of new production training and reemployment, chief of the Minnesota war service program; assistant director of the War Manpower Commission (1942-1943) [Despite several attempts to register, Humphrey was denied military service because of “a double hernia, color blindness, and calcification of the lungs.”]

Later Years

Political Science professor, head of international debate department focused on the international politics of World War II and the creation of the United Nations at Macalester College (Saint Paul, Minnesota) (1943 to 1944); Minneapolis radio station news commentator (spring 1944-1945)

Mayor of Minneapolis (1945-1948) noted for forming the Council on Human Relations and establishing a municipal version of the Fair Employment Practice Committee, making Minneapolis one of only a few cities in the United States to prohibit racial discrimination in the workforce.”

United States Senator (1949-1964; 1971-1978)
United States Vice President (1965-1969)

L

ifetime

Born in a room over his father’s drugstore in Wallace, South Dakota, May 27, 1911
Died in Waverly, Minnesota, January 13, 1978
Buried in Lakewood Cemetery, a non-sectarian cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

Sources

Hubert H. Humphrey “1948 Democratic National Convention Address” delivered July 14, 1948, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, American Rhetoric authenticity certified: text version transcribed directly from audio. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/huberthumphey1948dnc.html

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_Humphrey

Wikipedia Image: 38th U.S. Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Official portrait, 1965

 

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