Representative Albert Harold Quie - Contact Information

Albert Harold “Al” Quie (pronounced KWEE; September 18, 1923 – August 18, 2023) was an American politician, farmer, and public servant from Minnesota who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1957 to 1979 and as the 35th Governor of Minnesota from 1979 to 1983. A member of the Republican Party, he was widely regarded as a moderate Republican and became a prominent figure in state and national politics over more than two decades in public office. During his 11 terms in Congress, he contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his constituents in Minnesota’s 1st congressional district.

Quie was born on September 18, 1923, in Wheeling Township, Rice County, Minnesota, into a family of Norwegian descent. He was raised on the family farm, an upbringing that shaped his lifelong identification as a farmer and informed much of his later work on agricultural policy. Growing up during the Great Depression, he experienced firsthand the economic challenges facing rural communities, which would later influence his political priorities and his advocacy for farmers and rural development.

Quie attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, but his education was interrupted by World War II. He enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a fighter pilot, training and flying missions during the war. After his military service, he returned to St. Olaf College and completed his studies, graduating with a bachelor’s degree. Following college, he returned to Rice County to work the family farm, becoming an active member of his local community and Lutheran congregation, and beginning to build the civic and political relationships that would launch his public career.

Quie’s formal political career began in Minnesota state politics, where his reputation as a thoughtful, moderate Republican and a committed advocate for agriculture and education grew. His entry into national office came after the death of United States Representative August H. Andresen in January 1958. Quie ran in the special by-election to succeed Andresen as the representative for Minnesota’s 1st congressional district. He won the Republican nomination at a party convention and then narrowly defeated Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party nominee Eugene Foley by 655 votes in the February 1958 special election. Later that year, he again faced Foley in the November 1958 general election and defeated him to win a full term in the House of Representatives.

In Congress, Quie’s service is generally dated from 1957 to 1979, and he went on to win reelection repeatedly, serving in the 85th, 86th, 87th, 88th, 89th, 90th, 91st, 92nd, 93rd, 94th, and 95th United States Congresses. As a member of the House of Representatives, he participated actively in the democratic process during a transformative era that included the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and major expansions of federal social programs. He served on the United States House Committee on Agriculture and the United States House Committee on Education and Workforce, where his background as a farmer and his interest in educational policy were particularly influential. Reflecting his moderate Republican stance, Quie voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1960, 1964, and 1968, the Twenty-fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, aligning himself with bipartisan efforts to expand civil and voting rights.

Quie’s stature within the Republican Party grew steadily during his years in Congress. He was briefly considered for the office of Vice President of the United States in 1974 after Gerald Ford became president upon the resignation of Richard Nixon; Ford ultimately selected Nelson Rockefeller for the position. Quie’s name again surfaced at the national level when he was considered by Ronald Reagan as a possible running mate for the vice presidency during the 1980 presidential election. These considerations reflected his reputation as a respected, centrist Republican with legislative experience and appeal in the Upper Midwest.

In 1978, Quie chose not to seek reelection to the House and instead ran for governor of Minnesota. He was elected the 35th Governor of Minnesota and served from 1979 to 1983. His gubernatorial tenure coincided with a period of economic difficulty, including high interest rates and a national recession that affected Minnesota’s farmers and industries. As governor, he dealt with budgetary challenges and sought to balance fiscal restraint with the maintenance of essential public services, drawing on his legislative experience and his long-standing interest in education and agriculture. After one term, he did not continue in statewide office, closing a quarter-century of continuous elected service at the state and federal levels.

After leaving politics, Quie remained active in public and religious life. He became involved with a nonprofit prison ministry, reflecting his deep Lutheran faith and interest in rehabilitation and second chances for incarcerated individuals. He sold the family farm and devoted more time to travel and outdoor pursuits, including extensive horseback riding excursions. In his later years, he continued to be recognized as a significant figure in Minnesota’s political history, remembered for his moderation, his support for civil rights, and his long record of service. Albert Harold Quie died on August 18, 2023, at the age of 99, closing a life that spanned nearly a century of American political and social change.