Rudy Perpich

“Rudy” Perpich (June 27, 1928–September 21, 1995) was an American dentist and politician. A member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, he served as the 34th and 36th governor of Minnesota from December 29, 1976 to January 4, 1979, and from January 3, 1983 to January 7, 1991. This was the longest tenure among the state's governors. He was also the state's only Roman Catholic governor and the only one to serve non-consecutive terms.

Later career

Nearly the entire DFL Party ticket was defeated in 1978, including Perpich and the candidates for both US Senate seats. Anderson's arranging for his own appointment to the Senate and Perpich's role in it were factors in their defeats. Perpich worked at Control Data Corporation in New York and Austria until winning back the governor's office in the 1982 election cycle by challenging the DFL Party's endorsed candidate and then winning the primary election. Perpich was re-elected in 1986, but lost the gubernatorial general election to Arne Carlson in 1990 in a bizarre election that had Carlson replace the Independent-Republican Party's candidate Jon Grunseth (who had beaten him in the primary election) after the candidate was forced to withdraw in a sex scandal.

Related Topics:
1978 - US Senate - Control Data Corporation - New York - Austria - 1982 - 1986 - General election - Arne Carlson - 1990 - Independent-Republican Party - Jon Grunseth - Primary election

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Perpich was known for his unorthdox behavior, such as stopping speeders on the freeway and returning to the ghost town where he was born to commune with his ancestors. At one point in his gubernatorial term, he donated his $25,000 pay raise to help promote bocce-ball.

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His legacy of projects in Minnesota include the Minnesota World Trade Center in St. Paul, the Perpich Center for Arts Education and the Center for Victims of Torture, both in Golden Valley, and the Mall of America in Bloomington. Additionally, Perpich worked to promote Minnesota on the international stage by traveling to 17 countries in 1984, and bringing the foreign leaders Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union and Dr. Franjo Tuđman of Croatia to the state in 1990.

Related Topics:
Minnesota World Trade Center - St. Paul - Perpich Center for Arts Education - Center for Victims of Torture - Golden Valley - Mall of America - Bloomington - 1984 - Mikhail Gorbachev - Soviet Union - Franjo Tuđman - 1990

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