Stassen, Harold (Edward) (1907–2001)

US Republican governor and nine-time unsuccessful candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. First reforming the Republican Party in Minnesota, he served as governor 1939–43 and reformed the state civil service. He was a delegate to the founding conference of the United Nations. A young liberal Republican, he lost the 1948 presidential nomination to Thomas Dewey, instead becoming president of the University of Pennsylvania 1948–53.

He was born in Dakota City, Minnesota. After putting himself through college and law school, he practiced law in St Paul, Minnesota, serving as county attorney 1930–38. He served in World War II as an aide to Admiral Halsey 1943–45. He directed disarmament studies for Eisenhower 1955–58, practising law in Philadelphia afterwards.