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.