Monrad Wallgren
Encyclopedia
Monrad Charles Wallgren (April 17, 1891 September 18, 1961), an American
politician
, served as the 13th Governor of Washington from 1945 to 1949, as well as representing that state in the United States House of Representatives
and the United States Senate
.
Wallgren, of Swedish descent, was born in Des Moines, Iowa
in 1891. His family moved to Texas
in 1894 and then to Everett, Washington
in 1901. He attended public schools and business college in Everett, graduating from the Washington State School of Optometry in Spokane, Washington
in 1914. He worked in retail jewelry and optometry
from 1915 to 1932, as well as serving in the Washington National Guard
from 1917 to 1919 and 1921 to 1922.
In 1932, Wallgren ran for election to the United States House of Representatives
as a Democrat. He defeated incumbent Republican Albert Johnson
, and took office in the 73rd United States Congress
on March 4, 1933. Near the end of his fourth term in 1940, Wallgren ran for United States Senate
to replace fellow Democrat Lewis B. Schwellenbach
, who was retiring to accept a judicial nomination. Wallgren won the election, and was also appointed to finish the rest of Schwellenbach's term. He took office on December 19, 1940.
While Wallgren served portions of two different terms (the end of Schwellenbach's and the one that Wallgren was elected to), he served less than 6 years in the Senate. In 1944, he successfully ran for governor
, resigning from the Senate on January 9, 1945 to serve as governor from then until 1949. He did not run for re-election as governor due to his nomination by President
Harry Truman as the chairman of the National Security Resources Board
. That nomination was later withdrawn, and Wallgren served on the Federal Power Commission
in 1950 and 1951. He then retired from public service.
In 1961, Wallgren died of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Olympia, Washington
while helping a stranded motorist change a tire.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, served as the 13th Governor of Washington from 1945 to 1949, as well as representing that state in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Wallgren, of Swedish descent, was born in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
in 1891. His family moved to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1894 and then to Everett, Washington
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
in 1901. He attended public schools and business college in Everett, graduating from the Washington State School of Optometry in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
in 1914. He worked in retail jewelry and optometry
Optometry
Optometry is a health care profession concerned with eyes and related structures, as well as vision, visual systems, and vision information processing in humans. Optometrists, or Doctors of Optometry, are state licensed medical professionals trained to prescribe and fit lenses to improve vision,...
from 1915 to 1932, as well as serving in the Washington National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
from 1917 to 1919 and 1921 to 1922.
In 1932, Wallgren ran for election to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Democrat. He defeated incumbent Republican Albert Johnson
Albert Johnson (congressman)
Albert Johnson was a U.S. Representative from Washington state.Born in Springfield, Illinois, Johnson attended the schools at Atchison and Hiawatha, Kansas. He worked as a reporter on the St. Joseph Herald and the St...
, and took office in the 73rd United States Congress
73rd United States Congress
The Seventy-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1933 to January 3, 1935, during the first two years...
on March 4, 1933. Near the end of his fourth term in 1940, Wallgren ran for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
to replace fellow Democrat Lewis B. Schwellenbach
Lewis B. Schwellenbach
Lewis Baxter Schwellenbach , was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. He was born in Superior, Wisconsin.-Early life:When Schwellenbach was eight years old, his family moved to Spokane, Washington...
, who was retiring to accept a judicial nomination. Wallgren won the election, and was also appointed to finish the rest of Schwellenbach's term. He took office on December 19, 1940.
While Wallgren served portions of two different terms (the end of Schwellenbach's and the one that Wallgren was elected to), he served less than 6 years in the Senate. In 1944, he successfully ran for governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
, resigning from the Senate on January 9, 1945 to serve as governor from then until 1949. He did not run for re-election as governor due to his nomination by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Harry Truman as the chairman of the National Security Resources Board
National Security Resources Board
The National Security Resources Board was a United States board created by the National Security Act of 1947. It was a part of Cold War Civil defense, and obviously United States Civil Defense in particular...
. That nomination was later withdrawn, and Wallgren served on the Federal Power Commission
Federal Power Commission
The Federal Power Commission was an independent commission of the United States government, originally organized on June 23, 1930, with five members nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate...
in 1950 and 1951. He then retired from public service.
In 1961, Wallgren died of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
while helping a stranded motorist change a tire.