Robert Bergland
Encyclopedia
Robert Selmer Bergland is a United States
politician
. He grew up on a farm (where he still lives) near Roseau, and studied agriculture at the University of Minnesota
in a two year program. He became an official with the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service United States Department of Agriculture
from 1963 to 1968.
He was elected to the United States House of Representatives
from 1971 to 1977 as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, entering the House by defeating Republican incumbent Odin Langen in 1970. He was elected to the 92nd
, 93rd
, 94th
, and 95th congresses
, and served from January 3, 1971 to January 22, 1977 as a representative from Minnesota
. In Congress he served on the House Committee on Agriculture's subcommittees for Conservation and Credit, and Livestock, Grains, Dairy, and Poultry.
In 1977 he resigned from the House shortly after the beginning of a new term, and was appointed Secretary of Agriculture by Jimmy Carter
. He served as United States Secretary of Agriculture
from January 23, 1977 to January 20, 1981. A minor but much-celebrated struggle between USDA and the GSA
occurred during his tenure, resulting in the ironic dedication of the USDA executive cafeteria in honor of Alferd Packer
-- in order to shame GSA
into terminating a Nixon-era cafeteria services contract.
At the end of the Carter administration in 1981, he became the chairman of Farmland World Trade until 1982 when he became the vice president and general manager of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
. In that capacity he lobbied both congress and regulatory agencies on behalf of Cooperative
s in the electricity business. Throughout his life he was widely considered a tireless advocate for working class rural Americans, particularly farmers.
He retired in 1994 only to be elected by the Minnesota State Legislature to serve on the University of Minnesota
Board of Regents. He finally retired after one term, and owns a 600 acres (2.4 km²) farm in Minnesota. He is married to Helen (Grahn) and they are the parents of seven children (Dianne, Linda, Stevan, Jon, Allan, William, and Franklyn), 15 grandchildren (Tomas Bergland), five great grandchildren (Megan Klein) and two step-grandchildren. He is also a guitarist for the Highway 11 Ramblers.
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...
. He grew up on a farm (where he still lives) near Roseau, and studied agriculture at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in a two year program. He became an official with the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
from 1963 to 1968.
He was elected 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...
from 1971 to 1977 as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, entering the House by defeating Republican incumbent Odin Langen in 1970. He was elected to the 92nd
92nd United States Congress
The Ninety-second 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...
, 93rd
93rd United States Congress
The Ninety-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 January 3, 1973 to January 3, 1975, during the end of Richard...
, 94th
94th United States Congress
The Ninety-fourth 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 January 3, 1975 to January 3, 1977, during the administration...
, and 95th congresses
95th United States Congress
The Ninety-fifth 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 January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1979, during the first two years...
, and served from January 3, 1971 to January 22, 1977 as a representative from Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. In Congress he served on the House Committee on Agriculture's subcommittees for Conservation and Credit, and Livestock, Grains, Dairy, and Poultry.
In 1977 he resigned from the House shortly after the beginning of a new term, and was appointed Secretary of Agriculture by Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. He served as United States Secretary of Agriculture
United States Secretary of Agriculture
The United States Secretary of Agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The current secretary is Tom Vilsack, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 20 January 2009. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other...
from January 23, 1977 to January 20, 1981. A minor but much-celebrated struggle between USDA and the GSA
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
occurred during his tenure, resulting in the ironic dedication of the USDA executive cafeteria in honor of Alferd Packer
Alferd Packer
Alfred G. "Alferd" Packer was an American prospector who was accused of cannibalism during the winter of 1873-1874. First tried for murder, Packer was eventually sentenced to 40 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter...
-- in order to shame GSA
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
into terminating a Nixon-era cafeteria services contract.
At the end of the Carter administration in 1981, he became the chairman of Farmland World Trade until 1982 when he became the vice president and general manager of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the organization that represents over 900 electric cooperatives in the United States. Independent electric utilities are not-for-profit and are owned by their members...
. In that capacity he lobbied both congress and regulatory agencies on behalf of Cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
s in the electricity business. Throughout his life he was widely considered a tireless advocate for working class rural Americans, particularly farmers.
He retired in 1994 only to be elected by the Minnesota State Legislature to serve on the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
Board of Regents. He finally retired after one term, and owns a 600 acres (2.4 km²) farm in Minnesota. He is married to Helen (Grahn) and they are the parents of seven children (Dianne, Linda, Stevan, Jon, Allan, William, and Franklyn), 15 grandchildren (Tomas Bergland), five great grandchildren (Megan Klein) and two step-grandchildren. He is also a guitarist for the Highway 11 Ramblers.
Additional Resources
- The Bob Bergland Papers, including extensive records of his congressional service, are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.