Odin Elsford Stanley Langen (January 5, 1913 – July 6, 1976) was an American politician from the state of Minnesota. He served six terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1959 to 1971.[1]
Odin Langen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 7th district | |
| In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1971 | |
| Preceded by | Herman Carl Andersen |
| Succeeded by | Robert Bergland |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 9th district | |
| In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1963 | |
| Preceded by | Coya Knutson |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 67th district | |
| In office January 2, 1951 – January 5, 1959 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 5, 1913 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | July 6, 1976 (aged 63) Kennedy, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Lillian Thelma Clauson
(m. 1938) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Dunwoody Institute |
Early life and career
editOdin Langen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His family moved to Kennedy, Minnesota around 1914. He attended the public schools and Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis from 1933 to 1934. He engaged in farming in Kittson County near Kennedy, Minnesota and was associated with Production Marketing Administration in Kittson County, Minnesota from 1935 to 1950.
Political career
editLangen was a member of the Kennedy (Minnesota) School Board and served as its president from 1948 to 1950. Langen also served on the South Red River Town Board from 1947 to 1950. He was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives where he served from 1951 to 1959.[2] He became the Republican leader of the state house in 1957.
In 1958, he ran for the United States House of Representatives against the incumbent DFL Party representative Coya Knutson. Although Knutson was initially expected to win the race, her husband released a letter now known as the "Coya, Come Home" letter publicly pleading with her to give up her career in Washington. The letter damaged her campaign and Langen won by 1,390 votes.[3]
Langen voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1960,[4] 1964,[5]and 1968,[6] as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[7][8]
He won re-election five times serving on the Agriculture and Appropriations. In 1970, Langen faced off against Robert Bergland, whom he defeated in 1968. Bergland, a farmer and former Agriculture Department official, benefited from local agricultural concerns and defeated Langen.[9][10]
Later career
editAfter his defeat, he became Administrator of the Packers and Stockyards Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture from January 1971 to April 1972, when he resigned to resume farming pursuits in Kennedy, Minnesota.[10][11] [12]
Personal life
editHe was married to Lillian Thelma Clauson (1911–1988) with whom he had three children. Odin Langen died in 1976. His funeral was held at the Red River Lutheran Church in Kennedy, Minnesota.[13]
References
edit- ^ Onofrio, Jan (2000) Langen Odin Elsford Stanley in "Minnesota Biographical Dictionary: People of All Times and Places Who Have Been Important to the History and Life of the State' (Somerset Publishers, Inc., page 204) ISBN 9780403096749
- ^ "Langen, Odin Elsford Stanley - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "Coya Knutson Dies at 82". New York Times. 1996-10-13.
- ^ "HR 8601. PASSAGE. -- House Vote #102 -- Mar 24, 1960". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "H.R. 7152. PASSAGE. -- House Vote #128 -- Feb 10, 1964". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR … -- House Vote #113 -- Aug 16, 1967". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF … -- House Vote #193 -- Aug 27, 1962". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "TO PASS H.R. 6400, THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT. -- House Vote #87 -- Jul 9, 1965". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "House Election Is Expected to Leave the Balance of Power Virtually Intact". New York Times. 1970-11-01.
- ^ a b "Odin Langen Dead; Won 6 House Terms". New York Times. 1976-07-06.
- ^ "Our Campaigns". MN District 9 November 04, 1958. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
- ^ "Our Campaigns". MN District 7 November 03, 1964. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
- ^ "Odin Elsford Stanley Langen (1913-1976)". Politicians in Kittson County. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
External links
edit- United States Congress. "Odin Langen (id: L000069)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.