During a lifetime devoted to public service, Harold Stassen left an indelible mark upon American politics. He first gained national prominence in the 1930s by revitalizing Minnesota’s Republican Party and establishing a progressive, cooperative approach to state government. Although his achievements are often obscured by his seemingly relentless quest to become president, Stassen contributed greatly to the cause of international peace following World War II.
Participants in the Treaty of Washington, including Henry Belland, Joseph Renshaw Brown, Nathaniel R. Brown, Antoine Joseph Campbell, and the Dakota leaders Wabasha and Mankato, 1858. Photographed by Charles DeForest Fredericks.
During his five decades in Minnesota, Joseph R. Brown was a significant figure in territorial and state politics. Although he never held high office, he exercised great influence on how the region developed. His ability to produce legislative results earned him the nickname “Jo the Juggler.”