The man generally credited with creating the modern role of the Vice President, Walter F. Mondale, has died at the age of 93. From the New York Times:
Walter F. Mondale, the former vice president and champion of liberal politics, activist government and civil rights who ran as the Democratic candidate for president in 1984, losing to President Ronald Reagan in a landslide, died on Monday at his home in Minneapolis. He was 93.
Kathy Tunheim, a spokeswoman for the family, announced the death. She did not specify a cause. But Mr. Mondale was prepared for the end. Over the weekend he spoke for the last time with former President Jimmy Carter, under whom he served; with President Biden and his wife, Jill Biden; and with Vice President Kamala Harris. And he sent a farewell email to his former staff members.
A son of a minister of modest means, Fritz Mondale, as he was widely known, led a rich public life that began in Minnesota under the tutelage of his state’s progressive pathfinder, Hubert H. Humphrey. He achieved his own historic firsts, especially with his selection of Representative Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York as his running mate in 1984, the first woman to seek the vice presidency on a major national ticket.
The Times' obituary was written with Mondale's input starting in 2010. It contains a rich collection of anecdotes and the timeline of his long career of public service, and is well worth the read.
This is the touching farewell email Mondale sent to hundreds of former staff members (click to enlarge):
Mondale was a progressive champion throughout his rich and impactful life. A man of substance, a lifelong believer in the good that good government could do and in the unfulfilled promise of America, Mondale had the misfortune of coming into his own during a resurgence of reactionary Republicanism led by St. Ronnie of Hollywood. Had he been elected President in 1984, one can imagine that we'd be a much different, and much better country today.
Rest in peace.
BONUS: You can see some of the many tributes to Mondale's life here.
(Photo: John Pedrin, New York Daily News)
