1984-07 July IBEW Journal.pdf - International Brotherhood of ...

~ WALTER MONDALE­
JOURNEYMAN IN THE
' CRAFT OF GOVERNMENT
By Robert A. Georgine
• W aller Mondale is the kind of
leader that. building t.rades
workers need in the White HOllse.
... A journeyman. skilled in the
crafL of government.. Mondale
understands what it. is like to
work with your hands. to build.
to create a bel.ter fut.ure.
"- Much has been written about
Walter Mandale's experience as
U.S. Senator and Vice President.
Few people know about the
earlier experience of WalLer
Mondale. the significant events
...,.' in his life which molded him into
the leader he is today.
fiorn in Minnesota. Mondale
was shaped in his eady years by
AMERICA
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES DEPT. , AFL· CIO
,.,,,'., .
make ends meet. !l is mothel'
gave piano lessons. and she anti
Walter often performed at wedding'S
and parties. lIis fatill'r's
w1 his way through
family faced ad- (; ""'~t-'io 6\0 school. Walter
\'" ~,.
versity with dig· &\J\\"O 1 ,. Mondale heg-a n
nity and strength. ..... his career ;:IS a
When fire destroye.d ','\';:':.::.. . .....,.,...,
../:..::.:: young labor lawyer.
Hevcl'cnd Mondale s ..,'::::;:..... .... Ilifi firsLjoh ouLof law
church, he rehuilt it- "' ;::::'::'::;:;';.).~':"/:::::::' school was as counsclto
larger and more beautiful.
the AF of L Scrvice EmploYl'cs
When his farms failed during local in Minneapolis.
economic hanl times. the family Latcl', as attorney general
lost everything except its laith. of Minnesota. ;\Jondale
When Theodore Mondale's first learned from the I3uilding 'Ihtdcs
wife died. he worked hard to Council about n string of phony
hold the family together.
"trade school~" that were victim.
Walter Mondale was bOl'n into izing vcterans and students. He
a family who worked hard.
gathered evidence on their fit/se
struggled, and made it. Born claims about training- and job
in the depths of thc Great
placement progl'ams, and used
Depression, Walter ~londale the po wers of his office to shut
drew on the strength and faith of down the "trade school" racket.
his family.
And he never quit working fOI'
As a boy. he and his brothers huilding tradesmen or other
worked the family garden plot workers. Throu,!{hollt hi s carcer
and sold their produce to help in the Senate. he compiled a ncar·
perfect record voting in support
fOl' OUI' issues. As Vice President.
hi~ was the voice of working
people in the While lIouse.
f\.."
Effective, understanding h ..'adcr­
sh ip is a Mondale hallm,u-k .
Walter i\londale is no fail"
weather friend. nol' fad follower.
He remembers where he came
fl'om - his roots in a st rong famil.\'.
As a lahor lawyer. as alt{)rnl'~'
gl'lwral of i\linnl'sota. as a l 'nited
Statt.'s St.'nator. as Viec Pn:sidellt
- he sl'I'ved his aPPI·l'ntit'eship.
Prilz :'I10nd.lle has learned how
to Kovenl. how to lead and, most
importantly. whcrc to lead
America.
I IBEW JOURNAL/JULY 1984 1 13