Perpich - by Benjamin M Schierer (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The story of Minnesota's longest-serving governor and his role in propelling the state to the global stage, woven together from interviews with influential civic leaders.

Rudy Perpich was one of a kind. As Minnesota's longest-serving governor, he built bridges where others saw impassible divides: between rural and urban life, labor and business interests, local politics and international trade.

Perpich: A Minnesota Original explores the life and legacy of one of the state's most consequential political figures. Crafted from oral histories of influential leaders--including Paul Wellstone, Marlene Johnson, James Oberstar, Joan Growe, Mark Dayton, Sandra Gardebring Ogren, Roger Moe, and Arne Carlson, this volume demonstrates how Perpich's political fortunes mirrored those of the state. It follows Perpich from his youth on the Iron Range to his political forays on the school board and in the statehouse, including his decade-spanning stints in the governor's mansion.

A tale of globetrotting economic tours, major construction projects, and support for education and the arts, this historical biography is also the story of bocce-ball, failed chopstick factories, and even USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev. Schierer and Sturdevant examine the qualities and quirks that allowed Perpich to develop policies that crossed geographic and partisan boundaries. Rudy Perpich is a portrait of a unique civic leader who left an indelible mark on the state.

Review Quotes

"Ben Schierer has painted a vibrant picture of Governor Perpich. From his Iron Range immigrant roots to the Governor's Residence in St. Paul, Rudy never lost his focus on the importance of public service, and Minnesota is better for it." --Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota

"Perpich: A Minnesota Original does a remarkable job of sharing the legendary life and legacy of Minnesota's longest-serving governor, and it truly captures the governor's zest for public service. Former Fergus Falls mayor Ben Schierer and Star Tribune columnist Lori Sturdevant track Perpich from his childhood on the Iron Range to his service as Minnesota's chief executive. We can all take inspiration from the governor's values of family, education, community--and the belief that government can positively influence people's lives."--Amy Klobuchar, US Senator from Minnesota

"Mayor Ben Schierer's outstanding book about Rudy Perpich tells a great American story about leadership, resilience, and how to use your power to make a difference for regular people. Read this book if you want to challenge the conventional wisdom that the urban-rural divide in politics can't be bridged, and populist progressive politics can't work in small towns and rural communities. Perpich showed us the way, and Ben Schierer's book provides the road map."--Tina Smith, US Senator from Minnesota

"Perpich's example offers glimpses of hope, cautionary tales, and specific leadership and management choices and strategies of relevance for today. This carefully researched, well-written book is a perfect union of Schierer's bipartisanship in his own public service and both authors' deep appreciation for a historical perspective on the perils and promise of leading a divided state."--Kathy Quick, Gross Family Chair, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota

"Ben Schierer's Perpich: A Minnesota Original is a powerful biography of Minnesota's longest-serving governor and a portrait of changing times, political courage, and the ways in which hearts are forged and destinies are determined. It is a detailed and well-researched account of the ways in which individuals shape communities, and a tribute to Minnesota's collective will to not only survive but thrive in a national landscape that looms larger than any single leader or legacy."--Kao Kalia Yang, award-winning author of several books, including The Latehomecomer

About the Author

Lori Sturdevant is a retired Star Tribune editorial writer and columnist, author, and three-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.