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Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale was born on January 5, 1928 in Ceylon, Minnesota. He attended Macalester College in St. Paul, MN and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in political science (1951). He joined the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. He worked with Hubert Humphrey and joined his first senate campaign. Humphrey became his friend and political mentor.

He served in the Army for two years. Then he went back to the University of Minnesota for a law degree and got marriage.

His career in politics continued, representing Minnesota in the U.S. senate for twelve years (1964-1976). He called himself a liberal or progressive at heart and supported such programs as civil rights, school aid, expansion of health care, childcare, consumer protection and many others. In 1976, he became the 42nd vice president of the United States serving for Jimmy Carter. Mondale was the first vice president to serve as a partner to the president, who wanted someone with experience in Washington politics. They lost the 1980 election. Mondale ran for president in 1984. He selected Representative Geraldine Ferraro of New York, for his running mate. They lost to Ronald Reagan and George W. H. Bush. Mondale was the first vice president to serve as a partner to the president, Jimmy Carter who wanted someone with experience in Washington politics. During the Clinton Administration, he served as U. S. Ambassador to Japan (1993-1996).

He was the author of The Accountability of Power: Toward a Responsible Presidency (1975) and The Good Fight: A Life in Liberal Politics (2010) with Dave Hage. Walter F. Mondale, 42nd Vice President of the United States, died at his home in Minneapolis, MN on April 19, 2021. He was 93.

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