Harold Knutson | |
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| House Majority Whip | |
| In office March 3, 1919 – March 3, 1923 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Montgomery Bell |
| Succeeded by | Albert Henry Vestal |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMinnesota | |
| In office March 4, 1917 – January 3, 1949 | |
| Preceded by | Charles August Lindbergh |
| Succeeded by | Fred Marshall |
| Constituency | 6th district (1917–1933) At-large district (1933–1935) 6th district (1935–1949) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Harold Knutson (1880-10-20)October 20, 1880 |
| Died | August 21, 1953(1953-08-21) (aged 72) Wadena, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
Harold Knutson (October 20, 1880 – August 21, 1953) was an American politician and journalist who representedMinnesota in theUnited States House of Representatives from 1917 to 1949 as a member of theRepublican Party. From 1919 to 1923 he was the Republicanmajority whip.
Knutson was born inSkien, inTelemark county,United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. At the age of 6 he and his family moved to theUnited States. They initially settled inChicago,Illinois, but later moved toSherburne County,Minnesota.
Knutson became the editor for theSt. Cloud Daily Journal-Press. Later, he was president of the Northern Minnesota Editorial Association.
From 1917 to 1949 he served as aRepublican PartyCongressman in the65th,66th,67th,68th,69th,70th,71st,72nd,73rd,74th,75th,76th,77th,78th,79th, and80th congresses. On April 5, 1917, he voted against declaring war on Germany. He served as themajority whip from 1919 to 1923. From 1947 to 1949 he headed theHouse Ways and Means Committee. Knutson was a leading isolationist. He was known for being overtly sympathetic to Nazi Germany, and even after theattack on Pearl Harbor, gave an address that was condemned as "defeatist."[1][2] Nazi Germany described him as "an asset" for the Nazi cause in their own documents.[3]
Knutson was defeated for re-election in 1948 and returned to editing, which he continued to do until his death inWadena, Minnesota in 1953.
Knutson was aLutheran. Camp Knutson (Cross Lake, Minnesota) is an accepting and nurturing camp environment for children with special needs. The camp was donated in 1953 by Minnesota Congressman Harold Knutson to be used as a summer retreat for "neglected, unfortunate, deprived and handicapped children." For over 50 years, thousands of children have taken part in the summer programs offered at Camp Knutson. Over the years, others who have been touched by Harold Knutson's vision continue to support, sustain and improve Camp Knutson for the future.
Knutson was a member of theFreemasons, theBenevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and theIndependent Order of Odd Fellows.
Knutson Dam on theMississippi River atCass Lake is named after him.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMinnesota's 6th congressional district 1917–1933 | Succeeded by N/A |
| Preceded by N/A | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMinnesota's at-large congressional district 1933–1935 | Succeeded by N/A |
| Preceded by N/A | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMinnesota's 6th congressional district 1935–1949 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Thomas Montgomery Bell (D-GA) (No majority (Democratic) whip 1915–1919; Bell was whip 1913–1915) | House Majority Whip 1919–1923 | Succeeded by Albert Henry Vestal (R-IN) |
| Preceded by | House Republican Whip 1919–1923 | Succeeded by Albert Henry Vestal (IN) |
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