Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus | |
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| 20thGovernor of Minnesota | |
| In office January 5, 1921 – January 6, 1925 | |
| Lieutenant | Louis L. Collins |
| Preceded by | Joseph A. A. Burnquist |
| Succeeded by | Theodore Christianson |
| 8thAuditor of Minnesota | |
| In office January 5, 1915 – January 5, 1921 | |
| Governor | Winfield S. Hammond J. A. A. Burnquist |
| Preceded by | Samuel G. Iverson |
| Succeeded by | Ray P. Chase |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1883-08-28)August 28, 1883 |
| Died | May 24, 1961(1961-05-24) (aged 77) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Idelle Louise Haugen |
| Alma mater | Luther College University of Minnesota |
Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus (/prɔɪs/PROYSS; August 28, 1883 – May 24, 1961) was anAmerican politician. He served as the 8thstate auditor ofMinnesota from January 5, 1915, to January 5, 1921, and as the20th Governor of Minnesota from January 5, 1921, to January 6, 1925. He was aRepublican.
He was born inColumbia County, Wisconsin, on August 28, 1883, of Norwegian descent. The grandson, son, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of Lutheran pastors, he chose to serve the state rather than the church. He was a 1903 graduate ofLuther College inDecorah, Iowa, where his extended family has had a key role in the development, governance, and academic life of the college-community since its founding in 1862.[citation needed]
As a recent graduate of theUniversity of Minnesota Law School he cut his political teeth in Washington as executive clerk to SenatorKnute Nelson. Back home after three years, he continued his climb up the Republican ladder of state service toward the governor's office.
When Preus first ran for governor in 1920, he adamantly opposed theFarmer-Labor Party, a coalition of discontented farmers and laborers who had formed a new political organization. The party, he declaimed, represented "socialism—a political cult that would destroy the principles of private property, our religion, and our homes."
Despite his reservations about the Farmer-Labor philosophy, Governor Preus nonetheless encouraged the legislature to meet some of the farmers' demands by broadening cooperatives' legal powers, making low-interest loans available through theRural Credit Bureau, and creating theDepartment of Agriculture. Preus also demanded higher taxes from the owners of ore-rich mines on theIron Range, expanded highway construction, and improved equal rights and election procedures. His political savvy, combined with an apparent desire to correct inequities, made him a surprisingly prolific reformer.
After completing his second term, Preus became an insurance executive in Chicago. He returned to Minneapolis in 1958 and served until his death as board chairman ofLutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal insurance society he had co-founded in 1917. Lutheran Brotherhood merged with Aid Association for Lutherans in 2002 to becomeThrivent Financial for Lutherans.
Preus was married during 1909 to Idella Louise Haugen. Their son,Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus II, was a theologian, professor, author, and president of theLutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Their other son,Robert Preus, was a Lutheran pastor, professor, author, theologian, and president ofConcordia Theological Seminary. He died on May 24, 1961.[1]
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| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Republican nominee forMinnesota State Auditor 1914, 1918 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of Minnesota 1920,1922 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forU.S. Senator fromMinnesota (Class 2) 1923 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Minnesota 1921–1925 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minnesota State Auditor 1915–1921 | Succeeded by |
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