Val Peterson | |
|---|---|
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| United States Ambassador to Finland | |
| In office July 14, 1969 – March 23, 1973 | |
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Tyler Thompson |
| Succeeded by | John Krehbiel |
| United States Ambassador to Denmark | |
| In office August 22, 1957 – February 21, 1961 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy |
| Preceded by | Robert Coe |
| Succeeded by | William McCormick Blair Jr. |
| Administrator of theFederal Civil Defense Administration | |
| In office February 19, 1953 – June 14, 1957 Acting: February 19, 1953 – March 4, 1953 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | James Jeremiah Wadsworth(Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Lewis Berry(Acting) |
| Chair of theNational Governors Association | |
| In office September 30, 1951 – June 29, 1952 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Lausche |
| Succeeded by | Allan Shivers |
| 26thGovernor of Nebraska | |
| In office January 9, 1947 – January 8, 1953 | |
| Lieutenant | Robert B. Crosby Charles J. Warner |
| Preceded by | Dwight Griswold |
| Succeeded by | Robert B. Crosby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Frederick Valdemar Erastus Peterson (1903-07-18)July 18, 1903 Oakdale, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | October 17, 1983(1983-10-17) (aged 80) Fremont, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Wayne State College (BA) University of Nebraska (MA) |
Frederick Valdemar Erastus Peterson (July 18, 1903 – October 17, 1983), also known asVal Peterson, was an American politician and diplomat who served as the 26th governor of Nebraska from 1947 to 1953, as director of theFederal Civil Defense Administration from 1953 to 1957,U.S. ambassador to Denmark from 1957 to 1961, andU.S. Ambassador to Finland from 1969 to 1973.[1]
Peterson was born inOakland, Nebraska, the son of Henry C. Peterson and Hermanda (Swanberg) Peterson. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree fromWayne State Teachers College and a Master of Arts degree inpolitical science from theUniversity of Nebraska. Following 1933, Peterson maintained his permanent residence inElgin, Nebraska.[2]
Peterson worked as a teacher, school administrator, and newspaper man. He was the Elgin superintendent of schools and was the publisher ofThe Elgin Review for ten years.[2] DuringWorld War II he served as lieutenant colonel in theUnited States Army Air Forces.
Peterson first entered politics as the campaign manager for theHugh Butler 1940 U.S. senatorial bid. He also was the administrative assistant and secretary to GovernorDwight Griswold from 1941 to 1942. Peterson next secured the Republican gubernatorial nomination, and was elected governor in November 1946. He was reelected to a second term in 1948, and to a third term in 1950.
During his tenure, the Missouri River basin development was endorsed and highway revenue initiatives were sought. Also during Peterson's term, he chaired the State Governors Conference and presided over the Council of State Governments in 1952. In December 1951, Governor Peterson appointedFred Andrew Seaton to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death ofKenneth S. Wherry.
Peterson served in theDwight D. Eisenhower administration as director of theFederal Civil Defense Administration from 1953 to 1957. As Federal Civil Defense Administrator, Peterson is reputed to have speculated about the possibility of creating a cobalt doomsday bomb.[3] Peterson served as U.S. ambassador to Denmark, from 1957 to 1961 and U.S. ambassador to Finland, from 1969 to 1973.
Peterson died October 17, 1983, inFremont, Nebraska, reportedly of respiratory failure following a struggle withAlzheimer's disease. He is interred at Oakdale Cemetery,Oakdale, Nebraska.[4]
The Peterson Fine Arts building at his alma mater,Wayne State College, was named in his honor. A variety of autographed photographs representing his political career (particularly a full Eisenhower Cabinet photo with autographs of each member, as well as a personally inscribed color photograph ofRichard Nixon) were on display for many years at the Wayne State library. However, the photos began to deteriorate due to exposure, and had to be removed; they are still in the possession of the college.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of Nebraska 1946,1948,1950 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Nebraska 1947–1953 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theNational Governors Association 1951–1952 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Administrator of theFederal Civil Defense Administration 1953–1957 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Denmark 1957–1961 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Finland 1969–1973 | Succeeded by |
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