Dunn, Robert G. (1923-2017)

https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/legpol_oh/14 [16751]

Biographical Information: Robert G. Dunn was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 25, 1923. Prior to his entry into local politics, Dunn originally attended Amherst College in Massachusetts, majoring in political science, and served in the Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War. Through his later work in the lumber industry, Dunn became politically involved as the county chairman for the Republican Party in Princeton. In 1964, he sought and won a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives for District 28 (later 25B). He held this seat until 1972 when he won for District 18 seat in the Minnesota Senate. Dunn passed away on March 15, 2017.

Minnesota state Representative for District 28 (1965-1966) and District 25B (1967-1972) and state Senator from District 18 (1973-1980) elected from the conservative caucus and represented Benton, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Sherburne, and Wright counties.

Transcript Summary: In an interview conducted on August 9, 1973, Robert Dunn discussed his tenure as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate. Dunn noted that his interest in politics stemmed from a lifelong interest in staying up-to-date on current events and on matters of political policy, as well as due to his own family history of political activism. His grandfather served as a member of the State House, Senate, State Auditor, and a gubernatorial candidate. Dunn also mentioned that he first became directly involved in local politics through his work as a county chairman in Princeton for the Republican Party, an experience that later convinced him to run for the state House of Representatives in 1964, and the state Senate in 1972. Dunn spoke little about specific bills and policies that he endeavored to enact during his time in the Minnesota legislature, but acknowledged that his three primary interests as a legislator concerned environmental conservation, local government, and public education.

Interview conducted by John Waldron and Calvin Gower