Orville Freeman

Orville Freeman
16th United States Secretary of Agriculture
In office
January 21, 1961 – January 20, 1969
PresidentJohn F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded byEzra Taft Benson
Succeeded byClifford M. Hardin
29th Governor of Minnesota
In office
January 5, 1955 – January 2, 1961
LieutenantKarl Rolvaag
Preceded byC. Elmer Anderson
Succeeded byElmer L. Andersen
Personal details
Born
Orville Lothrop Freeman

(1918-05-09)May 9, 1918
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedFebruary 20, 2003(2003-02-20) (aged 84)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Resting placeLakewood Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Jane Shields
(m. 1942)
Children2, including Michael
EducationUniversity of Minnesota (BA, LLB)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
RankMajor
Battles/warsWorld War II
 • Battle of Bougainville

Orville Lothrop Freeman (May 9, 1918 – February 20, 2003) was an American politician who served as the 29th governor of Minnesota from 1955 to 1961, and as the U.S. secretary of agriculture from 1961 to 1969 under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He was one of the founding members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party and influential in the merger of the Minnesota Democratic and Farmer-Labor parties. Freeman nominated Kennedy for president at the 1960 Democratic National Convention.