Fred G. Aandahl

Fred G. Aandahl
Aandahl in 1952
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota's at-large district
In office January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953
Preceded by	William Lemke
Succeeded by	Otto Krueger
23rd Governor of North Dakota
In office January 4, 1945 – January 3, 1951
Lieutenant	Clarence P. Dahl
Preceded by	John Moses
Succeeded by	Norman Brunsdale
Member of the North Dakota State Senate
In office 1941
In office 1939
In office 1931
Personal details
Born	Fred George Aandahl (1897-04-09)April 9, 1897 Svea Township, Barnes County, North Dakota, U.S.
Died	April 7, 1966(1966-04-07) (aged 68) Valley City, North Dakota, U.S.
Political party	Republican

Fred George Aandahl (April 9, 1897 – April 7, 1966) was an American Republican politician from North Dakota. He served as the 23rd governor of North Dakota from 1945 to 1951 and as a U.S. Representative from 1951 to 1953.

Aandahl was born in Svea Township, North Dakota, the son of Norwegian emigrant Soren "Sam" J. Aandahl and his American-born wife, Mamie C. (Lawry) Aandahl. He graduated from Litchville High School, and then from the University of North Dakota in 1921 and became a farmer. He was a schoolteacher, a principal, and then superintendent of Litchville's schools from 1922 to 1927.^[1] On June 28, 1926, he married Luella Brekke, and they had three daughters.

In 1931, 1939 and 1941 Aandahl was member of the North Dakota State Senate. From 1945 to 1951 he was governor of the state, and during his tenure, natural resources were protected and conservation programs were promoted.^[2] He was elected as a Republican to the Eighty-second United States Congress (January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953). He was not a candidate for the Eighty-third Congress in 1952, but was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate, losing 58%-42% to incumbent William Langer in the Republican Primary.^[3] Aandahl then ran in the general election against Langer and Democrat Harold A. Morrison and finished in third place and 10% of the vote. From 1953 to 1961 he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Interior during both of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administrations.

Aandahl died in Fargo, North Dakota and was interred in Hillside Cemetery, Valley City.

• Fred G. Aandahl Papers at The University of North Dakota

• United States Congress. "Fred G. Aandahl (id: A000001)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• State Historical Society of North Dakota
• Fred G. Aandahl at Find a Grave