Almanac: At the Capitol

The Minnesota Massacre (08/14/08)

November 8, 1978 was an election night dubbed "the Minnesota Massacre" by a generation of DFLers. Republicans took over the governor's office and the two U.S. Senate seats. As the returns came in, KTCA crews were there to record the scene. Let's take a look back at this historic night.

2002 to 2006 (12/28/07)

Paul Wellstone explains his opposition to the Iraq War Resolution in his first debate with Norm Coleman. Tim Pawlenty shares a defining moment from his childhood. Past governors discuss Pawlenty's potential and offer words of advice. Amy Klobuchar tells Mark Kennedy she wants a debate her mother would be proud of. And a campaigning Governor Pawlenty pledges his commitment to Minnesota.

1978 and 1979 (12/28/07)

Vice President Walter Mondale celebrates HHH's legacy at his funeral. Campaign Weekly analyzes campaign commercials for future senators Rudy Boschwitz and Dave Durenberger. KTCA crews record the scene on the election night dubbed by DFLers "the Minnesota Massacre." And the station documents Mondale's ancestral trip to Norway.

1957 to 1974 (12/28/07)

Elmer L. Andersen shows off his collection of history books in a rare kinescope recording. Orville Freeman and Hubert Humphrey film a campaign commercial with presidential candidate John F. Kennedy. Senator Humphrey reminisces about his blooming romance with Muriel. And Wendell Andersen inaugurates the opening of Orchestra Hall.

Al Quie Looks Back at the Election of 1978 (12/21/07)

Mary Lahammer sat down recently with Governor Quie to talk about the election in which the DFL lost both U.S. Senate seats and the governorship.

8 Governors (09/20/07)

EIGHT living former governors. That's what Minnesota had back in 1986. And in May of that year all eight were in one place at one time at the St. Paul Pioneer Press. We had a camera there and recorded the historic event. Yeah, only seven of the governors are featured talking in this clip. C. Elmer Anderson was always a bit shy.

The Wrapup (06/22/07)

Did you know who the dream golf date was for the 1972 KTCA Action Auction? We give you your weekly dose of Minnesota history and end with a vintage music clip by Cap'n Jack Duff.

Opening I-35W and I-35E (05/22/07)

Ah ... let's all yearn for a minute for those heady days of the '60s and '70s when Minnesotans built their way out of traffic problems. Here are some rare clips — courtesy again of KSTP-TV — showing the ribbon-cutting ceremonies for I-35W and I-35E. Note how spiffy our governors looked.

More Campaign Classics (03/26/07)

Here are two video gems from the 1978 campaign ... long remembered for the DFL turning over power to the Republicans (then known as Independent Republicans). Featured in this clip are two campaign commercials, each two minutes long! The first ad features U.S. Senate victor David Durenberger. The second profiles former-governor-turned-senator Wendy Anderson who lost his race that year to Rudy Boschwitz.

Capitol Update - January 9, 2007 (01/09/07)