Val Peterson

Frederick Valdemar Erastus Peterson (July 18, 1903 – October 17, 1983), also known as Val Peterson, was an American politician who served as the 26th Governor of Nebraska from 1947 to 1953; as director of the Federal Civil Defense Administration from 1953–1957; as U.S. ambassador to Denmark 1957–1961; and as U.S. Ambassador to Finland, 1969–1973.[1]

Val Peterson
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
Preceded by	Robert Coe
Succeeded by	William McCormick Blair Jr.
Administrator of the Federal 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 the National Governors Association
In office September 30, 1951 – June 29, 1952
Preceded by	Frank Lausche
Succeeded by	Allan Shivers
26th Governor 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, Lincoln (MA)

Background

Peterson was born in Oakland, Nebraska the son of Henry C. Peterson and Hermanda (Swanberg) Peterson. He received his BA degree from Wayne State Teachers College and a master's degree in political science from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Following 1933, Peterson maintained his permanent residence in Elgin, Nebraska.[2]

Career & Death

Peterson worked as a teacher, school administrator, and newspaper man. He was the Elgin superintendent of schools and was the publisher of The Elgin Review for ten years.[2] During World War II he served as lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Air Forces.

Peterson first entered politics as the campaign manager for the Hugh Butler 1940 U.S. senatorial bid. He also was the administrative assistant and secretary to Governor Dwight 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 appointed Fred Andrew Seaton to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Kenneth S. Wherry.

Peterson served in the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration as director of the Federal Civil Defense Administration from 1953–1957. 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 1957–1961 and U.S. ambassador to Finland, from 1969–1973.

Peterson died October 17, 1983 in Fremont, Nebraska, reportedly of respiratory failure following a struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He is interred at Oakdale Cemetery, Oakdale, Nebraska.[4]

Peterson Fine Arts Building

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 of Richard 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.

References

1. Nebraska Governor Frederick Valdemar Erastus (Val) Peterson (Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States)
2. Governor Peterson (Nebraska History.org)
3. Nuclear Holocausts: Atomic War in Fiction by Paul Brians Archived 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine
4. "Frederick Peterson, 80; Was U.S. Ambassador". The New York Times (Oct 18, 1983, Sect. D, p. 31). AP. 18 October 1983. Retrieved 9 August 2020.

Further sources

• "Peterson, (Frederick) Val(demar Erastus)" in Current Biography 1949.

External links

• United States Department of State: Ambassadors to Denmark
• United States Department of State: Ambassadors to Finland
• The Political Graveyard: Peterson, Frederick Valdemar Erastus
• A film clip "Longines Chronoscope with Val Peterson" is available at the Internet Archive
• A film clip "Longines Chronoscope with Val Peterson" is available at the Internet Archive

Party political offices
Preceded by Dwight Griswold	Republican nominee for Governor of Nebraska 1946, 1948, 1950	Succeeded by Robert B. Crosby
Political offices
Preceded by Dwight Griswold	Governor of Nebraska 1947–1953	Succeeded by Robert B. Crosby
Preceded by Frank Lausche	Chair of the National Governors Association 1951–1952	Succeeded by Allan Shivers
Preceded by James Jeremiah Wadsworth Acting	Administrator of the Federal Civil Defense Administration 1953–1957	Succeeded by Lewis Berry Acting
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Robert Coe	United States Ambassador to Denmark 1957–1961	Succeeded by William McCormick Blair Jr.
Preceded by Tyler Thompson	United States Ambassador to Finland 1969–1973	Succeeded by John Krehbiel