Rudy Boschwitz

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Rudy Boschwitz
Official portrait, 1983
United States Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
In office March 17, 2005 – June 16, 2006
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Rich Williamson
Succeeded by	office abolished[a]
United States Senator from Minnesota
In office December 30, 1978 – January 3, 1991
Preceded by	Wendell Anderson
Succeeded by	Paul Wellstone
Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1989
Preceded by	John Heinz
Succeeded by	Don Nickles
Personal details
Born	Rudolph Ely Boschwitz (1930-11-07) November 7, 1930 (age 93) Berlin, Weimar Republic (now Germany)
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Ellen Loewenstein ​ (m. 1956)​
Alma mater	New York University (BS, JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1954–1955
Rank	Private First Class
Unit	Signal Corps

Rudolph Ely “Rudy” Boschwitz (born November 7, 1930)^[1] is an American politician and businessman who served as a United States senator from Minnesota from 1978 until 1991. Boschwitz is a member of the Republican Party.

He was born in Berlin to a Jewish family. When Boschwitz was two years old, he and his family fled the country due to Adolf Hitler's rise to power. Boschwitz grew up in New Rochelle, New York, and graduated with a J.D. degree from New York University School of Law in 1953. Boschwitz moved to Minnesota where he started a retail lumber store chain named Plywood Minnesota (later renamed Home Valu). He grew the lumber chain into a successful business with 70 stores. Boschwitz became well-known for starring in Plywood Minnesota's television commercials, wearing his signature plaid flannel shirts.^[2]

He first ran for elected office in Minnesota's 1978 U.S. Senate election and defeated Democratic incumbent Wendell Anderson. He was reelected in 1984 by a landslide margin. While serving in the U.S. Senate, he was the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 1987 until 1988. Boschwitz ran for reelection to a third term in the 1990 election against Democrat Paul Wellstone. Boschwitz significantly outspent and was expected to defeat Wellstone. However, Boschwitz lost in an upset. He was defeated again by Wellstone in a rematch in 1996. Boschwitz was later appointed to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights by then-President George W. Bush. He served on the commission from 2005 until 2006.

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