Humphrey 's progress with civil rights in Minneapolis gained national attention , with many cities inquiring about how they could establish their own civil rights commissions . In 1947 , he was reelected with 102,000 votes over his opponent 's 52,000 votes . As a delegate to the 1948 Democratic National Convention , he led the call for a strong civil rights plank . In his address , he said , " There are those who say to you – we are rushing this issue of civil rights . I say we are 172 years late . There are those who say – this issue of civil rights is an infringement on states rights . The time has arrived for the Democratic Party to get out of the shadow of state 's rights and walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights . " Humphrey was elected to the United States Senate in the 1948 election and served many years as a prominent Minnesota politician , including Vice President of the U.S. from 1965 – 1969
1948 Democratic National Convention
1948 Democratic National Convention
History of Minneapolis