Senate 1971-72 (District 38); Senate 1973-82 (District 56)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
8/24/1939
Birth Place:
Adrian, Minnesota
Birth County:
Nobles
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Minneapolis
Occupation (when first elected):
Attorney
EDUCATION
St. Anthony High School, Lismore; Secondary; Graduate, 1957
University of Minnesota; B.A.; Economics, 1965
University of Minnesota, Law School; J.D.; 1968
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Commission on Uniform State Laws;
[Dates Unknown]
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Constitutional Study Commission;
19?? to 19??
Military:
United States Air Force;
1957 to 1961
U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission:
United States Privacy Protection Study Commission;
1975 to 1977
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Christine Hestad Tennessen
Children:
Three children: (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Special Legislative Concerns: finance, judiciary, health, welfare, corrections, banking, insurance.
He was born in Adrian but grew up in nearby Lismore.
He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
The Tennessen Warning, which is named after former Sen. Tennessen, "gives individuals the information they need to make an informed choice about surrendering the privacy of their personal data by providing it to the government" (Pioneer Press, June 21, 2008).
He was a member of the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Religion provided by the Minnesota Historical Society.