Jens Otto Krag
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jens Otto Krag [jɛns ʌtˢo ˈkʰʁɑːˀʊ̯ˀ] (September 15, 1914 – June 22, 1978) was a Danish politician. He was Prime Minister 1962-1968 as leader of the Cabinet of Jens Otto Krag I and II, and again 1971-1972 as leader of the Cabinet of Jens Otto Krag III.
Krag was born in Randers, Denmark. He joined the Danish Social Democratic Party youth organization in 1930 and rose through the ranks of the party. During World War II, he was Danish supply director and advisor to the labor unions on economic matters. He was elected to Parliament (Folketinget) in 1947 and became Commerce Minister. He supported the strengthening of the Danish military.
In 1950 Krag resigned from Parliament and, in order to become more fluent in the English language and see more of the world, requested a position at the Danish embassy in the United States. He received the position, and was in America until 1952 when he was re-elected to parliament and became a minister without portfolio. He was minister of the new department of foreign economic affairs from 1953 until 1958 and Foreign Minister from 1958 until 1962.
In September 1962 he succeeded Viggo Kampmann as Prime Minister and leader of the Danish Social Democratic Party. He was Prime Minister until February 1968 when the Social Democrats lost power. He became Prime Minister again in 1971 when his party returned to power.
During his second term as Prime Minister, Krag campaigned particularly for European cooperation and unity. He sponsored a referendum for Denmark to join the European Economic Community. In 1972 the referendum passed, but the nation was divided over the issue, and Krag resigned, claiming that he had become tired of politics. His last role in public life was as the European Common Market representative to the United States from 1974 until 1975. He died in Skiveren, Denmark.
| Preceded by: Hans Christian Hansen |
Foreign Minister of Denmark October 8, 1958 – September 3, 1962 |
Succeeded by: Per Hækkerup |
| Preceded by: Viggo Kampmann |
Prime Minister of Denmark September 3, 1962 – February 2, 1968 |
Succeeded by: Hilmar Baunsgaard |
| Preceded by: Per Hækkerup |
Foreign Minister of Denmark November 28, 1966 – October 1, 1967 |
Succeeded by: Hans Tabor |
| Preceded by: Hilmar Baunsgaard |
Prime Minister of Denmark October 11, 1971 – October 5, 1972 |
Succeeded by: Anker Jørgensen |
| Preceded by: Viggo Kampmann |
Leader of the Danish Social Democrats 1962 – 1972 |
Succeeded by: Anker Jørgensen |
| Prime Ministers of Denmark |  |
|---|---|
| Moltke • Bluhme • Ørsted • Bang • Andræ • Hall • Rotwitt • Hall • Monrad • Bluhme • Frijs • Holstein-Holsteinborg • Fonnesbech • Estrup • Reedtz-Thott • Hørring • Sehested • Deuntzer • Christensen • Neergaard • Holstein-Ledreborg • Zahle • Berntsen • Zahle • Liebe • Friis • Neergaard • Stauning • Madsen-Mygdal • Stauning • Buhl • Scavenius • Buhl • Kristensen • Hedtoft • Eriksen • Hedtoft • Hansen • Kampmann • Krag • Baunsgaard • Krag • Jørgensen • Hartling • Jørgensen • Schlüter • Nyrup Rasmussen • Fogh Rasmussen |
