During a family gathering, Henry A. shows some of the first hybrid seed corn to his grandfather Henry Wallace, July 1914.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Henry A. as Secretary of Agriculture in 1933 and his vice-presidential running mate in 1940.

After being sworn in as Vice President, Henry A. traveled by car to Mexico for the inauguration of its president. This extended trip eventually led to the establishment of agricultural research stations.

During WWII, Henry A. was an advocate of Victory Gardens and cultivated his own at the Swiss embassy in Washington, D.C.

A relaxed press conference before the 1944 Democratic convention where delegates chose Harry S. Truman as Roosevelt’s VP candidate instead of Henry A. Wallace.

Retiring to his farm in upstate New York, Henry A. continued his research on chickens, strawberries and gladiola.

American Dreamer: The Life and Times of Henry A. Wallace

Henry A. Wallace, the agricultural innovator and founder of Pioneer Hi-Bred seed corn company, became US Secretary of Agriculture and later Vice President and Secretary of Commerce under President Franklin Roosevelt. Named “the most influential Iowan of the 20th Century”, Wallace’s legacy includes accomplishments in science, journalism, business, academics, politics and humanitarian efforts.

In this online program, watch Iowa actor Tom Milligan portray Wallace in the one-act play “American Dreamer: The Life and Times of Henry A. Wallace”, then stay tuned for insight and historical perspective from historians Dr. Pamela Riney-Kehrberg and Dr. Timothy Walch. 59 min.

Resources for Additional Learning

Find discussion questions and additional context in this study guide and timeline.

This version can be emailed to group members: American Dreamer Study Guide & Timeline

Find Out More

Visit the Henry A. Wallace website

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Special Thanks

Tom Milligan

Actor and Director

Cynthia Mercati

Playwright

Dr. Pamela Riney-Kehrberg

Distinguished Professor of History, Iowa State University

Dr. Timothy Walch

Director Emeritus, The Hoover Presidential Library

Fred Ebong

Lead Videographer and Creative Director, FE Studios