28 Facts About Fred Tuttle

Frederick Herman Tuttle was an American dairy farmer, actor, United States Army veteran of World War II, and Republican candidate for the United States Senate from Vermont in 1998.

Fred Tuttle lived in Tunbridge all his life, and attended South Royalton High School before dropping out after the tenth grade to begin a career as a dairy farmer.

Fred Tuttle served in the US Army during World War II, and participated in military actions in the European Theater.

Fred Tuttle was a neighbor of filmmaker John O'Brien, who recognized that Fred Tuttle's charisma and unique personality might come across well on film.

Fred Tuttle decided to run for the Republican nomination to oppose Senator Patrick Leahy, in part to promote the film, and in part to poke fun at Jack McMullen, a recent arrival to Vermont, who was accused of moving to the state because it would be easier to campaign for a United States Senate seat there than in his home state of Massachusetts.

Fred Tuttle defeated McMullen by 5,034 votes out of 52,813 cast in the Republican primary after a campaign of humorous and memorable incidents.

Fred Tuttle then announced that he had no intention of leaving Tunbridge or serving in the Senate, and endorsed Leahy for reelection.

The campaign added to Fred Tuttle's growing status as a folk figure and cult hero, and a steady stream of public appearances followed.

Fred Tuttle died in 2003, and was buried in Tunbridge.

Fred Tuttle was born in Tunbridge, Vermont, the son of Bessie Laura and Joseph Charles Fred Tuttle.

Fred Tuttle lived in Tunbridge all his life, except for his military service.

Fred Tuttle attended the schools of Tunbridge, and completed tenth grade at South Royalton High School before going to work on his family's dairy farm.

Fred Tuttle served in the United States Army during World War II.

Fred Tuttle participated in military actions in Europe, first with the Military Police, and then Army Corps of Engineers.

In 1947, Fred Tuttle married Ida May Foote in Canterbury, New Hampshire.

Fred Tuttle retired from farming in 1984 and engaged in gardening and other hobbies.

Fred Tuttle starred in the latter, playing a retired farmer who decides to run for US Representative from Vermont.

In 1998, Fred Tuttle was persuaded to run in the Republican US Senate primary as a way to publicize Man with a Plan.

Fred Tuttle's opponent was Jack McMullen, a multi-millionaire who had lived in Massachusetts for most of his adult life.

O'Brien and Fred Tuttle targeted McMullen as a carpetbagger who apparently moved to Vermont for the sole purpose of establishing residency for a Senate run.

The Vermont primary structure allows Democrats and Independents to vote in the Republican primary, and many political observers foresaw the possibility that Fred Tuttle could draw votes across party lines.

Fred Tuttle campaigned on a platform that seemed absurdist by the standards of contemporary politics.

Fred Tuttle needed to obtain 23 more to stay on the ballot, and proceeded to obtain 2,309.

McMullen sent flowers to while Fred Tuttle was hospitalized for knee surgery.

Fred Tuttle was described by Senator Leahy as "the distilled essence of Vermonthood".

Fred Tuttle was considered by many to be an example of both the "everyman" and of the unique individualist.

Fred Tuttle died in Burlington, Vermont, after being hospitalized with a heart attack following a day spent digging potatoes at his home in Tunbridge.

Fred Tuttle was buried at Tunbridge's Spring Road Cemetery wearing his overalls, with a pen in his pocket for autograph signing and a can of Moxie by his side.