[1][2] His father died when he was 14, forcing him to get a job with a magazine and newspaper company to help support the family.

He attended Brainerd High School and spent two quarters at the University of Minnesota studying medicine before running out of tuition money and returning home to continue working.

[3][4] In 1938, he ran for lieutenant governor of Minnesota with Republican gubernatorial candidate Harold Stassen and won.

[3][4] In September 1951, Anderson became governor when Luther Youngdahl resigned to become a federal judge in Washington, D.C.

He won election to a full term in 1952 but was defeated by Orville Freeman two years later.