Clinton Presba Anderson (October 23, 1895 – November 11, 1975) was an American politician who represented New Mexico in the United States Senate from 1949 until 1973.

A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1945 until 1948 and represented New Mexico's at-large congressional district from 1941 until 1945.

Very critical of how the Republican Party was running the state, he befriended some New Mexico Democratic legislators and gave them his ideas on bills before the legislature.

It was Anderson's style to take on a newly created position or an emergency situation, to organize it, and then to leave when he felt that all was running smoothly.

In 1940, a conflict among members of the state Democratic Party resulted in Congressman John J. Dempsey being disqualified from running for another term as New Mexico's only representative.

Party members convinced Anderson to run for the seat, which he won by using his many business and political contacts throughout the state.

His success in that assignment, along with their personal friendship, led to his appointment by President Harry S. Truman as United States secretary of agriculture.

Anderson addressed issues such as price controls, shortages, and subsidies, and he played an important role in developing postwar agricultural policies.

The looming worldwide food crisis, which was becoming more evident by 1946, led President Truman to establish the Famine Emergency Committee.

Secondly, he advised Truman to enlist former President Herbert Hoover to serve as chairman of the Famine Emergency Committee.

Anderson's re-election in 1954 against former Governor of New Mexico Edwin L. Mechem was less heated but more significant because the Democrats had lost the Senate in 1952.

"[3] Anderson is also known for the Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act, as well as for forcing cancellation of the 1954 Dixon-Yates contract with the AEC for power from the TVA for the city of Memphis.

Despite an overwhelming Democratic majority, the 86th United States Congress was not able to accomplish much of its agenda since the President had immense popularity and a veto pen.

[citation needed] In 1967, Anderson chaired the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences that investigated the NASA Apollo 1 accident.

[citation needed] On January 3, 1973, due to his age and growing health problems, Anderson retired after having served four terms in the U.S.

[8] In the Tom Hanks miniseries From the Earth to the Moon (1998), which aired on HBO, Anderson was played by Mason Adams.