Boschwitz was a former attorney from Plymouth, member of the Republican National Committee, and founder and operator of Plywood Minnesota, Inc.
Stassen was a former three-term governor (1939-1943), former President of the University of Pennsylvania (1948-1953), candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia in 1959, candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania in 1966, candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 1982, nominee for the 4th CD in 1986, candidate for U.S. Senate in 1994, and candidate for president nine times.