Fred Tuttle’s Picture To Hang In The Vermont State House

A 20 x 24 inch framed photograph of the late Fred Tuttle, beloved Vermont politician, film actor and Tunbridge dairy farmer, will hang permanently in the State Capitol Building in Montpelier. The photograph was taken by Peter Miller of Waterbury, author of "Vermont People" and its sister book "Vermont Farm Women."

Tuttle, who died Oct. 9 of this year, won fame and affection in the 1996 John O’Brien film "Man with a Plan," for his portrayal of a retired Vermont farmer who defeated an incumbent congressman by one vote. The spoof and gentle satire became a hilarious reality in 1998 when Tuttle ran "for real" against Fred McMullen in the Republican U.S. Senatorial Primary and soundly whipped him. Not wanting to actually go to Washington, Tuttle abdicated to Senator Patrick Leahy and retired to his hillside farm.

Miller gave the photograph of Tuttle to David Schultz, curator of the state government buildings. Framed in barn board, it shows Tuttle holding a photograph of his father, Joe, who is holding a photograph of his father, Fred. The photographs were taken at the Tuttle farm in Tunbridge at close to the same spot.

The photograph includes a small hand-colored print of Joe Tuttle inset in the mat. Also inset is a block of text handwritten by the photographer describing Fred Tuttle’s fame as a farmer, actor and politician. The hand-made Tuttle print by Miller is limited to an edition of 20. The state was given the first print of the edition.

"The photograph is a historical record," said Miller, "so that people not yet born will know how the fun part of Vermont was represented, at the end of the 20th century, by a retired dairy farmer."

"Now that Fred has left us," said Schultz, "I’m sure that the legislators who work here will appreciate that Vermont’s favorite politician is hanging in there with them."

Miller also donated photographs of the late Maurice Page of East Corinth, Anne and Ken Walker of Weston, and storyteller and video maker Mac Parker of Vergennes. This makes a total of 33 images of Vermont people that Miller has given to the State of Vermont, with the stipulation that they hang permanently in the Capitol buildings.

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