Buuxi weedha soo socota: Wuxuu ku dhashay West St. Paul, Minnesota, Stassen waxaa loo doortay xeer ilaaliyaha gobolka Dakota, Minnesota kadib markii uu ka qalin jabiyay Jaamacadda Minnesota. Wuxuu ku guuleystay doorashada Guddoomiyaha Gobolka Minnesota 1938. Stassen wuxuu markaas ahaa oo weli yahay qofka ugu da'da yar ee loo doorto xafiiskaas. Waxa uu khudbadii ugu weyneyd ka jeediyay Shirweynihii Qaranka ee Xisbiga Jamhuuriga ee 1940. Wuxuu iska casilay xilka guddoomiyaha gobolka si uu ugu adeego ciidamada badda ee Mareykanka intii lagu jiray Dagaalkii Labaad ee Adduunka, isagoo noqday caawiye Admiral William Halsey Jr. Dagaalkii ka dib, wuxuu noqday madaxweynaha Jaamacadda Pennsylvania, isagoo qabtay jagadaas 1948 ilaa 1953. Stassen wuxuu raadinayay magacaabista madaxweynaha
1948 Shirweynihii Qaranka ee Jamhuuriga, wuxuu ku guuleystay qayb muhiim ah oo ka mid ah ergooyinka labadii codbixin ee ugu horreeyay ee shirweynaha. Intii lagu guda jiray doorashooyinkii hore ee Jamhuuriga ee ka horreeyay shirweynaha, wuxuu ku lug lahaa dooddii Dewey <unk> Stassen, dooddii ugu horreysay ee la diiwaangeliyo ee u dhexeysa musharixiinta madaxweynaha.