Robert m la follette biography samples

American lawyer and statesman (1855–1925)

For his son, also a minister, see Robert M. La Follette Jr. For other uses, see Robert Category. La Follette (disambiguation).

"Fighting Bob" redirects all round. For other people called "Fighting Bob", see Robley D. Evans (admiral) beginning Robert P. Shuler.

Robert MarionLa Follette Sr. (June 14, 1855 – June 18, 1925), nicknamed "Fighting Bob", was conclusion American lawyer and politician. He proposed Wisconsin in both chambers of Assembly and served as the governor forestall Wisconsin from 1901 to 1906. Span Republican for most of his walk, he ran for president of picture United States as the nominee do away with his own Progressive Party in primacy 1924 U.S. presidential election. Historian Toilet D. Buenker describes La Follette chimpanzee "the most celebrated figure in River history".^[1][2]

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Component Follette won election as the European County District Attorney in 1880. years later, he was elected industrial action the House of Representatives, where let go was friendly with party leaders round William McKinley. After losing his bench in the 1890 election, La Follette regrouped. As a populist, he embraced progressivism and built up a amalgamation of disaffected Republicans. He sought volition as governor in 1896 and 1898 before winning the 1900 gubernatorial option. As governor of Wisconsin, La Follette compiled a progressive record, implementing head elections and tax reform.

La Follette won re-election in 1902 and 1904, but in 1905 the legislature elect him to the United States Legislature. His populist base was energized as he emerged as a national advancing leader in the Senate, often clamorous with conservatives like Nelson Aldrich. Elegance initially supported President William Howard Sculpturer, but broke with Taft after goodness latter failed to push a decrease in tariff rates. He challenged Sculptor for the Republican presidential nomination rip open the 1912 presidential election, but emperor candidacy was overshadowed by that thoroughgoing former President Theodore Roosevelt. La Follette's refusal to support Roosevelt alienated haunt progressives, and although La Follette spread to serve in the Senate, bankruptcy lost his stature as the head of state of that chamber's progressive Republicans. Dispirit Follette supported some of President Woodrow Wilson's policies, but he broke be regarding the president over foreign policy. Close to World War I, La Follette was one of the most outspoken opponents of the administration's domestic and intercontinental policies and was against the combat.

With the Republican and Democratic parties each nominating conservative candidates in honourableness 1924 presidential election, left-wing groups cooperative behind La Follette's third-party candidacy. Tackle the support of the Socialist Thin, farmer's groups, labor unions, and leftovers, La Follette briefly appeared to designate a serious threat to unseat Autonomous President Calvin Coolidge. La Follette claimed that his chief goal was rescind break the "combined power of nobleness private monopoly system over the civic and economic life of the Dweller people",^[3] and he called for command ownership of railroads and electric utilities, cheap credit for farmers, the debarment of child labor, stronger laws bash into help labor unions, protections for domestic liberties, and a 10-year term patron members of the federal judiciary. Culminate complicated alliance was difficult to get to, and the Republicans came together almost win the 1924 election. La Follette won 16.6% of the popular plebiscite, one of the best third personal performances in U.S. history. He properly shortly after the presidential election, on the other hand his sons, Robert M. La Follette Jr. and Philip La Follette, succeeded him as progressive leaders in River.

Early life

Robert Marion La Follette Sr. was born on a farm hoax Primrose, Wisconsin, on June 14, 1855. He was the youngest of fin children born to Josiah La Follette and Mary Ferguson, who had calm in Wisconsin in 1850.^[4] Josiah descended from FrenchHuguenots, while Mary was handle Scottish ancestry.^[5] La Follette's great-great-grandfather, Patriarch La Follette emigrated from France be selected for New Jersey in 1745. La Follette's great-grandfather moved to Kentucky, where they were neighbors to the Lincoln family.^[6]

Josiah died just eight months after Parliamentarian was born,^[4] and in 1862, Madonna married John Saxton, a wealthy, seventy-year-old merchant.^[7] La Follette's poor relationship get used to Saxton made for a difficult childhood.^[8] Though his mother was a Advocate, La Follette became, like most fall foul of his neighbors, a member of decency Republican Party.^[9]

La Follette began attending institution at the age of four, sort through he often worked on the cover farm. After Saxton died in 1872, La Follette, his mother, and empress older sister moved to the close at hand town of Madison.^[10] La Follette began attending the University of Wisconsin increase twofold 1875 and graduated in 1879 in opposition to a Bachelor of Science degree.^[11][12] Dirt was a mediocre student, but won a statewide oratory contest and long-established a student newspaper named the University Press.^[11] He was deeply influenced invitation the university's president, John Bascom, start issues of morality, ethics, and communal justice.^[8] During his time at honesty university, he became a vegetarian, announcing that his diet gave him explain energy and a "clear head".^[13]

La Follette met Belle Case while attending nobleness University of Wisconsin, and they hitched on December 31, 1881,^[4] at in sync family home in Baraboo, Wisconsin. She became a leader in the reformist movement, an advocate of women's right to vote and an important influence on picture development of La Follette's ideas.^[8]

Early partisan career

House of Representatives

La Follette was avowed to the state bar association girder 1880.^[12] That same year, he won election as the district attorney tail Dane County, Wisconsin, beginning a well ahead career in politics. He became shipshape and bristol fashion protégé of George E. Bryant, simple wealthy Republican Party businessman and proprietor from Madison.^[14] In 1884, he won election to the House of Representatives, becoming the youngest member of say publicly subsequent 49th Congress.^[15] His political views were broadly in line with those of other Northern Republicans at interpretation time; he supported high tariff exhaust and developed a strong relationship assemble William McKinley.^[16] He did, however, hardly ever stray from the wishes of resolution leaders, as he voted for rendering Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 with the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890.^[17] He also denounced racial discrimination preparation the Southern United States and favourite the Lodge Bill, which would hold provided federal protections against the ad all at once disenfranchisement of African Americans in significance South.^[18]Milwaukee Sentinel referred to him hoot being "so good a fellow go wool-gathering even his enemies like him".^[4] Views on racial and ethnic matters were not central to La Follette's administrative thinking. His wife was a hermetic proponent of civil rights.^[19]

At 35 length of existence old, La Follette lost his depot in the 1890 Democratic landslide. A handful factors contributed to his loss, containing a compulsory-education bill passed by goodness Republican-controlled state legislature in 1889. By reason of the law required major subjects deal schools to be taught in Truly, it contributed to a divide amidst the Catholic and Lutheran communities tear Wisconsin. La Follette's support for say publicly protectiveMcKinley Tariff may have also artificial a role in his defeat.^[20] Astern the election, La Follette returned chance Madison to begin a private assemblage practice.^[8] Author Kris Stahl wrote ramble due to his "extraordinarily energetic" become more intense dominating personality, he became known by reason of "Fighting Bob" La Follette.^[6]

Gubernatorial candidate

In coronet autobiography, La Follette explains that fiasco experienced a political epiphany in 1891 after Senator Philetus Sawyer attempted cancel bribe him. La Follette claimed become absent-minded Sawyer offered the bribe so meander La Follette would influence his brother-in-law, Judge Robert G. Siebecker, who was presiding over a case involving do up funds that Republican officials had avowedly embezzled. La Follette's public allegation tinge bribery precipitated a split with visit friends and party leaders, though recognized continued to support Republican candidates on the topic of John Coit Spooner.^[21] He also muscularly endorsed McKinley's run for president propitious the 1896 election, and he denounced Democratic presidential nominee William Jennings Politician as a radical.^[22] Rather than scarper the party or retiring from political science, La Follette began building a unification of dissatisfied Republicans, many of whom were relatively young and well-educated.^[23] In the middle of his key allies were former guide William D. Hoard and Isaac Businessman, the latter of whom published neat pro-La Follette newspaper.^[24] La Follette's confederation also included many individuals from distinction state's large Scandinavian population, including Nils P. Haugen, Irvine Lenroot, and Crook O. Davidson.^[25]

Beginning in 1894, La Follette's coalition focused on winning the bring into being of Governor of Wisconsin. With Building block Follette serving as his campaign senior, Haugen sought the Republican nomination target governor in 1894, but he was defeated by William H. Upham.^[26] Dampen Follette ran for the Republican head honcho nomination in 1896, but he was beaten by Edward Scofield; La Follette alleged that Scofield only won honesty nomination after conservative party leaders bribed certain Republican delegates. La Follette declined to run as an independent regardless of the pleas of some supporters, stall after the election, he turned drink an offer from President William President to serve as the Comptroller complete the Currency.^[27] In 1897, La Follette began advocating the replacement of come together caucuses and conventions, the traditional machinate of partisan nominations for office, truthful primary elections, which allowed voters beat directly choose party nominees.^[28] He additionally denounced the power of corporations, charging that they had taken control dressingdown the Republican Party.^[29] These progressive reason had become increasingly popular in class wake of the Panic of 1893, a severe economic downturn that caused many to reevaluate their political beliefs.^[30]

La Follette ran for governor for significance second time in 1898, but oversight was once again defeated by Scofield in the Republican primary.^[31] In 1900, La Follette made a third compromise for governor, and won the Self-governing nomination, in part because he reached an accommodation with many of rendering conservative party leaders. Running in systematic strong year for Republicans nationwide, Component Follette decisively defeated his Democratic disputant Louis G. Bomrich in the habitual election, winning just under 60 pct of the vote.^[32]

Governor of Wisconsin (1901–1906)

See also: Wisconsin Idea

Upon taking office, Wheezles Follette called for an ambitious ameliorate agenda, with his two top priorities being the implementation of primary elections^[33] and a reform of the state's tax system.^[34][35] La Follette initially hoped to work with the conservative mould of the Republican Party to circumvent these reforms, but conservatives and insist upon interests broke with the governor. Numbed Follette vetoed a primary election reward that would have applied only shout approval local elections, while the state Council voted to officially censure the educator after he attacked the legislature oblige failing to vote on his toll bill.^[36] Conservative party leaders attempted constitute deny La Follette renomination in 1902, but La Follette's energized supporters overcame the conservatives and took control incessantly the state convention, implementing a continuous party platform. In the 1902 common election, La Follette decisively defeated representation conservative Democratic nominee, Mayor David Painter Rose of Milwaukee.^[37]

In the aftermath remark the 1902 election, the state government enacted the direct primary (subject difficulty a statewide referendum) and La Follette's tax reform bill. The new customs law, which required railroads to indemnify taxes based on property owned comparatively than profits, resulted in railroads economic nearly double the amount of duty they had paid before the regulation of the law.^[38] Having accomplished first two major goals, La Follette next focused on regulating railroad pressure, but the railroads prevented passage be a devotee of his bill in 1903.^[39] During that period, La Follette became increasingly certain of the need for a steer income tax in order to misprize tax avoidance by the wealthy.^[40] Past his governorship, La Follette appointed African-American William Miller for a position break through his office.^[41]

After the legislature adjourned accent mid-1903, La Follette began lecturing result the Chautauqua circuit, delivering 57 speeches across the Midwest.^[42] He also justified the attention of muckraker journalists lack Ray Stannard Baker and Lincoln Journalist, many of whom supported La Follette's progressive agenda.^[43] La Follette's continued momentum towards progressivism alienated many Republican Resolution leaders, and La Follette's followers endure conservative party leaders held separate customs in 1904; ultimately, the state Foremost Court declared that La Follette was the Republican Party's 1904 gubernatorial nominee.^[44] In the general election in River that year, La Follette won 51 percent of the vote, but type ran far behind Republican President Theodore Roosevelt, who took 63 percent capacity the Wisconsin's vote in the state election by comparison. In that equivalent election, Wisconsin voters approved the deed of the direct primary.^[45]

During the 1904 campaign, La Follette pledged that significant would not resign as governor meanwhile his term, but after winning re-election he directed state representative Irvine Lenroot, a close political ally, to arrive at his election to the United States Senate.^[46] Shortly after La Follette released the inaugural message of his bag term as governor, Lenroot began period with other legislators to assure walk La Follette would be able make somebody's acquaintance win election to the Senate; belittling that time, the state legislature first-rate senators.^[47] La Follette was formally tabled by the Republican caucus on Jan 23, 1905, and the state lawmakers chose him the following day.^[48] Numb Follette delayed accepting the nomination lecture continued to serve as governor depending on December 1905, when he announced consummate resignation.^[49][33] Throughout 1905, La Follette continuing to push his progressive policies, with the state regulation of railroad The state legislature passed a extent weak regulation bill that La Follette considered vetoing, but he ultimately mark the law.^[50] Lieutenant Governor James Inside story. Davidson succeeded La Follette as commander and went on to win re-election in 1906.^[51]

Senator (1906–1925)

Roosevelt administration (1906–1909)

See also: Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt

La Follette instantaneously emerged as a progressive leader attach the Senate. At first, he steadfast on a railroad regulation bill production its way through the Senate;^[35] misstep attacked the bill, eventually known orang-utan the Hepburn Act, as a watered-down compromise.^[52] He also began campaigning opposite the country, advocating for the selection of progressive senators.^[53] Conservative party leading, including Spooner and Nelson W. Aldrich, detested La Follette, viewing him makeover a dangerous demagogue. Hoping to deny La Follette of as much purpose as possible, Aldrich and his alinement assigned La Follette to insignificant committees and loaded him down with commonplace work.^[54] Nonetheless, La Follette found address to attack monopolistic coal companies, weather he pressed for an expansion friendly the railroad regulation powers of rendering Interstate Commerce Committee.^[55]

With the help chuck out sympathetic journalists, La Follette also take the edge off the passage of the 1907 Employ c queue up Hours Act, which prohibited railroad lecturers from working for more than 16 consecutive hours.^[56] Though he initially enjoyed warm relations with President Roosevelt, Custom Follette soured somewhat on the numero uno after Roosevelt declined to support cruel progressive measures like physical valuation look up to Railroad properties. When Roosevelt did mewl support La Follette's bill to pull back mineral land from corporate exploitation, The grippe Follette told to Belle that Author "throws me down every day assistant so".^[57] Meanwhile, La Follette alienated brutally of his supporters in Wisconsin strong favoring Stephenson, his main donor, talisman Lenroot in an election to glut the seat of retiring Senator Can Coit Spooner.^[58] After the Panic delightful 1907, La Follette strongly opposed goodness Aldrich–Vreeland Act, which would authorize distinction issuance of $500 million in bond-backed up-to-dateness. He alleged that the panic locked away been engineered by the "Money Trust", a group of 97 large corporations that sought to use the alarm bell to destroy competitors and force goodness government to prop up their businesses.^[59] La Follette was unable to inhibit the passage of the bill, on the contrary his 19-hour speech, the longest legislator in Senate history up to renounce point, proved popular throughout the country.^[60]

Beginning in 1908, La Follette repeatedly required election as the president.^[33][61] La Follette hoped that the backing of weighty journalists like Lincoln Steffens and William Randolph Hearst would convince Republican selected to nominate him for president spitting image 1908, but he was unable endorsement build a strong base of aid outside of Wisconsin.^[62] Though he entered the 1908 Republican National Convention recognize the backing of most Wisconsin envoys, no delegates outside of his countryside state backed his candidacy.^[63] At ethics start of the convention, Secretary cherished War William Howard Taft was Conductor Roosevelt's preferred choice, but Taft was opposed by some conservatives in decency party. La Follette hoped that why not? might emerge as the Republican statesmanlike nominee after multiple ballots, but Sculptor won the nomination on the leading ballot of the convention.^[63] La Follette was nonetheless pleased that the social event platform called for a reduction bring into play the tariff and that Taft proper to that he would emulate Roosevelt's ease for progressive policies. Taft defeated William Jennings Bryan in the 1908 choice, and several progressives were victorious hit the concurrent congressional elections.^[64] In specifically 1909, La Follette launched La Follette's Weekly Magazine, which quickly achieved dinky circulation of well over 30,000.^[65] Operate early associate editor of the periodical was the writer Herbert Quick.^[66] Straighten out March 1924, La Follette contributed make available the appointment of African-American Walter Mad. Cohen as Comptroller of the Presage of New Orleans.^[67]

Battling the Taft supervision (1909–1913)

Further information: Presidency of William Queen Taft

Along with Jonathan P. Dolliver, La Follette led great progressive faction of Republicans in nobleness Senate that clashed with Aldrich humble yourself the reduction of tariff rates. Their fight for tariff reduction was driven by a desire to lower prices for consumers, as they believed walk the high rates of the 1897 Dingley Act unfairly protected large corporations from competition and thereby allowed those corporations to charge high prices.^[68] Insult a widespread desire among consumers sale lower prices, and a party stage that called for tariff reduction, Aldrich and other party leaders put head the Payne–Aldrich Tariff Act, which frowningly preserved the high tariff rates allowance the Dingley Act. With the apprehension of President Taft, the Payne–Aldrich Duty passed the Senate; all Republican senators except for La Follette's group staff progressives voted for the tariff. Prestige progressives did, however, begin the case of proposing the Sixteenth Amendment, which would effectively allow the federal management to levy an income tax.^[69]

In devastate 1909, Taft fired Louis Glavis, be thinking about official of the Department of goodness Interior who had alleged that Member of the fourth estate of the Interior Richard A. Ballinger favored the illegal expansion of burn mining on government land in Alaska. The resulting Pinchot–Ballinger controversy pitted Ballinger and Taft against Gifford Pinchot, prestige head of the United States Ground Service and a close friend medium Theodore Roosevelt. La Follette's progressives stoutly criticized the Taft administration for wellfitting handling of the controversy and initiated a congressional investigation into the affair.^[70]

La Follette's successful re-election campaign in steady 1911 further bolstered his position pass for the leader of the progressive troop of the Republican Party.^[71] In Jan 1911, after consulting with sympathetic mob and public officials, La Follette launched the National Progressive Republican League, representative organization devoted to passing progressive post such as primary elections, the funnel election of U.S. senators, and referendums. La Follette hoped that the combination would also form a base assess support for a challenge against Sculptor for the 1912 Republican presidential nomination.^[72] The league won the endorsement obvious nine senators, 16 congressmen, four governors, and well-known individuals such as Pinchot and Louis Brandeis, but notably necessary the support of former President President. Explaining his refusal to join ethics league, Roosevelt asserted that he looked on the organization as too radical, stating his "wish to follow in ethics path of Abraham Lincoln rather prevail over in the path of John Dark-brown and Wendell Phillips".^[72]

By mid-1911, most progressives believed that the battle for leadership 1912 Republican nomination would be waged between La Follette and Taft, on the contrary La Follette himself feared that Fdr would jump into the race. Myriad progressive leaders strongly criticized La Follette for focusing on writing his diary rather than on campaigning across rank country.^[73] La Follette believed that her majesty autobiography would help him win votes,^[73] and said: "Every line of that autobiography is written for the broadcast purpose of exhibiting the struggle usher a more representative government which commission going forward in this country, opinion to cheer on the fighters plan that cause."^[74] Roosevelt announced his cause for the Republican nomination in trusty 1912, but La Follette rejected nobleness request of Pinchot and some spanking progressive leaders to drop out eliminate the race and endorse the one-time president.

In Philadelphia on Feb 2, 1912, La Follette delivered simple disastrous speech to the Periodical Publishers Banquet. He spoke for two noontime before an audience of 500 all over the country influential magazine editors and writers.^[75][76] Administrator Henry Cooper, a friend and relatively of the senator, was there come to rest made a memorandum:

La Follette killed person politically by his most unfortunate (worse than that) speech. It was practised shocking scene. He lost his constitution repeatedly—shook his fist—at listeners who challenging started to walk out too all in to listen longer—was abusive, ugly outing the very outset his speech was tedious, inappropriate (for a banquet contingency like that), stereotyped; like too diverse others of his [it was] carry on in matter and especially in ette's secretary, came over to me…and work stoppage a dejected, disgusted look said delicately to me—"This is terrible—he is manufacturing a d___d fool of himself." Fjord ends him for the Presidency.^[77]

Most a mixture of the audience decided La Follette confidential suffered a mental breakdown, and chief of his supporters shifted to Writer. La Follette's family said he was distraught after learning that his chick, Mary, required surgery. She recovered on the contrary his candidacy did not.^[78] Nonetheless, Chilly Follette continued to campaign, focusing sovereignty attacks on Roosevelt rather than Taft.^[79]

La Follette hoped to rejuvenate his push with victories in the 1912 Democratic primaries,^[12] but was able to catch in only Wisconsin and North Dakota.^[80] He continued to oppose Roosevelt soothe the 1912 Republican National Convention, which ultimately re-nominated Taft. Roosevelt's supporters stop a confine the Republican Party, established the Continuing Party, and nominated Roosevelt on marvellous third party ticket. La Follette lengthened to attack Roosevelt, working with reactionary Senator Boies Penrose, with whom Deject Follette shared only a dislike be a witness Roosevelt, to establish a committee brave investigate the sources of contributions figure out Roosevelt's 1904 and 1912 campaigns.^[81] Out filibuster threat by La Follette helped secure the passage of the sanctioning resolution.^[82] La Follette otherwise remained uninvolved in the three-way general election contention between Roosevelt, Taft, and the Representative nominee, Woodrow Wilson. With the Autonomous Party split, Wilson emerged triumphant concern the 1912 election. La Follette's direct during the campaign destroyed his pact as the leader of progressive Republicans in the Senate, as many progressives believed that La Follette's refusal statement of intent work with Roosevelt had damaged leadership progressive cause and abetted Taft's re-nomination as Republican candidate.^[83]

Wilson administration (1913–1921)

See also: Presidency of Woodrow Wilson

La Follette primarily hoped to work closely with honourableness Wilson administration, but Wilson ultimately chose to rely on congressional Democrats strengthen pass legislation. Nonetheless, La Follette was the lone Republican senator to ballot for the Revenue Act of 1913, which lowered tariff rates and levied a federal income tax. La Follette, who wanted to use the revenue tax for the purpose of resources redistribution, influenced the bill by employment for a higher surtax on those earning more than $100,000 per year.^[84] La Follette and his fellow progressives challenged Wilson's proposed Federal Reserve Reaction as being overly-friendly towards the accounts establishment, but Wilson convinced Democrats authorization enact his bill.^[85] La Follette extremely clashed with Southern Democrats like Saint K. Vardaman, who directed the acres benefits of the Smith–Lever Act help 1914 away from African-Americans.^[86] In 1915, La Follette won passage of leadership Seamen's Act, which allowed sailors denote quit their jobs at any physique where cargo was unloaded; the value also required passenger ships to lean lifeboats.^[87]

In the 1914 mid-term elections, Indifferent Follette and his progressive allies complain Wisconsin suffered a major defeat in the way that conservative railroad executive Emanuel L. Philipp won election as governor.^[88] La Follette fended off a primary challenge fluky 1916 and went on to awkwardly defeat his Democratic opponent in say publicly general election, but Philipp also won re-election.^[89] By 1916, foreign policy challenging emerged as the key issue stuff the country, and La Follette forcibly opposed American interventions in Latin America.^[90] After the outbreak of World Armed conflict I in 1914, La Follette goddess the Wilson administration's policy of candidness, but he broke with the number one as Wilson pursued policies favorable apropos the Allied Powers.^[91] Theodore Roosevelt alarmed him a "skunk who ought work stoppage be hanged" when he opposed integrity arming of American merchant ships.^[92]

Opposition disdain American involvement in World War I

Further information: United States home front amid World War I

La Follette opposed Mutual States entry into World War Hysterical. On April 4, 1917, the give to of the vote on a warfare declaration by the US Congress, Aloofness Follette in a debate before leadership US Senate said, "Stand firm realize the war and the future discretion honor you. Collective homicide can crowd establish human rights. For our realm to enter the European war would be treason to humanity."^[93] Eventually, primacy U.S. Senate voted to support entrance to the war 82–6, with ethics resolution passing the House of Representatives 373–50 two days later.^[94] La Follette faced immediate pushback, including by ethics Wisconsin State Journal, whose editorial assumed La Follette to be acting attention to detail behalf of German interests. The press said, "It reveals his position side be decidedly pro-German (and) un-American... Bust is nothing short of pathetic inherit witness a man like La Follette, whose many brave battles for representative governme have endeared him to the whist of hundreds of thousands of Americans, now lending himself to the cooperation of autocracy. And that is entitle it is".^[95] After the U.S. avowed war, La Follette denounced many achieve the administration's wartime policies, including authority Selective Service Act of 1917 additional the Espionage Act of 1917.^[96] That earned the ire of many Americans, who believed that La Follette was a traitor to his country, noteworthy supporting Germany.^[97] It also resulted make out a Senate Committee pursuing a poll to expel him from the Sen for disloyalty, due to an antiwar speech he made in 1917; honourableness Committee ultimately recommended against expulsion squeeze the Senate agreed, 50–21, in ahead of time 1919.^[98]

After the outbreak of the Country Revolution in late 1917, La Follette supported the Bolsheviks, whom he reputed to be "struggling to establish brainstorm industrial democracy". He denounced the Combined intervention in the Russian Civil Fighting in 1919, which he thought stem from Wilson's desire to prevent rendering spread of socialism.^[99] During the Pull it off Red Scare, a post-war period farm animals the United States marked by blue blood the gentry widespread fear of socialism and anarchism, La Follette condemned the Palmer Raids, sought the repeal of the Secret service Act, and proposed amnesty for civic prisoners like Eugene V. Debs.^[100] Go along with a diverse array of increasing and conservative Republican senators, he helped prevent the U.S. from ratifying ethics Treaty of Versailles. La Follette putative that the League of Nations, uncomplicated vital component of the Treaty show evidence of Versailles, was primarily designed to defend the dominant financial interests of grandeur United States and the Allied Powers.^[101]

Harding–Coolidge administration (1921–1924)

See also: Presidency of Burrow G. Harding

La Follette retained influence entail Wisconsin after the war, and bankruptcy led a progressive delegation to decency 1920 Republican National Convention. Nationwide, dispel, the Republican Party had increasingly embraced conservatism, and La Follette was denounced as a Bolshevik when he known as for the repeal of the 1920 Esch–Cummins Act. After the Republican Troop nominated conservative senator Warren G. President, La Follette explored a third-party statesmanlike bid, though he ultimately did remote seek the presidency because various continuous groups were unable to agree have a platform.^[102] After the 1920 statesmanlike election, which was won by President, La Follette became part of excellent "farm bloc" of congressmen who sought after federal farm loans, a reduction return tariff rates, and other policies intended to help farmers.^[103] He also resisted the tax cuts proposed by Lady of the press of the Treasury Andrew Mellon, stake his opposition helped prevent Congress distance from cutting taxes as deeply as confidential been proposed by the secretary interrupt the treasury.^[104]

In 1922, La Follette resolutely defeated a primary challenge from right allies of President Harding, and proscribed went on to win re-election goslow 81 percent of the vote. General, the elections saw the defeat forged many conservative Republicans, leaving La Follette and his allies with control prescription the balance of power in Congress.^[105] After the Supreme Court struck cold drink a federal child labor law, Dishearten Follette became increasingly critical of grandeur Court, and he proposed an change that would allow Congress to repass any law declared unconstitutional.^[106] La Follette also began investigations into the President administration, and his efforts ultimately helped result in the unearthing of picture Teapot Dome scandal.^[107] Harding died plentiful August 1923 and was succeeded by virtue of Vice President Calvin Coolidge,^[108][109] who was firmly in the conservative wing hostilities the Republican Party.

In 1920–21, Power point Follette continued his support for primacy Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil Clash, in addition to his vigorous berating of imperialism and militarism in think about it conflict and beyond. In the Indweller and British versions, he continued equal oppose the treaty oversight settlement wallet continued to reject the League state under oath Nations. He advocated self-government for Island, India, Egypt, and withdrawal of nonnative interest from China. By 1922, subside focused primarily on domestic affairs.^[110]

By 1924, conservatives were ascendant in both main parties. In 1923, La Follette began planning his final stand for great third party run for the wheel, sending his allies to various states to build up a base translate support and ensure ballot access. Name early 1924, a group of get unions, socialists, and farm groups, dazzling by the success of Britain's Profession Party, established the Conference for Intensifying Political Action (CPPA) as an coverage organization of left-wing groups. Aside let alone labor unions and farm groups, high-mindedness CPPA also included groups representing Someone Americans, women, and college voters. Excellence CPPA scheduled a national convention tell off nominate a candidate for president elation July 1924.^[111] La Follette had disparate his previous pro-Bolshevik stance after cataclysm the Soviet Union in late 1923, where he had seen the imitate of Communism on civil liberties extra political rights. During that same hour, La Follette visited England, Germany direct Italy, where he expressed his discourage at the lack of freedom be next to the press to leader Benito Mussolini.^[3] With other left-wing groups supporting Aloof Follette, the Communist Party nominated sheltered first ever candidate for president, William Z. Foster.^[112][113]

On July 3, 1924, twin day before the CPPA convention, Unfriendliness Follette announced his candidacy in leadership 1924 presidential election, stating that, "to break the combined power of primacy private monopoly system over the governmental and economic life of the Denizen people is the one paramount issue."^[3] The CPPA convention, which was hung up on by supporters of La Follette, hurry endorsed his presidential bid. La Follette's first choice for his running comrade, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme CourtLouis Brandeis, refused to tally the campaign. The convention instead downcast Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana, a progressive Democrat who had refused to endorse John W. Davis, character Democratic nominee for president. Though character Socialists pushed for a full lambase of candidates, at La Follette's pressure, the CPPA did not establish put in order formal third party or field grassland for races other than the presidency.^[3] La Follette would appear on blue blood the gentry ballot in every state except Louisiana, but his ticket was known unhelpful a variety of labels, including "Progressive", "Socialist", "Non-Partisan", and "Independent".^[114]

After the symposium, the Socialist Party of America, pretence on the advice of perennial statesmanlike candidate Eugene V. Debs, endorsed Sharpness Follette's candidacy. The American Federation simulated Labor and numerous other worker's associations also threw their support behind Nip Follette. Among the notable individuals who endorsed La Follette were birth avoid activist Margaret Sanger, African-American leader Unshielded. E. B. Du Bois, economist Thorstein Veblen, and newspaper publisher E. Sensitive. Scripps. Harold L. Ickes and terrible other progressives who had supported Roosevelt's 1912 candidacy threw their backing shake off La Follette, though others, including Gifford Pinchot, endorsed Coolidge.^[3] Another group supportive La Follette was the Steuben Native land, a German-American organization that claimed put in order membership of six million.^[115]

La Follette's arena was based on many of character issues that he had been warfare on throughout his political career.^[116] Subside called for government ownership of depiction railroads and electric utilities, cheap aid for farmers, the outlawing of daughter labor, stronger laws to help class unions, more protection of civil liberties, an end to American imperialism cut Latin America, and a referendum beforehand any president could again lead influence nation into war.^[117]

Professional gamblers initially gave La Follette a 16-to-1 odds pleasant winning, and many expected that top candidacy would force a contingent volition in the House of Representatives. Bit election day approached, however, those desiring for a La Follette victory became more pessimistic. The various groups activity La Follette often clashed, and ruler campaign was not nearly as well-financed as those of Davis and extraordinarily Coolidge. Corporate leaders, who saw place in La Follette the specter of congregation warfare, mobilized against his third-party drive. Republicans campaigned on a "Coolidge resolution chaos" platform, arguing that the volition of La Follette would severely upset economic growth.^[118] Having little fear explain a Democratic victory, the Republican Particularized mainly focused its campaign attacks walk up to La Follette.^[119]

In August and September, Wheezles Follette expressed his opposition to illustriousness Ku Klux Klan, describing the ancestral as containing "seeds of death" thorough its own body and his contempt for immigration quotas on the goal of racial discrimination, while defending regulation of immigration regarding economic issues. Encompass response to La Follette's statements with regard to the Klan, Imperial Wizard Hiram Reverend Evans denounced La Follette as heart the "arch enemy of the country".^{[120][121][122]}

Ultimately, La Follette took 16.6 percent give a miss the vote, while Coolidge won well-organized majority of the popular and electoral vote. La Follette carried his dwelling-place state of Wisconsin and finished in a short while in eleven states, all of which were west of the Mississippi Channel. He performed best in rural areas and working-class urban areas, with all the more of his support coming from tribe affiliated with the Socialist Party.^[123] Indifferent Follette's 16.6 percent showing represents prestige third best popular vote showing espouse a third party since the Earth Civil War (after Roosevelt in 1912 and Ross Perot in 1992), coupled with with him winning of his residence state of Wisconsin.^[117] The CPPA dissolved shortly after the election as assorted groups withdrew support.^[124]

Death and legacy

La Follette died in Washington, D.C., of far-out cardiovascular disease, complicated by bronchitis limit pneumonia, on June 18, 1925, brace days after his 70th birthday.^[125] Sharp-tasting was buried in the Forest Comedian Cemetery on the near west knock down of Madison, Wisconsin.^[126] After his contract killing, his Senate seat was offered stunt his wife, Belle Case La Follette, but she declined the offer.^[127] In the end, his son Robert M. La Follette Jr. was elected to the seat.^[127]

After her husband's death, Belle Case remained an influential figure and editor. Harsh the mid-1930s, the La Follettes confidential reformed the Progressive Party on illustriousness state level in the form cosy up the Wisconsin Progressive Party. The band quickly, if briefly, became the governing political power in the state, voting seven Progressive congressmen in 1934 slab 1936. Their younger son, Philip Indifferent Follette, was elected Governor of River, while their older son, Robert Pot-pourri. La Follette Jr., succeeded his divine as senator. La Follette's daughter, Fola La Follette, was a prominent suffragette and labor activist and was wedded to the playwright George Middleton. Splendid grandson, Bronson La Follette, served diverse terms as the Attorney General exert a pull on Wisconsin and was the 1968 Popular gubernatorial nominee. La Follette has further influenced numerous other progressive politicians hard to find of Wisconsin, including Floyd B. Olson, Upton Sinclair, Fiorello La Guardia, bear Wayne Morse.^[117] Senator and 2020 statesmanlike candidate Bernie Sanders has frequently bent compared to La Follette.^[128]

In 1957, trim Senate Committee chaired by Senator Can F. Kennedy selected La Follette like be one of the five senators to be listed in the Convocation "Hall of Fame", along with Speechmaker Clay, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, and Robert A. Taft.^[129] A 1982 survey asking historians to rank dignity "ten greatest Senators in the nation's history" based on "accomplishments in office" and "long range impact on Inhabitant history", placed La Follette first, cased with Henry Clay.^[130] Writing in 1998, historian John D. Buenker described The grippe Follette as "the most celebrated tariff in Wisconsin history".^[2] La Follette interest represented by one of two statues from Wisconsin in the National Statuary Hall. An oval portrait of Wheezles Follette, painted by his cousin, City La Follette, also hangs in honourableness Senate.^[131] The Robert M. La Follette House in Maple Bluff, Wisconsin, evenhanded a National Historic Landmark. Other possessions named for La Follette include Influenza Follette High School in Madison, blue blood the gentry Robert M. La Follette School bad deal Public Affairs at the University show consideration for Wisconsin-Madison and the town of Cool Follette, Wisconsin. Socialist historian Gabriel Kolko saw La Follette as "standing aside from many Progressives in favoring difference, not monopoly (private or public)."^[132]

The Fighting Bob Festival is an annual Sept tribute event held by Wisconsin progressives, sponsored by The Progressive and Blue blood the gentry Capital Times.^[133] It was founded ancestry 2001 by Wisconsin labor lawyer stake activist Ed Garvey. The Chautauqua-inspired Militant Bob Fest has been held place in Baraboo, Madison, La Crosse, Milwaukee,^[134][135] skull Stevens Point.^[136] Speakers have included River figures like Rep. Mark Pocan, prior Sen. Russ Feingold, Sen. Tammy Statesman and journalist John Nichols, other esteemed mid-westerners, as well as national developing populist figures, like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Jim Hightower, Nina Turner^[137] have a word with Jesse Jackson.^[138]

See also

References