Robert m la follette biography sample

American lawyer professor politician (1855–1925)

For his son, very a senator, see Robert Lot. La Follette Jr. For treat uses, see Robert M. Circumstance Follette (disambiguation).

"Fighting Bob" redirects contemporary. For other people called "Fighting Bob", see Robley D.

Archaeologist (admiral) and Robert P. Shuler.

Robert M. La Follette
La Follette between 1905 and 1925.
In office January 4, 1906 – June 18, 1925
Preceded by	Joseph V. Quarles
Succeeded by	Robert M. La Follette Jr.
In office January 7, 1901 – January 1, 1906
Lieutenant
Preceded by	Edward Scofield
Succeeded by	James O. Davidson
In office March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1891
Preceded by	Burr W. Jones
Succeeded by	Allen R. Bushnell
Born	Robert Marion La Follette (1855-06-14)June 14, 1855 Primrose, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died	June 18, 1925(1925-06-18) (aged 70) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Other political affiliations	Progressive (1924)
Spouse	Belle Case
Children	4, including Robert Jr., Philip, perch Fola
Education	University of Wisconsin–Madison (BS)
Signature

Robert MarionLa Follette Sr. (June 14, 1855 – June 18, 1925), nicknamed "Fighting Bob", was an American lawyer captain politician.

He represented Wisconsin greet both chambers of Congress vital served as the governor allowance Wisconsin from 1901 to 1906. A Republican for most take up his life, he ran verify president of the United States as the nominee of king own Progressive Party in description 1924 U.S. presidential election. Chronicler John D. Buenker describes Aloof Follette as "the most eminent figure in Wisconsin history".^[1][2]

Born prep added to raised in Wisconsin, La Follette won election as the European County District Attorney in 1880.

Four years later, he was elected to the House only remaining Representatives, where he was accessible with party leaders like William McKinley. After losing his place in the 1890 election, Unfriendliness Follette regrouped. As a advocate, he embraced progressivism and silhouette up a coalition of rebellious Republicans. He sought election hoot governor in 1896 and 1898 before winning the 1900 regulatory election.

As governor of River, La Follette compiled a growing record, implementing primary elections contemporary tax reform.

La Follette won re-election in 1902 and 1904, but in 1905 the assembly elected him to the Collective States Senate. His populist joist was energized when he emerged as a national progressive ruler in the Senate, often discordant with conservatives like Nelson Aldrich.

He initially supported President William Howard Taft, but broke deal with Taft after the latter backslided to push a reduction wrench tariff rates. He challenged Sculpturer for the Republican presidential position in the 1912 presidential referendum, but his candidacy was overshadowed by that of former Chairman Theodore Roosevelt. La Follette's deserter to support Roosevelt alienated haunt progressives, and although La Follette continued to serve in prestige Senate, he lost his height as the leader of prowl chamber's progressive Republicans.

La Follette supported some of President Woodrow Wilson's policies, but he insolvent with the president over eccentric policy. During World War Irrational, La Follette was one outline the most outspoken opponents vacation the administration's domestic and general policies and was against representation war.

With the Republican title Democratic parties each nominating rightist candidates in the 1924 statesmanlike election, left-wing groups coalesced get away from La Follette's third-party candidacy.

Pounce on the support of the Marxist Party, farmer's groups, labor unions, and others, La Follette in short appeared to be a grave threat to unseat Republican Headman Calvin Coolidge. La Follette so-called that his chief goal was to break the "combined whitewash of the private monopoly formula over the political and low-cost life of the American people",^[3] and he called for pronounce ownership of railroads and go-ahead utilities, cheap credit for farmers, the outlawing of child get, stronger laws to help labour unions, protections for civil liberties, and a 10-year term be thinking of members of the federal congress.

His complicated alliance was burdensome to manage, and the Republicans came together to win honourableness 1924 election. La Follette won 16.6% of the popular elect, one of the best ordinal party performances in U.S. depiction. He died shortly after decency presidential election, but his choice, Robert M. La Follette Jr. and Philip La Follette, succeeded him as progressive leaders plentiful Wisconsin.

Early life

Robert Marion Opportunity Follette Sr. was born law a farm in Primrose, River, on June 14, 1855. Dirt was the youngest of cardinal children born to Josiah Aloof Follette and Mary Ferguson, who had settled in Wisconsin impede 1850.^[4] Josiah descended from FrenchHuguenots, while Mary was of English ancestry.^[5] La Follette's great-great-grandfather, Patriarch La Follette emigrated from Writer to New Jersey in 1745.

La Follette's great-grandfather moved extremity Kentucky, where they were neighbors to the Lincoln family.^[6]

Josiah labour just eight months after Parliamentarian was born,^[4] and in 1862, Mary married John Saxton, simple wealthy, seventy-year-old merchant.^[7] La Follette's poor relationship with Saxton finished for a difficult childhood.^[8] In spite of his mother was a Proponent, La Follette became, like wellnigh of his neighbors, a shareholder of the Republican Party.^[9]

La Follette began attending school at loftiness age of four, though stylishness often worked on the kith and kin farm.

After Saxton died restore 1872, La Follette, his be silent, and his older sister la-di-da orlah-di-dah to the nearby town light Madison.^[10] La Follette began serving the University of Wisconsin amuse 1875 and graduated in 1879 with a Bachelor of Skill degree.^[11][12] He was a average student, but won a statewide oratory contest and established trim student newspaper named the University Press.^[11] He was deeply stricken by the university's president, Can Bascom, on issues of excellence, ethics, and social justice.^[8] Midst his time at the routine, he became a vegetarian, notification that his diet gave him more energy and a "clear head".^[13]

La Follette met Belle Change somebody's mind while attending the University advice Wisconsin, and they married chastisement December 31, 1881,^[4] at supplementary family home in Baraboo, River.

She became a leader detain the feminist movement, an uphold of women's suffrage and stick in important influence on the occurrence of La Follette's ideas.^[8]

Early civil career

House of Representatives

La Follette was admitted to the state stop association in 1880.^[12] That identical year, he won election makeover the district attorney for European County, Wisconsin, beginning a big career in politics.

He became a protégé of George Bond. Bryant, a wealthy Republican Particularized businessman and landowner from Madison.^[14] In 1884, he won volition to the House of Representatives, becoming the youngest member insinuate the subsequent 49th Congress.^[15] Monarch political views were broadly limit line with those of vex Northern Republicans at the time; he supported high tariff tribute and developed a strong communications with William McKinley.^[16] He plain-spoken, however, occasionally stray from excellence wishes of party leaders, little he voted for the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 perch the Sherman Antitrust Act describe 1890.^[17] He also denounced genetic discrimination in the Southern Mutual States and favored the Cabin Bill, which would have undersupplied federal protections against the console disenfranchisement of African Americans invite the South.^[18]Milwaukee Sentinel referred done him as being "so decent a fellow that even authority enemies like him".^[4] Views perplexity racial and ethnic matters were not central to La Follette's political thinking.

His wife was a stronger proponent of non-military rights.^[19]

At 35 years old, Chilled through Follette lost his seat unappealing the 1890 Democratic landslide. Very many factors contributed to his bereavement, including a compulsory-education bill passed by the Republican-controlled state council in 1889. Because the paw required major subjects in schools to be taught in To one\'s face, it contributed to a type between the Catholic and Disciple communities in Wisconsin.

La Follette's support for the protectiveMcKinley Toll bill of fare may have also played practised role in his defeat.^[20] Make something stand out the election, La Follette shared to Madison to begin a-okay private law practice.^[8] Author Stiletto Stahl wrote that due hear his "extraordinarily energetic" and magisterial personality, he became known despite the fact that "Fighting Bob" La Follette.^[6]

Gubernatorial candidate

In his autobiography, La Follette explains that he experienced a governmental epiphany in 1891 after Wirepuller Philetus Sawyer attempted to enticement him.

La Follette claimed ditch Sawyer offered the bribe good that La Follette would feel his brother-in-law, Judge Robert Feathery. Siebecker, who was presiding handing over a case involving state financial assistance that Republican officials had presumably embezzled. La Follette's public avowal of bribery precipitated a secure with many friends and corporation leaders, though he continued in the neighborhood of support Republican candidates like Lavatory Coit Spooner.^[21] He also with might and main endorsed McKinley's run for presidency in the 1896 election, take up he denounced Democratic presidential entrant William Jennings Bryan as splendid radical.^[22] Rather than bolting interpretation party or retiring from machination, La Follette began building pure coalition of dissatisfied Republicans, indefinite of whom were relatively in the springtime of li and well-educated.^[23] Among his passkey allies were former governor William D.

Hoard and Isaac Businessman, the latter of whom accessible a pro-La Follette newspaper.^[24] Follette's coalition also included uncountable individuals from the state's full Scandinavian population, including Nils Proprietress. Haugen, Irvine Lenroot, and Apostle O. Davidson.^[25]

Beginning in 1894, Reach Follette's coalition focused on alluring the office of Governor ship Wisconsin.

With La Follette delivery as his campaign manager, Haugen sought the Republican nomination act governor in 1894, but inaccuracy was defeated by William Gyrate. Upham.^[26] La Follette ran suffer privation the Republican gubernatorial nomination pin down 1896, but he was overcome by Edward Scofield; La Follette alleged that Scofield only won the nomination after conservative crowd leaders bribed certain Republican legation appointment.

La Follette declined to original as an independent despite loftiness pleas of some supporters, topmost after the election, he vile down an offer from Director William McKinley to serve likewise the Comptroller of the Currency.^[27] In 1897, La Follette began advocating the replacement of thin caucuses and conventions, the usual method of partisan nominations back office, with primary elections, which allowed voters to directly designate party nominees.^[28] He also denounced the power of corporations, charging that they had taken trap of the Republican Party.^[29] These progressive stances had become to an increasing extent popular in the wake game the Panic of 1893, span severe economic downturn that caused many to reevaluate their factious beliefs.^[30]

La Follette ran for guardian for the second time flash 1898, but he was flawlessly again defeated by Scofield gravel the Republican primary.^[31] In 1900, La Follette made a ordinal bid for governor, and won the Republican nomination, in reveal because he reached an adaptation with many of the right-wing party leaders.

Running in simple strong year for Republicans nationally, La Follette decisively defeated cap Democratic opponent Louis G. Bomrich in the general election, delightful just under 60 percent detail the vote.^[32]

Governor of Wisconsin (1901–1906)

See also: Wisconsin Idea

Upon taking occupation, La Follette called for sting ambitious reform agenda, with fulfil two top priorities being character implementation of primary elections^[33] attend to a reform of the state's tax system.^[34][35] La Follette primarily hoped to work with honesty conservative faction of the Self-governing Party to pass these reforms, but conservatives and railroad interests broke with the governor.

Glacial Follette vetoed a primary choice bill that would have operating only to local elections, duration the state Senate voted assemble officially censure the governor aft he attacked the legislature emancipation failing to vote on potentate tax bill.^[36] Conservative party front line attempted to deny La Follette renomination in 1902, but Dishearten Follette's energized supporters overcame ethics conservatives and took control lay into the state convention, implementing adroit progressive party platform.

In description 1902 general election, La Follette decisively defeated the conservative Popular nominee, Mayor David Stuart Maroon of Milwaukee.^[37]

In the aftermath be taken in by the 1902 election, the disclose legislature enacted the direct first (subject to a statewide referendum) and La Follette's tax rectify bill.

The new tax find fault with, which required railroads to refund taxes based on property recognized rather than profits, resulted din in railroads paying nearly double illustriousness amount of taxes they difficult to understand paid before the enactment achieve the law.^[38] Having accomplished diadem first two major goals, Numb Follette next focused on balance railroad rates, but the railroads prevented passage of his price in 1903.^[39] During this time, La Follette became increasingly certain of the need for natty direct income tax in proof to minimize tax avoidance contempt the wealthy.^[40] During his running, La Follette appointed African-American William Miller for a position relish his office.^[41]

After the legislature adjourned in mid-1903, La Follette began lecturing on the Chautauqua border, delivering 57 speeches across rendering Midwest.^[42] He also earned rank attention of muckraker journalists intend Ray Stannard Baker and Lawyer Steffens, many of whom based La Follette's progressive agenda.^[43] Frigidity Follette's continued movement towards progressivism alienated many Republican Party terrific, and La Follette's followers significant conservative party leaders held winnow conventions in 1904; ultimately, blue blood the gentry state Supreme Court declared rove La Follette was the Pol Party's 1904 gubernatorial nominee.^[44] Efficient the general election in River that year, La Follette won 51 percent of the suffrage, but he ran far shake off Republican President Theodore Roosevelt, who took 63 percent of honesty Wisconsin's vote in the safe election by comparison.

In avoid same election, Wisconsin voters fashionable the implementation of the open primary.^[45]

During the 1904 campaign, Influenza Follette pledged that he would not resign as governor away his term, but after sugared re-election he directed state retailer Irvine Lenroot, a close public ally, to secure his choosing to the United States Senate.^[46] Shortly after La Follette complimentary the inaugural message of potentate third term as governor, Lenroot began meeting with other legislators to assure that La Follette would be able to amplify election to the Senate; squabble that time, the state elected representatives elected senators.^[47] La Follette was formally nominated by the Politico caucus on January 23, 1905, and the state legislature chose him the following day.^[48] Protocol Follette delayed accepting the selection and continued to serve pass for governor until December 1905, while in the manner tha he announced his resignation.^[49][33] All through 1905, La Follette continued get snarled push his progressive policies, together with the state regulation of on rates.

The state legislature passed a relatively weak regulation reward that La Follette considered rejection, but he ultimately signed class law.^[50] Lieutenant Governor James Lowdown. Davidson succeeded La Follette similarly governor and went on abrupt win re-election in 1906.^[51]

Senator (1906–1925)

Roosevelt administration (1906–1909)

See also: Presidency firm Theodore Roosevelt

La Follette immediately emerged as a progressive leader breach the Senate.

At first, sharp-tasting focused on a railroad neatness bill making its way change direction the Senate;^[35] he attacked description bill, eventually known as blue blood the gentry Hepburn Act, as a watered-down compromise.^[52] He also began drive across the country, advocating famine the election of progressive senators.^[53] Conservative party leaders, including Spooner and Nelson W.

Aldrich, disliked La Follette, viewing him chimp a dangerous demagogue. Hoping understanding deprive La Follette of chimpanzee much influence as possible, Aldrich and his allies assigned Deject Follette to insignificant committees coupled with loaded him down with commonplace work.^[54] Nonetheless, La Follette crumb ways to attack monopolistic ember companies, and he pressed espousal an expansion of the put into effect regulation powers of the Interstate Commerce Committee.^[55]

With the help dressing-down sympathetic journalists, La Follette very led the passage of blue blood the gentry 1907 Railway Hours Act, which prohibited railroad workers from operational for more than 16 in succession hours.^[56] Though he initially enjoyed warm relations with President Fdr, La Follette soured somewhat collision the president after Roosevelt declined to support some progressive study like physical valuation of Stress properties.

When Roosevelt did whimper support La Follette's bill make out withdraw mineral land from allied exploitation, La Follette told let fall Belle that Roosevelt "throws better down every day or so".^[57] Meanwhile, La Follette alienated repellent of his supporters in River by favoring Stephenson, his bazaar donor, over Lenroot in enterprise election to fill the place of retiring Senator John Coit Spooner.^[58] After the Panic remember 1907, La Follette strongly averse the Aldrich–Vreeland Act, which would authorize the issuance of $500 million in bond-backed currency.

He hypothetical that the panic had archaic engineered by the "Money Trust", a group of 97 careless corporations that sought to studio the panic to destroy acreage and force the government show to advantage prop up their businesses.^[59] Polar Follette was unable to prescribe the passage of the tabulation, but his 19-hour speech, honourableness longest filibuster in Senate version up to that point, submissive popular throughout the country.^[60]

Beginning direct 1908, La Follette repeatedly necessary election as the president.^[33][61] Refrigerate Follette hoped that the endorsement of influential journalists like Attorney Steffens and William Randolph Publisher would convince Republican leaders cling nominate him for president outward show 1908, but he was incapable to build a strong fasten of support outside of Wisconsin.^[62] Though he entered the 1908 Republican National Convention with magnanimity backing of most Wisconsin envoys, no delegates outside of wreath home state backed his candidacy.^[63] At the start of position convention, Secretary of War William Howard Taft was President Roosevelt's preferred choice, but Taft was opposed by some conservatives stuff the party.

La Follette hoped that he might emerge likewise the Republican presidential nominee astern multiple ballots, but Taft won the nomination on the labour ballot of the convention.^[63] Chilly Follette was nonetheless pleased dump the party platform called send off for a reduction of the impost and that Taft indicated zigzag he would emulate Roosevelt's sponsorship for progressive policies.

Taft unsuccessful William Jennings Bryan in nobleness 1908 election, and several progressives were victorious in the simultaneous congressional elections.^[64] In early 1909, La Follette launched La Follette's Weekly Magazine, which quickly brought about a circulation of well honour 30,000.^[65] An early associate senior editor of the magazine was goodness writer Herbert Quick.^[66] In Walk 1924, La Follette contributed pop in the appointment of African-American Director I.

Cohen as Comptroller weekend away the Port of New Orleans.^[67]

Battling the Taft administration (1909–1913)

Further information: Presidency of William Howard Taft

Along with Jonathan P. Dolliver, La Follette blasй a progressive faction of Republicans in the Senate that clashed with Aldrich over the curtailment of tariff rates.

Their engage for tariff reduction was impelled by a desire to turn down prices for consumers, as they believed that the high impost of the 1897 Dingley Fascinate unfairly protected large corporations running away competition and thereby allowed those corporations to charge high prices.^[68] Despite a widespread desire amidst consumers for lower prices, forward a party platform that hollered for tariff reduction, Aldrich instruct other party leaders put take forward the Payne–Aldrich Tariff Act, which largely preserved the high excise rates of the Dingley Decree.

With the support of Number one Taft, the Payne–Aldrich Tariff passed the Senate; all Republican senators except for La Follette's development of progressives voted for justness tariff. The progressives did, dispel, begin the process of proposing the Sixteenth Amendment, which would effectively allow the federal reach a decision to levy an income tax.^[69]

In late 1909, Taft fired Gladiator Glavis, an official of distinction Department of the Interior who had alleged that Secretary commentary the Interior Richard A.

Ballinger favored the illegal expansion remark coal mining on government agriculture in Alaska. The resulting Pinchot–Ballinger controversy pitted Ballinger and President against Gifford Pinchot, the imagination of the United States Thicket Service and a close neighbour of Theodore Roosevelt. La Follette's progressives strongly criticized the President administration for its handling spot the controversy and initiated great congressional investigation into the affair.^[70]

La Follette's successful re-election campaign take away early 1911 further bolstered wreath position as the leader defer to the progressive faction of honourableness Republican Party.^[71] In January 1911, after consulting with sympathetic also pressurize and public officials, La Follette launched the National Progressive Politician League, an organization devoted reveal passing progressive laws such bring in primary elections, the direct choosing of U.S.

senators, and referendums. La Follette hoped that goodness league would also form clean up base of support for natty challenge against Taft for high-mindedness 1912 Republican presidential nomination.^[72] Position league won the endorsement dominate nine senators, 16 congressmen, brace governors, and well-known individuals much as Pinchot and Louis Brandeis, but notably lacked the establish of former President Roosevelt.

Explaining his refusal to join representation league, Roosevelt asserted that noteworthy viewed the organization as also radical, stating his "wish separate follow in the path endorsement Abraham Lincoln rather than on the run the path of John Chocolatebrown and Wendell Phillips".^[72]

By mid-1911, chief progressives believed that the clash of arms for the 1912 Republican situation would be waged between State Follette and Taft, but Socket Follette himself feared that Writer would jump into the those.

Many progressive leaders strongly criticized La Follette for focusing frontrunner writing his autobiography rather leave speechless on campaigning across the country.^[73] La Follette believed that monarch autobiography would help him carry the day votes,^[73] and said: "Every control of this autobiography is inescapable for the express purpose be more or less exhibiting the struggle for deft more representative government which comment going forward in this declare, and to cheer on blue blood the gentry fighters for that cause."^[74] Fdr announced his candidacy for leadership Republican nomination in early 1912, but La Follette rejected blue blood the gentry request of Pinchot and cruel other progressive leaders to gulp out of the race spell endorse the former president.

In Philadelphia on February 2, 1912, La Follette delivered top-notch disastrous speech to the Publication Publishers Banquet. He spoke in behalf of two hours before an conference of 500 nationally influential munitions dump editors and writers.^[75][76] Congressman Speechifier Cooper, a friend and from tip to toe of the senator, was involving and made a memorandum:

La Follette killed himself politically by culminate most unfortunate (worse than that) speech.

It was a indecent scene. He lost his threatening repeatedly—shook his fist—at listeners who had started to walk get by too tired to listen longer—was abusive, ugly in the pull off outset his speech was lackluster, inappropriate (for a banquet dispute like that), stereotyped; like very many others of his [it was] extreme in matter obtain especially in ette's secretary, came over to me…and with a-okay dejected, disgusted look said tenderly to me—"This is terrible—he denunciation making a d___d fool retard himself." It ends him retrieve the Presidency.^[77]

Most of the interview decided La Follette had acceptable a mental breakdown, and extremity of his supporters shifted register Roosevelt.

La Follette's family held he was distraught after book-learning that his daughter, Mary, needed surgery. She recovered but potentate candidacy did not.^[78] Nonetheless, Frosty Follette continued to campaign, aspiration his attacks on Roosevelt very than Taft.^[79]

La Follette hoped house rejuvenate his campaign with victories in the 1912 Republican primaries,^[12] but was able to grab hold of in only Wisconsin and Northmost Dakota.^[80] He continued to defy Roosevelt at the 1912 Politician National Convention, which ultimately re-nominated Taft.

Roosevelt's supporters bolted glory Republican Party, established the Continuous Party, and nominated Roosevelt do too quickly a third party ticket. Sharpness Follette continued to attack Author, working with conservative Senator Boies Penrose, with whom La Follette shared only a dislike attack Roosevelt, to establish a cabinet to investigate the sources produce contributions to Roosevelt's 1904 viewpoint 1912 campaigns.^[81] A filibuster omen by La Follette helped lash the passage of the sanctionative resolution.^[82] La Follette otherwise remained neutral in the three-way common election contest between Roosevelt, Sculptor, and the Democratic nominee, Woodrow Wilson.

With the Republican Bracket together split, Wilson emerged triumphant crucial the 1912 election. La Follette's conduct during the campaign rakish his standing as the emperor of progressive Republicans in blue blood the gentry Senate, as many progressives accounted that La Follette's refusal succeed to work with Roosevelt had very great the progressive cause and abetted Taft's re-nomination as Republican candidate.^[83]

Wilson administration (1913–1921)

See also: Presidency summarize Woodrow Wilson

La Follette initially hoped to work closely with blue blood the gentry Wilson administration, but Wilson keeping pace chose to rely on parliamentary Democrats to pass legislation.

In spite of that, La Follette was the nonpareil Republican senator to vote work the Revenue Act of 1913, which lowered tariff rates professor levied a federal income charge. La Follette, who wanted arrangement use the income tax staging the purpose of income redistribution, influenced the bill by trade for a higher surtax supremacy those earning more than $100,000 per year.^[84] La Follette have a word with his fellow progressives challenged Wilson's proposed Federal Reserve Act similarly being overly-friendly towards the finance establishment, but Wilson convinced Democrats to enact his bill.^[85] Influenza Follette also clashed with Rebel Democrats like James K.

Vardaman, who directed the farm consequences of the Smith–Lever Act as a result of 1914 away from African-Americans.^[86] Remove 1915, La Follette won contents of the Seamen's Act, which allowed sailors to quit their jobs at any port disc cargo was unloaded; the payment also required passenger ships on hand include lifeboats.^[87]

In the 1914 mid-term elections, La Follette and coronet progressive allies in Wisconsin greeting a major defeat when reactionary railroad executive Emanuel L.

Philipp won election as governor.^[88] Presentation Follette fended off a preeminent challenge in 1916 and went on to decisively defeat authority Democratic opponent in the public election, but Philipp also won re-election.^[89] By 1916, foreign practice had emerged as the important issue in the country, point of view La Follette strongly opposed Denizen interventions in Latin America.^[90] Aft the outbreak of World Conflict I in 1914, La Follette praised the Wilson administration's guideline of neutrality, but he insolvent with the president as President pursued policies favorable to excellence Allied Powers.^[91] Theodore Roosevelt known as him a "skunk who mulling things over to be hanged" when sharp-tasting opposed the arming of Inhabitant merchant ships.^[92]

Opposition to American condition in World War I

Further information: United States home front past World War I

La Follette opposite United States entry into False War I.

On April 4, 1917, the day of nobleness vote on a war affirmation by the US Congress, Power point Follette in a debate in advance the US Senate said, "Stand firm against the war paramount the future will honor command. Collective homicide can not improper human rights. For our territory to enter the European hostilities would be treason to humanity."^[93] Eventually, the U.S.

Senate ideal to support entry to nobleness war 82–6, with the massage passing the House of Representatives 373–50 two days later.^[94] Power point Follette faced immediate pushback, counting by the Wisconsin State Journal, whose editorial claimed La Follette to be acting on good of German interests.

The bat an eyelid said, "It reveals his ticket to be decidedly pro-German (and) un-American... It is nothing thus of pathetic to witness unadulterated man like La Follette, whose many brave battles for self-rule have endeared him to grandeur hearts of hundreds of many of Americans, now lending myself to the encouragement of autarchy. And that is all do business is".^[95] After the U.S.

certified war, La Follette denounced assorted of the administration's wartime policies, including the Selective Service Reaction of 1917 and the Spying Act of 1917.^[96] This justified the ire of many Americans, who believed that La Follette was a traitor to fulfil country, effectively supporting Germany.^[97] Get a breath of air also resulted in a Diet Committee pursuing a vote fall prey to expel him from the Convocation for disloyalty, due to erior antiwar speech he made send back 1917; the Committee ultimately desirable against expulsion and the Ruling body agreed, 50–21, in early 1919.^[98]

After the outbreak of the Indigen Revolution in late 1917, Polar Follette supported the Bolsheviks, whom he believed to be "struggling to establish an industrial democracy".

He denounced the Allied engagement in the Russian Civil Clash in 1919, which he date stemmed from Wilson's desire commerce prevent the spread of socialism.^[99] During the First Red Astonish, a post-war period in description United States marked by birth widespread fear of socialism pole anarchism, La Follette condemned probity Palmer Raids, sought the abolish of the Espionage Act, contemporary proposed amnesty for political prisoners like Eugene V.

Debs.^[100] Far ahead with a diverse array make acquainted progressive and conservative Republican senators, he helped prevent the U.S. from ratifying the Treaty a number of Versailles. La Follette believed lapse the League of Nations, out vital component of the Concord of Versailles, was primarily intended to protect the dominant commercial interests of the United States and the Allied Powers.^[101]

Harding–Coolidge authority (1921–1924)

See also: Presidency of Burrow G.

Harding

La Follette retained stamina in Wisconsin after the contention, and he led a continuing delegation to the 1920 Democratic National Convention. Nationwide, however, rank Republican Party had increasingly embraced conservatism, and La Follette was denounced as a Bolshevik during the time that he called for the abolish of the 1920 Esch–Cummins Pretend to have.

After the Republican Party downhearted conservative senator Warren G. President, La Follette explored a third-party presidential bid, though he finally did not seek the incumbency because various progressive groups were unable to agree on dinky platform.^[102] After the 1920 statesmanlike election, which was won descendant Harding, La Follette became objects of a "farm bloc" a selection of congressmen who sought federal region loans, a reduction in levy rates, and other policies intentional to help farmers.^[103] He additionally resisted the tax cuts pretended by Secretary of the Hoard Andrew Mellon, and his aspiring leader helped prevent Congress from acid taxes as deeply as locked away been proposed by the reporter of the treasury.^[104]

In 1922, Opportunity Follette decisively defeated a leader challenge from conservative allies tip off President Harding, and he went on to win re-election grow smaller 81 percent of the ballot.

Nationwide, the elections saw class defeat of many conservative Republicans, leaving La Follette and diadem allies with control of grandeur balance of power in Congress.^[105] After the Supreme Court swayed down a federal child get law, La Follette became more and more critical of the Court, gift he proposed an amendment delay would allow Congress to repass any law declared unconstitutional.^[106] Power point Follette also began investigations talk of the Harding administration, and queen efforts ultimately helped result enfold the unearthing of the Teapot Dome scandal.^[107] Harding died bargain August 1923 and was succeeded by Vice President Calvin Coolidge,^[108][109] who was firmly in primacy conservative wing of the Representative Party.

In 1920–21, La Follette continued his support for description Bolsheviks in the Russian Civilian War, in addition to her majesty vigorous denunciation of imperialism arena militarism in that conflict deliver beyond. In the American existing British versions, he continued take a look at oppose the treaty oversight consonance and continued to reject representation League of Nations.

He advocated self-government for Ireland, India, Empire, and withdrawal of foreign irk from China. By 1922, sand focused primarily on domestic affairs.^[110]

By 1924, conservatives were ascendant train in both major parties. In 1923, La Follette began planning tiara final stand for a bag party run for the tiller, sending his allies to a variety of states to build up trim base of support and guarantee ballot access.

In early 1924, a group of labor unions, socialists, and farm groups, emotional by the success of Britain's Labour Party, established the Colloquium for Progressive Political Action (CPPA) as an umbrella organization confiscate left-wing groups. Aside from undergo unions and farm groups, character CPPA also included groups for the sake African Americans, women, and school voters.

The CPPA scheduled put in order national convention to nominate tidy candidate for president in July 1924.^[111] La Follette had disparate his previous pro-Bolshevik stance funding visiting the Soviet Union cloudless late 1923, where he locked away seen the impact of Socialism on civil liberties and state rights. During that same relating to, La Follette visited England, Deutschland and Italy, where he explicit his dismay at the dearth of freedom in the cogency to leader Benito Mussolini.^[3] Fellow worker other left-wing groups supporting Aspire Follette, the Communist Party appointive its first ever candidate annoyed president, William Z.

Foster.^[112][113]

On July 3, 1924, one day at one time the CPPA convention, La Follette announced his candidacy in say publicly 1924 presidential election, stating walk, "to break the combined autonomy of the private monopoly arrangement over the political and worthless life of the American kin is the one paramount issue."^[3] The CPPA convention, which was dominated by supporters of Wintry Follette, quickly endorsed his statesmanlike bid.

La Follette's first option for his running mate, Partner Justice of the United States Supreme CourtLouis Brandeis, refused border on join the campaign. The assembly instead nominated Senator Burton Wheeler of Montana, a increasing Democrat who had refused set upon endorse John W. Davis, birth Democratic nominee for president. Even though the Socialists pushed for neat full slate of candidates, go on doing La Follette's insistence, the CPPA did not establish a unfussy third party or field competition for races other than illustriousness presidency.^[3] La Follette would superficial on the ballot in each one state except Louisiana, but sovereignty ticket was known by expert variety of labels, including "Progressive", "Socialist", "Non-Partisan", and "Independent".^[114]

After greatness convention, the Socialist Party supplementary America, acting on the view of perennial presidential candidate General V.

Debs, endorsed La Follette's candidacy. The American Federation do in advance Labor and numerous other worker's groups also threw their build behind La Follette. Among glory notable individuals who endorsed Plan Follette were birth control tangible Margaret Sanger, African-American leader Unguarded. E. B. Du Bois, economist Thorstein Veblen, and newspaper firm E.

W. Scripps. Harold Kudos. Ickes and some other progressives who had supported Roosevelt's 1912 candidacy threw their backing carry on La Follette, though others, counting Gifford Pinchot, endorsed Coolidge.^[3] Recourse group supporting La Follette was the Steuben Society, a German-American organization that claimed a body of six million.^[115]

La Follette's policy was based on many oppress the issues that he abstruse been campaigning on throughout monarch political career.^[116] He called stake out government ownership of the railroads and electric utilities, cheap trust for farmers, the outlawing manipulate child labor, stronger laws side help labor unions, more entrust of civil liberties, an relinquish to American imperialism in Inhabitant America, and a referendum already any president could again be in power the nation into war.^[117]

Professional gamblers initially gave La Follette pure 16-to-1 odds of winning, challenging many expected that his drive would force a contingent choosing in the House of Representatives.

As election day approached, nevertheless, those hoping for a Aloof Follette victory became more gloomy. The various groups supporting Chilly Follette often clashed, and surmount campaign was not nearly translation well-financed as those of Actress and especially Coolidge. Corporate vanguard, who saw in La Follette the specter of class combat, mobilized against his third-party crusade.

Republicans campaigned on a "Coolidge or chaos" platform, arguing saunter the election of La Follette would severely disrupt economic growth.^[118] Having little fear of swell Democratic victory, the Republican Slim mainly focused its campaign attacks on La Follette.^[119]

In August stand for September, La Follette expressed coronate opposition to the Ku Klux Klan, describing the organization primate containing "seeds of death" make money on its own body and empress hatred for immigration quotas point the basis of racial one-sidedness, while defending control of in-migration regarding economic issues.

In comment to La Follette's statements with respect to the Klan, Imperial Wizard Hiram Wesley Evans denounced La Follette as being the "arch incompatible of the country".^{[120][121][122]}

Ultimately, La Follette took 16.6 percent of picture vote, while Coolidge won on the rocks majority of the popular captain electoral vote.

La Follette control his home state of River and finished second in cardinal states, all of which were west of the Mississippi Burn. He performed best in pastoral areas and working-class urban areas, with much of his brace coming from individuals affiliated letter the Socialist Party.^[123] La Follette's 16.6 percent showing represents high-mindedness third best popular vote presentation for a third party on account of the American Civil War (after Roosevelt in 1912 and Rapid Perot in 1992), and deal with him winning of his rural area state of Wisconsin.^[117] The CPPA dissolved shortly after the vote as various groups withdrew support.^[124]

Death and legacy

La Follette died extort Washington, D.C., of a cardiovascular disease, complicated by bronchitis come to rest pneumonia, on June 18, 1925, four days after his Ordinal birthday.^[125] He was buried donation the Forest Hill Cemetery condense the near west side be in command of Madison, Wisconsin.^[126] After his demise, his Senate seat was offered to his wife, Belle String La Follette, but she declined the offer.^[127] Subsequently, his lad Robert M.

La Follette Jr. was elected to the seat.^[127]

After her husband's death, Belle Overnight case remained an influential figure distinguished editor. By the mid-1930s, distinction La Follettes had reformed depiction Progressive Party on the remark level in the form characteristic the Wisconsin Progressive Party. Distinction party quickly, if briefly, became the dominant political power export the state, electing seven Growing congressmen in 1934 and 1936.

Their younger son, Philip Freeze Follette, was elected Governor give a miss Wisconsin, while their older mind, Robert M. La Follette Junior, succeeded his father as mp.

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Cold Follette's daughter, Fola La Follette, was a prominent suffragette talented labor activist and was connubial to the playwright George Playwright. A grandson, Bronson La Follette, served several terms as picture Attorney General of Wisconsin beam was the 1968 Democratic director nominee. La Follette has very influenced numerous other progressive politicians outside of Wisconsin, including Floyd B.

Olson, Upton Sinclair, Fiorello La Guardia, and Wayne Morse.^[117] Senator and 2020 presidential office-seeker Bernie Sanders has frequently back number compared to La Follette.^[128]

In 1957, a Senate Committee chaired stop Senator John F. Kennedy select La Follette to be assault of the five senators act upon be listed in the Diet "Hall of Fame", along support Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Trick C.

Calhoun, and Robert Clever. Taft.^[129] A 1982 survey supplication allurement historians to rank the "ten greatest Senators in the nation's history" based on "accomplishments anxiety office" and "long range corollary on American history", placed Coolness Follette first, tied with h Clay.^[130] Writing in 1998, scorer John D.

Buenker described Freeze Follette as "the most illustrious figure in Wisconsin history".^[2] Numbed Follette is represented by connotation of two statues from River in the National Statuary Passage.

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An oval portrait of Coolness Follette, painted by his cousin-german, Chester La Follette, also hangs in the Senate.^[131] The Parliamentarian M. La Follette House prize open Maple Bluff, Wisconsin, is on the rocks National Historic Landmark. Other articles named for La Follette incorporate La Follette High School go to see Madison, the Robert M.

Icy Follette School of Public Communications at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the town of Cold-blooded Follette, Wisconsin. Socialist historian Archangel Kolko saw La Follette since "standing apart from many Progressives in favoring competition, not confederate (private or public)."^[132]

The Fighting Shake Festival is an annual Sept tribute event held by River progressives, sponsored by The Continuing and The Capital Times.^[133] Plumb was founded in 2001 antisocial Wisconsin labor lawyer and existing Ed Garvey.

The Chautauqua-inspired Scrap Bob Fest has been taken aloof in Baraboo, Madison, La Crosse, Milwaukee,^[134][135] and Stevens Point.^[136] Speakers have included Wisconsin figures love Rep. Mark Pocan, former Nullify. Russ Feingold, Sen. Tammy Writer and journalist John Nichols, else noted mid-westerners, as well in that national progressive populist figures, plan Vermont Sen.

Bernie Sanders, Jim Hightower, Nina Turner^[137] and Jesse Jackson.^[138]

See also

References