Subseries: John Moses, 1983 June 3
Note: Access online.

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Came to Wisconsin from North Dakota after leaving military. Family involved in Democratic Party. Attended University of Wisconsin in Madison 1946-1951.

THE YOUNG DEMOCRATS
Scope and Content Note: County officer in North Dakota, attended conventions in North Dakota and Wisconsin. Distinction between members of the Young Democrats and the statutory Party was not age. Rather, those involved in Party were more serious, professional. One task of Democratic Organizing Committee (DOC) was to make the Young Democrats more attractive to young people and more dynamic. Moses had task of involving young people, mostly university students, in the restructuring of the Young Democrats. Drafted new constitution in 1949, names major assistants. Young Democrats were auxiliary of DOC, but occasionally took independent stand. Young Democrats made more attractive by providing for their representation and limiting the members' age to about twenty-five, except for veterans.

OPPOSITION TO CHANGES IN THE PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Mostly from middle-aged members of Party who held little power. Cecil Brown opposed change.

INFLUENCE OF YOUNG DEMOCRATS ON DOC
Scope and Content Note: Young Democrats' members largely students, many of whom were veterans who eventually became active in Party, e.g. Thompson, Doyle, Wilkie; they changed composition of Party.

THE AMERICAN VETERANS COMMITTEE (AVC)
Scope and Content Note: Many people active in Young Democrats and later active in Party were AVC members, lists names. Moses met many at meetings on campus. Many World War II veterans did not consider American Legion as relevant to their world but wanted to participate in a veterans organization. Amvets was organization for World War II veterans, but modeled on the American Legion. AVC more concerned with politics than parades, etc. AVC had rules against participation in partisan politics, but many individuals were active in strengthening liberal Democrats. Moses active in AVC Stoughton chapter.

HORACE WILKIE
Scope and Content Note: Parents were Progressives. Father was prominent attorney. Horace was liberal, methodical, represented younger liberal elements in Progressive Party.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN NORTH DAKOTA
Scope and Content Note: Moses' father was governor three terms, then United States Senator. Old Democrats in North Dakota and Wisconsin opposed new Democrats' power because it would take control of the patronage system away from them.

AWARENESS OF THE CHANGE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AMONG RETURNING VETERANS
Scope and Content Note: Carl Thompson's near victory in 1947 made people aware, as did the Communist influence in the labor unions and Bob La Follette's defeat. AVC important in focusing and clarifying opinions among liberal veterans.

REACTION TO LA FOLLETTE'S ISOLATIONISM
Scope and Content Note: Many young people opposed this stance. Before the war, many future veterans supported isolationism, but their war experience convinced them that it was wrong. Became fearful and suspicious of the Soviet Union.

END OF TAPE 21, SIDE 1

INTRODUCTION

MOSES' PARTY ACTIVITIES IN THE 1950s
Scope and Content Note: Hired to conduct recount for close election in Vernon County. Often asked to assist Democrats in various ways, e.g. lined up slates of candidates in early 1950s.

MOSES AS FUND RAISER, PAT LUCEY
Scope and Content Note: Lucey hired as fund raiser in 1950 after his defeat in the Congressional election. He had been in the Assembly before that. Moses succeeded him in this post. Lucey was a hard worker, knew many people, was a vigorous fund raiser. (Outline of Moses' and Lucey's fund raising strategies.) Moses became acquainted with many postmasters in the state. Responsible for entire state, covered areas where Lucey had never been active.

MOSES AS BUSINESS MANAGER OF WISCONSIN DEMOCRAT
Scope and Content Note: Manager 1948-1952. Paper outlined issues for use by candidates. Miles McMillin prepared program papers on state issues, Moses covered national issues. Sent out to candidates at all levels. (Describes process of preparing paper, people involved, issues.) Paper first issued in 1949; monthly tabloid, available by subscription. Included articles on issues, much background material on issues, news of internal activities. Moses moved to Gay Mills in 1952.

MILES McMILLIN
Scope and Content Note: Good friend of Moses. Went to law school in Madison. Moses got to know him in 1948. McMillin was editorial writer for the Capital Times. Worked with Moses on the Wisconsin Democrat and on Carl Thompson's campaign. Moses was campaign manager. McMillin was close to Bill Evjue, was his protege. The Capital Times tried to project image of being independent; would occasionally criticize Democrats.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY BEFORE 1947
Scope and Content Note: Dominated by conservatives. A few people, e.g. Jerry Fox, Bob Tehan worked hard to liberalize Party and attract young people.

JULIA BOEGHOLT
Scope and Content Note: Very energetic, hard worker, liberal. Disappointed that Party made compromises on liberal issues, worked hard to prevent this. Very involved in Democratic Organizing Committee. Quit Party because of compromises Party made on issues on which Boegholt had worked hard. Did not agree with ideological changes being made or people involved.

TOM AMLIE, ROSALIE M0RTON
Scope and Content Note: Had been Congressman from first district. One of more radical of New Dealers. A fighter. By the time Moses got involved in Party, Amlie was disillusioned with Party, considered too far left. Rosalie Morton, Amlie's sister, served as Moses' secretary during Carl Thompson's campaign. Amlie never discussed idea of third party with Moses. Midwestern third party strategy was to operate within an established party and split the primary vote.

MOSES ACTIVITIES IN 1948
Scope and Content Note: Entered law school that year. Spent much time on Party activities, neglected school work.

END OF TAPE 21, SIDE 2

INTRODUCTION

1948 ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: A few young liberals from Democratic Organizing Committee (DOC) elected--Pat Lucey, Ruth Doyle. Determined to exert liberal influence in legislature. Many students who had helped campaign later assisted (researched, drafted legislation, etc.) newly elected DOC members who had no staff and no money. Moses did this through 1949. Worked for Lucey, George Molinaro, Tom Taylor. Wrote program papers for campaign. Sometimes drove Carl Thompson to speaking engagements. Thompson's campaign very small, handled by himself and Party headquarters.

CARL THOMPSON
Scope and Content Note: Knowledgeable about issues, dramatic, well-received, diplomatic.

THOMPSON'S 1950 GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: First campaign for which Democrats had formalized plan for campaign. Had very little money. Rosalie Morton, Mary McMillin were two principal, unpaid secretaries. Moses was campaign director. Many public relations staff members were Daily Cardinal staff members. (Discusses public relations process.)(Anecdote about speech written for Thompson about the State Traffic Patrol.) Tom Taylor scheduled speeches. Korean war caused disaffectation among Democrats, especially Catholics. This issue caused Thompson to lose the election. Thompson exhausted after election, had to be hospitalized. (Describes actual campaigning.) Some money for campaign came from individuals, but most came from the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). Tom Fairchild fiscally supported by the American Federation of Labor. CIO support of Thompson was not widely known--generated no anti-Communist reaction.

FARM ORGANIZATIONS
Scope and Content Note: Farm Bureau generally supported Republicans. Farmers Union provided substantial public relations support for Democrats.

COOPERATIVES
Scope and Content Note: Erich Lenz considered friendly to Democrats. Coops had no money to donate to Democrats. People involved in Rural Electrification Administration (REA) supported Democrats but REA paper was required to be non-partisan.

EDDIE MESHESKI
Scope and Content Note: Known as Father Mesheski. Very friendly, dedicated, liberal. Worked as accountant in Milwuakee. Chairman of Party in Milwaukee. Good diplomat with an effective county organization. Moses worked closely with him. At that time Moses met Jean Lucey, secretary of Party in Milwaukee.

CONFLICT BETWEEN MILWAUKEE AND MADISON DEMOCRATS, 1950
Scope and Content Note: Sharp disagreements between individuals, especially old conservatives and young liberals, rather than organizations. Conservatives strongest in Milwaukee. Mesheski unified all factions in Milwaukee.

END OF TAPE 22, SIDE 1

INTRODUCTION

CONFLICT BETWEEN MILWAUKEE AND MADISON DEMOCRATS, 1950 (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Moses spent one or two days a week in Milwaukee during campaign. Definite friction between old conservatives in Milwaukee and young liberals in Madison. Reuss and Fairchild considered respectable, unlike “radical” Madison people. Two groups came into contact at regular DOC meetings and at campaign planning meetings.

1950 FAIRCHILD CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: Virginia Hart was director of campaign. Moses got to know her well during campaign. AFL gave Fairchild considerable financial support.

MOSES' ACTIVITY AFTER LEAVING PARTY POST
Scope and Content Note: Left fundraising position in 1952 to practice law in conservative Crawford County. Worked on Greg Lucey's assembly campaign in late 1952. Became known as a Democrat.

NORMAN CLAPP
Scope and Content Note: Moses deeply involved in Clapp's 1954, 1956, 1958 congressional campaigns. (Description of Clapp's background.) Moses was either secretary-treasurer or chairman of campaign. Spent much time campaigning. Had cordial relations with conservative Republicans in county.

JESS MILLER
Scope and Content Note: State senator from Richland County. (Humerous anecdote about Miller and Moses.) Staunch conservative Republican, physically imposing.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POLICIES IN THE 1940s and 1950s AND POLITICS TODAY
Scope and Content Note: People then were idealistic, enthusiastic. Today there are few idealists. People enter politics to realize personal ambitions. As the Democrats gained power and strength, a new breed entered Party. It is tightly disciplined now.

END OF INTERVIEW