Series: Interviews

Subseries: Henry Reuss, 1982 September 24
Note: Access online.

POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Joined American Veterans Committee (AVC) when he returned from military service to Milwaukee in January 1946. AVC active in Reuss' mayoral campaign 1947-1948. In 1948 Reuss was urged, mainly by Madisonians, to run for lieutenant governor. Refused because Milwaukee Democrats counciled him not to run. In 1949 worked overseas on Marshall Plan. Then practiced law in Milwaukee. Appointed Special Prosecutor in Milwaukee County. Announced candidacy for attorney general on the Democratic ticket in June 1950; lost election. Defeated in Democratic senate primary in 1952 by Tom Fairchild. Elected to Milwaukee school board in 1953. Elected to Congress since 1954.

ROLE IN FORMATION OF NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Not knowledgeable about this movement until June 1948 when he began to discuss running for lieutenant governor with Dane County Democratic Organizing Committee (DOC). DOC wanted someone from outside of Madison. Reuss knew people in the AVC who were active in the formation of the new Party.

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY IN THE LATE 1940s
Scope and Content Note: Moderately liberal. Never was a Progressive.

INFLUENCE OF ESTABLISHED PARTIES ON THE FORMATION OF THE NEW PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Milwaukee Socialists, weak and passe at that time, had little to do with formation of new Democratic Party. Statutory Party under Charlie Green opposed new Democrats, discouraged Reuss from running for lieutenant governor. Bob Tehan was member of the DOC, friend to young Madisonians. Younger people received virtually no help from older politicians in Milwaukee.

JULIA BOEGHOLT, MILWAUKEE-MADISON CONFLICT
Scope and Content Note: Did not know Boegholt well but respected her. She was never party to anti-Reuss, pro-Fairchild feelings common in Madison in 1952. Milwaukee-Madison rivalry, while founded in fact, was largely created by the media.

ROLE IN FORMATION OF NEW PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Travelled all over state. Campaigned for office in 1950.

SPIRIT OF NEW MOVEMENT
Scope and Content Note: Exciting, comradely--supporters let Reuss stay with them while campaigning. (Campaign anecdotes.)

SPIRIT OF NEW MOVEMENT (continued)
Scope and Content Note: (Anecdotes illustrating comradely spirit of campaign.) New Democratic Party being formed at exciting time--creation of NATO, evolution of US/USSR balance of power.

JOE McCARTHY
Scope and Content Note: Strengthened and unified Party more than any other single phenomenon.

POLITICAL VIABILITY OF DEMOCRATS
Scope and Content Note: Party grew stronger in the 1950s. 1953 Lester Johnson elected to Congress. 1954 Reuss elected to Congress. 1957 Proxmire elected to Senate. 1958 Nelson elected governor, Kastenmeier elected to Congress. 1962 Nelson elected to Senate.

LESTER JOHNSON
Scope and Content Note: Belonged to Madison “faction”. Supported Fairchild over Reuss in 1952 Senate primary. Reuss close to Fairchild ideologically. Jim Doyle and Gaylord Nelson both considered running for Senate. Johnson was small-time farmer but not a bumpkin. Supported the Marshall Plan.

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
Scope and Content Note: Family apolitical Republicans. DOC philosophy was main influence; government should strive for full employment and provide social services, personal honesty important, US has moral responsibility to Europe and Third World, strong support of civil liberties, work for peace. Republicans represented business, the railroads, real estate people, oil interests, big banks, insurance. Democrats identified with workers, farmers, small businesspeople. 1950s was period of quiescence, regrouping.

Subseries: Virginia North Lehman, 1982 September 29
Use Restrictions: No release forms were gathered from Virginia North Lehman. Researchers, therefore, should not quote directly from these interviews.

POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Lived in Milwaukee. Graduated from law school 1927 or 1928. Worked in friend's Republican campaign for city council. About 1933 entered University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration; law jobs scarce during Depression, many lawyers studied social work.

FACTORS CAUSING FORMATION OF NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Overriding factor was Depression. (Anecdotes about severity of Depression.)

LEHMAN'S SOCIAL WORK
Scope and Content Note: In Chicago lived in College Woman's Club, many residents of which were involved in social work. Worked in the district attorney's office. Part of job was trying to get fathers to pay child support. Worked with many Poles and Germans. Under Daley, one had to do ward work at night to hold a city or county job.

MILWAUKEE
Scope and Content Note: Not there during New Deal era. Not corrupt like Chicago. German immigrants

CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS (CIO)
Scope and Content Note: CIO was developing within American Federation of Labor (AFL) while Lehman in Milwaukee. CIO Actively supported grassroots organizing. Organized a core of people available for many purposes, e.g. turning empty lots into playgrounds. Many people were so involved. Intent and process of organizing was to be aware of peoples troubles and make help available. Many women involved, men more involved in strikes.

INVOLVEMENT IN UNION SOCIAL WORK
Scope and Content Note: Worked in Chicago for a private legal aid office. Talked at strike meetings on how to deal with financial problems - part of union's efforts to attract new members. Work funded by United Charities.

PARTY AFFILIATIONS OF NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY ACTIVISTS
Scope and Content Note: Some began as socialists because the way to exert liberal power in Milwaukee was through the Socialist Party. On state level, Republican Party was a better vehicle for liberals. After Roosevelt, liberals could work more effectively in the Democratic Party. People attracted to Democrats by spirit embodied in Roosevelt's fireside chats and very strong Democratic organization in Illinois.

MILWAUKEE UNION LEADERS' POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS
Scope and Content Note: Unions always associated with liberals. Endorsed candidates but members usually supported the candidate of their choice.

UNION ACTIVITY
Scope and Content Note: (Anecdote about union meeting in Chicago stockyards.) People at meeting seemed enthusiastic, serious, involved. Labor had their own newspapers. People of all sorts involved, e.g. farmers conducted a milk strike. (Anecdote about Lehman's German housekeeper.)

JULIA BOEGHOLT
Scope and Content Note: Lehman met her at law school. Friends with the Boegholts and the Biemillers. Boegholt not involved in politics. Had little girl, ran nursery school and school on comparative religion and creationism. Boegholt had been laboratory technician at Georgia hospital.

ANDY BIEMILLER
Scope and Content Note: Very involved in AFL. Got involved in politics through the union. Lehman knew him socially.

LEHMAN AS ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Scope and Content Note: Job was to keep the “squawk brigade (women) out of the men's hair”. Got job through her father.

Subseries: Julia Boegholt, 1982 October 30
Note: Access online.

POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Came to Madison 1926 to work as bacteriologist. Husband was graduate student in philosophy and worked at the university. Could not work because law forbade two family members from concurrently working for the state. Only jobs in bacteriology were state jobs. Boegholt lobbied to pass legislation allowing two family members to work for state. By 1928 was acquainted with every legislator and many political activists. (Active women listed.) Boegholt did not vote until 1928, moved around too much. Actively worked for women's right to vote' since 1920. Interested in socialism, American history.

WORK FOR THE LA FOLLETTES
Scope and Content Note: Carl Boegholt drove Phil La Follette all over the state. Julia Boegholt copied poll lists, spoke to blacks door-to-door. Primary job was to keep Bill Evjue, editor of The Capital Times, informed.

FORMATION OF COOPERATIVES
Scope and Content Note: Many cooperatives formed in Madison. Current Mifflin Street Coop outgrowth of one of them. Bill Rice, Harold Groves, Harry Hamilton, very active in coops. Not all people active in coop movement were La Follette Progressives, many were Unitarians. Severe depression caused people to form coops. Students formed eating coops.

MILWAUKEE
Scope and Content Note: Dominated by Socialists. Labor just beginning to achieve strength. In 1934 Socialists and labor combined to form new party. Andy Biemiller arrived in Milwaukee from the East in 1934. Julia Boegholt knew him through Virginia North Lehman.

1934
Scope and Content Note: Worked for the La Follettes in the state elections and for the Democrats in the national elections. Took people to the polls and did other “dirty work”. Came to know many of Roosevelt's supporters. Dan Hoan traveled over the entire state speaking to former Grange people and William Jennings Bryan supporters about new liberal party. Hoan also held meetings to discuss the idea. Boegholt and others from Madison attended some of the meetings in Milwaukee.

THE LIBERAL CLUB OF DANE COUNTY
Scope and Content Note: Inspired by Hoan, some Madisonians started a Liberal Club. There were thirty or forty similar clubs around the state. In the early 1940s the organization was renamed The Citizens Club of Dane County. Gretchen Pfankuchen was president. Later renamed The Dane County Democratic Club. Helene Wheeler was president. Club tried to get local people to run as liberals. Did not identify with the Democrats until 1944. Floyd Wheeler very active. 1944, Hoan, Earl Stoneman, three others ran on Democratic liberal ticket.

HOWARD McMURRAY, THE THIRD PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Political Science teacher at Milwaukee extension. Elected to Congress from fifth district in 1942. Wanted to give Roosevelt state support, which was not coming from the La Follettes. Phil La Follette and a group of Senators, including Bronson Cutting (New Mexico) and George Norris (Nebraska) desired to form third party. McMurray lost Senate election in 1944.] Many Progressives blamed Democrats for Bob La Follette's defeat.

PHIL LA FOLLETTE AND THE ROOSEVELT DEMOCRATS
Scope and Content Note: Boegholt knew Phil very well, did not know Bob La Follette well. Phil refused Roosevelt's offer of a cabinet post in 1932 because he was personally offended that he had been defeated by a Democrat. Phil felt that the development of a liberal Democratic Party would doom plans for a third party. As Roosevelt programs succeeded, people joined the Democrats.

PHIL LA FOLLETTE, THE NATIONAL PROGRESSIVES OF AMERICA (NPA)
Scope and Content Note: After his defeat, Phil and his wife Isen traveled to Germany. Phil returned a firm believer in Hitler's techniques. Held big meeting concerning NPA in 1934. Socialists not invited to meeting. Phil, a brilliant speaker, trained in politics by father. Served as Dane County district attorney 1926-1928. Elected governor as Progressive 1934.

DAN HOAN
Scope and Content Note: Most influential person in formation of new Democratic Party. Very respected, successful Socialist. Charismatic, popular. Knew people in northern part of state because he used to hunt and fish there.

CONFLICT BETWEEN MILWAUKEE AND MADISON DEMOCRATS
Scope and Content Note: Party developed separately in each city. Andy Biemiller brought the two groups together.

TOM AMLIE, THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S BEGINNINGS
Scope and Content Note: Amlie from North Dakota, Farmer-Labor member. Had close contact with Milwaukee Socialists. Boegholt met Dan Hoan through Amlie. Amlie, Boegholt and others were invited to Hoan's meetings about the formation a new liberal party. Harold Groves was invited but refused to attend.

LIBERAL CLUBS
Scope and Content Note: Formed as a result of Hoan's meetings. Each club acted independently. Bill Evjue introduced Boegholt to many labor people.

LIBERAL CLUBS (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Boegholt approached many Progressives to join Liberal Club. Bill Evjue interested in involving labor in politics. Boegholt got to know union leaders, many ward people. She knew city's political makeup very well.

WOMEN'S INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS
Scope and Content Note: Boegholt gave up her scientific career to become a mother. Never ran for office. Few women elected; (lists some who were.) More women elected in Milwaukee than elsewhere. World War II made it socially acceptable for women to work.

THE DANE COUNTY LIBERAL CLUB
Scope and Content Note: After one year Club had 200 or 300 members. Held monthly meetings. Discussed bills introduced in the legislature, possible candidates for election officials, etc.; discussed management rather than policy formation. Cedric Parker, Miles McMillin, Aldrich Revell very active. All had been in University's Progressive Club. Rollie Day, Floyd Wheeler, John Lawton also active. Lawton one of first to work with AFSCME. Many doctors were involved. Glenn Frank brought many professors to the university who supported the New Deal reforms. Many of them and their wives became active.

WOMEN IN THE LIBERAL CLUB
Scope and Content Note: Gretchen Pfankuchen, Gehrta Amlie, Helene Wheeler, and Julie Miles all active in organizing the Club. Boegholt became acquainted with many Dane County Democrats and tried to enlist Progressives in the Party. She also provided all information about Dane County to people in Milwaukee.

THE OLD DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Statutory Party very conservative, patronage dominated. Pat Lucey started in this old system. Statutory Democrats not favorable to liberalization of Party. Examples of patronage system: The Dane County Ring and Bologna Club --group of about twelve men, mostly postmasters, who decided who could be appointed postmaster. Statutory Party was very weak, only strong in Milwaukee. In 1944 Democrats barely got enough votes to get on ballot. Dairy coops were strong force.

FARMERS AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Some farmers very interested in agricultural programs being formulated in Washington--pleased that farmers' needs were being considered. These farmers' groups and women's guilds were very active as social and political clubs.

ORGANIZING PEOPLE TO VOTE
Scope and Content Note: Boegholt and other women formed telephone committees to find out who needed to register, who needed a ride to the polls. Women also stuffed envelopes, handed out literature door-to-door and at factories. Boegholt older than most people involved.

POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY, WOMEN'S ROLE
Scope and Content Note: After Nelson, Lucey, Thompson, and Wilkie became politically active they held meetings in rural towns. This unprecedented activity was possible because women had become politically active, allowing (male) political candidates more freedom from clerical and grassroots work. Women's involvement in politics was more accepted in 1942 than in 1922, especially in academic circles.

BOEGHOLT'S FIRST GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING EXPERIENCE
Scope and Content Note: Talked to black women door-to-door in 1928 in Dane County. Tried to form women's groups and get them to vote.

ORGANIZING FARMERS
Scope and Content Note: Much cooperation between farmers, especially dairy farmers in Wisconsin. Largely due to university's agricultural program. Boegholt tried to organize farmers through county agents, postmasters, coop leaders, freight agents, mill owners, small business people.

ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES
Scope and Content Note: Boegholt's contact-would introduce her to local people and compile a list of names of people likely to be interested in the Party. She would later meet with these people or invite them to hear a speaker. Boegholt sometimes spoke, e.g. about how to register. Candidates for office would discuss issues. Such organizing activities built a foundation for the formation of La Follette's third party. Before the mass media became powerful, many people were not involved with politics.

EARLY ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES
Scope and Content Note: Men worked at the organizational level at the time when the Liberal Clubs existed, especially finding people to run for office. The nascent party had very little money. Raised money when people spoke and at factories. Reception to the “movement” met with greatly varied acceptance throughout the state. Some counties, especially in the north, were very difficult to organize. In these sparsely settled areas existing networks, such as the Farmer's Union, used as a base from which to organize. Much easier to organize in the cities. Ethnic communities in the state were very segregated.

THE LIBERAL CLUB'S SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY
Scope and Content Note: Clubs were not controversial, political apathy was widespread. The new Democratic movement not very radical. Clubs were anti-Communist. Opposed by isolationist, anti-Rooselvelt Republicans and old-line Democrats.

THE LIBERAL CLUB'S SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Party first associated with Communism when Bobrowicz, a Communist, ran for Congress in 1946 in fourth district. Defeated Wasielewski in the primary, but lost to a Republican in the general election.

ORGANIZATIONAL EVOLUTION OF NEW DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT
Scope and Content Note: Liberal Clubs evolved into Citizens Committees. In 1946 Dane County Democratic Club formed to collect money for statutory Party. In 1949 Democratic Organizing Committee (DOC) formed. Statutory group consisted of a precinct committeeperson of each precinct and the chairperson of a county. These people recommended election officials and attended to local business.

DECISION TO ENTER THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE LA FOLLETTES
Scope and Content Note: In 1946 Bob La Follette decided that it was important for the Progressives to reaffiliate with the Republican Party. There was much disagreement among Progressives about this. Labor was more inclined to join the Democratic Party. Boegholt was convinced by 1932 that the Democratic Party was the better party to join. Tom Fairchild, Gaylord Nelson, and other young people ran as Republicans in 1946. Young people who had returned from the war were unaware of post-war political reality. They ran as Republicans out of loyalty for Bob La Follette. After his defeat they started working with the liberal Democrats.

THE MOVEMENT TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Orland Loomis was only Progressive elected to a state level position besides the La Follettes. Died before he could assume governorship. Third party movement collapsed after Loomis died. Roosevelt endorsed Bob La Follette for senator in 1940. Phil La Follette would not join Democrats. Fairchild, Nelson, Wilkie, Zablocki, Reuss all subsequently elected as Democrats. Supported by publishers in Green Bay, Sheboygan, shipbuilders in Manitowoc. By 1948 old Progressives were being defeated by young Democrats.

CHARLIE GREEN-BOB TEHAN STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL OF THE STATUTORY PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Much inner friction in Party. Green stole files from Milwaukee headquarters, wanted Elizabeth Hawkes appointed national committee-woman. Tehan supported Boegholt. Dan Hoan worked closely with Tehan.

BOEGHOLT'S APPOINTMENT AS NATIONAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
Scope and Content Note: Tehan overwhelmingly elected party chairman at state convention. Boegholt thus became national committeewoman. Helen Marty, incumbent national committeewoman active in post at 1948 convention in Philadelphia.

BOEGHOLT'S ACTIVITIES AS NATIONAL COMMITTEEWOMAN
Scope and Content Note: Organized affairs--arranged entertainment, accommodations, etc. Recommended people for federal judgeships to the attorney general. Tried to enlist support for Humphrey's civil rights platform.

Subseries: Mari Jo and Walter Uphoff, 1982 December 8
Note: Access online.

SUPPORT FOR AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN WORLD WAR II
Scope and Content Note: Hotly debated issue for years before actual involvement. Walter Uphoff attended meeting on this topic in 1940.

FORMATION OF FARMER-LABOR-PROGRESSIVE FEDERATION AND THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY
Scope and Content Note: People in the coop and labor movements, and others politically left of the La Follettes, were interested in setting up more radical organization than what the La Follettes envisioned. Henry Ohl of the Wisconsin State Federation of Labor called a meeting to this end in Appleton and, later, in Oshkosh. Attended by representatives of nine organizations. This evolved into the Farmer-Labor-Progressive Federation (FLPF). The representatives drafted a platform and decided to run people in the Progressive primary and then support whomever won the primary.

WALTER'S BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Met Mari Jo in 1937. Member of FLPF. Active in Baptist student group as college student. Like many others--supported Roosevelt as a practical measure to achieve limited socialist reforms.

POLITICAL SITUATION IN NORTH DAKOTA IN THE EARLY 1930s
Scope and Content Note: Many people active in coops joined the Non-Partisan League, especially in the northwestern part of the state. Very few Democrats in state until Roosevelt's time. Many people supported Roosevelt as a practical compromise. Mari Jo, a North Dakota resident, voted for Norman Thomas in 1932. Socialists supported Bob La Follette in 1924. Difficult to place Socialists on ballot. The Socialists agreed to support the FLPF's candidate in the years that the FLPF ran candidates.

ANDY BIEMILLER
Scope and Content Note: Editor of The Wisconsin Leader. Served three terms in the legislature as a FLPF progressive, but was Socialist Party member. He quit the Socialist Party in 1940 due to its stand on the war.

AMERICAN ENTRY INTO WORLD WAR II
Scope and Content Note: Socialists empathized with European Socialists as strong opponents of the Nazis but opposed involvement in a “capitalist's war.”

HE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE DECLINE OF THIRD PARTIES
Scope and Content Note: New Deal and pressure to support World War II eroded the strength of the NPL. FLPF failed because there was no national organization. Former supporters of third parties joined Democratic Party. Strong anti-Communist atmosphere in country used against third parties, alienated ignorant rural people against all leftist parties.

COMMUNISTS AT THE OSHKOSH MEETING, W.P.A. WORKERS EDUCATION
Scope and Content Note: Communists controlled the Wisconsin Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), an organization represented at Oshkosh. W.P.A. ran training program in Madison for teachers to work in rural and urban areas, teaching parliamentary procedure, economics health care, etc. Walter attended, and later taught in rural areas. W.P.A. supported classes in general education for unemployed young people in Madison. One teacher who attended these training programs was a fanatic Communist.

COMMUNISTS AT OSHKOSH MEETING (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Kenneth Goff.

WORKER EDUCATION
Scope and Content Note: Many people involved in W.P.A. worker education were Socialists or Progressives. In 1925 a summer school for women workers in industry was organized through the Y.W.C.A. The Federation of Labor lobbied successfully to have the school function year round. School operated year round from 1936 until 1938, when Republican Julius Heil was elected Governor. School reverted to summer session only following report of radical politics being discussed in classes.

CONCEPT OF “PRODUCTION FOR USE”
Scope and Content Note: Discussion of definition of profit and socialism.

HEIL'S ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: Editor of Dairyman's News, influential publication of the Wisconsin Cooperative Milk Pool, sold out to the utilities and urged support of Heil in paper. This swung decisive rural vote to Heil.

COMMUNIST ACTIVITY IN EARLY 1930s
Scope and Content Note: (Anecdote about convention in Oshkosh) Walter Uphoff overheard and exposed Communist plans to involve Communist Party in organization which became the FLPF. Communists very active in CIO, not so active in Federation of Labor. Communists gained control of the Workers Alliance which thereupon fell apart. A local at Allis Chalmers had Communist leadership. Communists controlled the World News Congress in 1938.

THE PROGRESSIVE'S DECISION TO JOIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Walter Uphoff attended 1946 Portage convention as reporter. Progressives decided to join Republicans over Democrats or Socialists, both weak parties.

JOE MCCARTHY
Scope and Content Note: Did not discuss issues in primary race, very ambitious. Anti Communism not part of original McCarthy platform. (Discussion of McCarthy's career.) Democrats, CIO, The Capital Times attacked Bob La Follette for leading the Progressives into the Republican Party. They thought that by removing La Follette from the election the Democratic candidate would have a better chance.

SOCIALISM OUTSIDE OF MILWAUKEE
Scope and Content Note: Socialists had some county organizations and ran individuals in other counties. Some Farmers Equity Union members were Socialists.

THE FELLOWSHIP FARM
Scope and Content Note: Walter Uphoff came to Dane County in 1936. Farm operated 1941-1944 in Prairie du Sac, then moved to Madison. Published Wisconsin Commonwealth.

FELLOWSHIP FARM (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Anecdote about William Evjue announcing on his Sunday radio program that he was donating fifty dollars to Walter Uphoff in order to help the struggling Socialist Party. Fellowship Farm had displaced persons, refugees, etc.

THE FELLOWSHIP FARM (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Madison chapter of the Fellowship of Reconciliation founded 1939. Chester Graham planned to set up a Margaret E. Graham Memorial Folk School in Madison; never realized. This project developed into the Fellowship Farm Cooperative, Inc. Uphoffs operated the farm on very little money. One of many farm communes active in early 1940s. Two or three families participated. Functioned until about 1951. No overt political activity involved, ran youth hostel, took in displaced persons, had speakers and dancing.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S LABOR EDUCATION PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: Walter Uphoff asked by the University to set up 'a labor education program in 1952 so that University could serve workers as well as other segments of society. Uphoff taught at the University of Wisconsin School for Workers in 1937.

ANDY BIEMILLER
Scope and Content Note: Editor of The Wisconsin Leader. In state legislature for six years as FLPF member. Advocate of health insurance. Legislative director of AFL-CIO. Both Biemiller and Uphoff were organizers for the AFL. Uphoff promoted a Farmers Union Federation of Labor joint board.

UPHOFF'S PARTY AFFILIATION
Scope and Content Note: Never joined Democratic Party, always a Socialist. Ran for governor as Socialist in 1944.

THE NATIONAL PROGRESSIVES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
Scope and Content Note: Phil La Follette was not a fascist, nor was the symbol of the National Progressives of America (NPA) a swastika. Ralph Immell, attorney general, strongly supported NPA. Influence of covertly Republican controlled newspaper The Dairyman's News was major factor in La Follette's defeat.

UPHOFF'S POLITICAL ACTIVITY IN THE 1940s
Scope and Content Note: Mari Jo took care of the Uphoff children--had no time for politics. Walter ran for U.S. Senate in 1944, governor in 1946 and 1948 on Socialist ticket. Did not think he would be elected, regarded campaign as educative.

DAN HOAN
Scope and Content Note: A good mayor. Became disillusioned in 1940 when he was defeated by Carl Zeidler who won because of his charisma. Hoan then joined Democrats. Socialist Party did not function as an independent party after the creation of the FLPF.

DAN HOAN (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Outline of Hoan's views on regulation. Milwaukee under Hoan had reputation of being the most graft-free city in the country. Carl Zeidler enlisted in the Coast Guard.

CARL ZEIDLER, FRANK ZEIDLER, THE 1948 MILWAUKEE MAYORAL ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: Carl Zeidler killed while in Coast Guard. John L. Bohn was acting mayor while Zeidler in Coast Guard, then elected mayor in 1944. Frank Zeidler then on school board. Asked to run for mayor in 1948 by Socialists. Henry Reuss wanted to run and have Zeidler drop out of the race. Many people entered primary race. Reuss moved far to the right. Labor withdrew their support and persuaded Hoan to run. Zeidler won election. By 1948 labor identified with Democrats rather than Socialists.

WALTER GOODLAND
Scope and Content Note: Walter Uphoff challenged him to a debate when running for governor in 1946 or 1948. Goodland refused to participate.

DAN HOAN, THE SOCIALIST PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Walter Uphoff volunteered for Hoan's campaign in 1948 in Milwaukee. Close connection between all Socialists in Wisconsin. Uphoff was on Socialist Party's National Steering Committee 1942-1950. Met quarterly. Conflict between ex-Progressives and Socialists in late 1930s for control of FLPF and Democratic Party. (Anecdote about Capital Times reporter eavesdropping on FLPF meeting.) Anna May Davis and Glenn Turner, old Socialists, had joint law office in Madison. Turner ran for attorney general, involved in FLPF.

CAPITAL TIMES REPORTER JOHN HUNTER
Scope and Content Note: Tried unsuccessfully to get people on the street to sign untitled Bill of Rights. Another time, asked people the difference between Socialists and Communists--few knew.

THE DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (DOC)
Scope and Content Note: Neither Uphoffs involved in DOC. Were in Minnesota when it was active--supported Democratic Farm Labor Party. 1946-1948 worked in Minnesota and Illinois collecting signatures to put Norman Thomas on the ballot.

CARL THOMPSON
Scope and Content Note: Worked for Phil La Follette while at the university. Uphoffs knew Thompson.

GAYLORD NELSON
Scope and Content Note: Anecdote about Nelson--Uphoff dinner party.

TOM FAIRCHILD
Scope and Content Note: Uphoffs did not know him well.

KENNETH GOFF
Scope and Content Note: Part of caucus at FLPF Oshkosh convention supporting recognition of Communist Party as part of FLPF. Later became virulently anti-Communist. Goff spoke at Sheboygan meeting and was hit by a streetcar. Communist lawyers took over case from labor lawyers against streetcar company and won settlement which Goff donated to Spanish Loyalists. Goff later became star witness for the Dies Committee, and a rabid fundamentalist. He also later claimed that the streetcar accident had been arranged to raise money for the Communist Party.

KENNETH GOFF (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Goff declared that the streetcar accident was intentional. Spoke in the Twin Cities and accused Walter Uphoff of being a Communist. Anecdote about Student Peace Union leafleting in Minneapolis and Goff.

KENNETH GOFF (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Goff publicly called Walter Uphoff a Communist. (Uphoff outlines his disbelief in Communism.) Goff eventually joined the Soldiers of the Cross. Also worked with John B. Chapple, a religious fanatic and anti-Communist who ran against Phil La Follette in 1936. Actually Chapple ran against Wiley in the Republican primary and Wiley then ran against La Follette in the general election. Also published The La Follette Road to Communism. Discussion of anti-Communist hysteria.

Subseries: Lucile Miller, 1983 March 5
Note: Access online.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Born in Madison, 1904. Father, attorney, Progressive, came to Madison in 1901 to work for Bob La Follette. Mother arrived in 1903. Both from Kentucky. Lucile was not graduated from seventh or eighth grade because she would not work for the Red Cross because her father was against the war. Spent a lot of time in south Chicago with grandmother in 1920s.

WOMEN'S POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Scope and Content Note: Lucile's mother and her mother's friends thought women should be able to vote. Most politically active women were educated.

LUCILE'S POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT
Scope and Content Note: Never worked with Progressives. First active in the 1940s. Attended Dane County Citizens Committee (DCCC) convention in Green Bay. Impressed with enthusiasm of new Democrats. Attended meetings at the Amlies--most participants were university people. Attended meetings in Milwaukee after new Democrats merged with the statutory Party. Dan Hoan was at thoese meetings. Was precinct committeewoman in Madison. Organized Blacks to register to vote.

LUCILE'S POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Politically active Blacks in Milwaukee were Republicans. People responsive to organizing. People shocked by dissolution of Progressives were encouraged by the liberalization of the Democratic Party. Meetings in Milwaukee were large.

JOE McCARTHY, COMMUNISM
Scope and Content Note: Lucile and her mother supported Phil La Follette to the end. Furious that Bob La Follette was defeated by McCarthy, another Hitler. (Discussion of anti-Communist hysteria.) Communists wanted to control third parties. Could not influence Dane County Democrats because the Democrats knew the identity of all local Communists and kept vigilant guard against them. Communist control of Democrats never an issue in Dane County. Lucile did not get along with Communists.

WOMEN'S POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Scope and Content Note: Women did a lot of volunteer work. Lucile worked with Gretchen Pfankuchen and Julia Boegholt. Boegholt was primary figure, first national committeewoman. Educated people were the leaders. (Lists leaders.) Many Catholics were Democrats.

THE LA FOLLETTES
Scope and Content Note: Supported by labor and The Capital Times. Little coop support because there were few coops in the 1940s. Lucile's mother and father were devoted supporters and friends of the La Follettes. Lucile used to babysit for Phil La Follette's children.

Subseries: Bruno Bitker, 1983 April 9
Note: Access online.

POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Born in Milwaukee, lived there entire life. In armed forces in World War I. Graduated from law school, began practice in 1921 as associate of Phil and Marjorie Marshall.

BOB TEHAN
Scope and Content Note: First met him in the 1930s through a law partner's relative who was active in the Democratic Party. Tehan was separated from his wife, lived with his mother. Tehan not involved with Hoan in 1930s. Tehan thinking of bringing liberals into Democratic Party in 1930s. Hoan friendly with Tehan but not close. Tehan influenced by mother.

1946 SENATE PRIMARY
Scope and Content Note: Bitker supported La Follette. McCarthy ran as a Marine hero, was greatly helped by being a veteran.

RACE IN FOURTH DISTRICT BY BOBROWICZ
Scope and Content Note: No recall.

CHARLIE GREEN--BOB TEHAN CONFLICT
Scope and Content Note: Major motivation behind Tehan's interest in the DOC was to circumvent Green, who controlled statutory Party. Tehan enjoyed politics.

1948 ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: Tehan persuaded Carl Thompson to run for governor, Tom Fairchild for attorney general.

CARL THOMPSON
Scope and Content Note: Had been in legislature, was known, :ran well. Thompson was friends with Tehan but not close.

BOB TEHAN
Scope and Content Note: Phil Marshall was close advisor. Bitker had a lot of contact with Tehan after 1945.

TEHAN'S APPOINTMENT TO JUDGESHIP
Scope and Content Note: Bitker considered for judgeship as well as Becker. Tehan suggested himself. Businessman in Duluth or Superior urged him to take the post. No longer involved with Democrats after he became a judge. Tehan stayed in Milwaukee.

Subseries: Gretchen Pfankuchen
Use Restrictions: No release forms were gathered from Gretchen Pfankuchen. Researchers, therefore, should not quote directly from these interviews.

POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: First involvement--went to meetings at the Amlies. Dan Hoan attended these meetings. Meetings inspired by Hoan's efforts to build new Democratic organization. Meetings very loosely organized. Supported Roosevelt. Not a Progressive. Got involved through friends.

THE LA FOLLETTE'S REPORT ON THEIR TRIP TO GERMANY
Scope and Content Note: Jane and John Gaus had meetings at their house at which the La Follettes told about their trip to Germany. Women in attendance listened to Mrs. La Follette talk about Hitler Youth Movement. La Follette very influenced by Hitler's organizational tactics, not aware of other aspects of regime.

THE DANE COUNTY CITIZENS COMMITTEE (DCCC)
Scope and Content Note: Never more than a hundred members. Members were from all over county. Multi-partisan, loosely organized. DCCC did not have ticket--its favored candidates ran on other tickets. Majority in DCCC felt that Democratic Party needed to be strengthened because former Progressives were not supporting Progressive platform, e.g. on war participation issue. DCCC endorsed candidates. Had very little money. Not in close contact with other county organizations. Julia Boegholt became National Committeewoman in 1948. Pfankuchen was DCCC Chairperson for about a year. Returning veterans provided pool of candidates, lacking while they were at war.

PFANKUCHEN'S POLITICAL AFFILIATION
Scope and Content Note: Never a Progressive. Never a Phil La Follette supporter. Always a Democrat. Father was a Progressive.

THE DANE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB (DCDC)
Scope and Content Note: The DCCC evolved into the DCDC. DCDC was DOC's effort to found an organization to raise money. DCDC became part of the DOC. DCDC found it difficult to attract candidates--did not run the full slate of candidates necessary to be effective.

DR. OLSON FROM STOUGHTON
Scope and Content Note: Olson agreed to run for coroner, a position which few people were interested in running for. Ran to fill slate but had no interest in serving. Won unexpectedly and resigned the following day.

MYRTLE HANSEN
Scope and Content Note: Long held clerk of courts post. Difficult to find someone to run against her. Jean Johnson finally defeated Hansen.

THE OLD DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Many people in DCDC were “old” Democrats.

THE OLD DEMOCRATIC PARTY (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Old Democrats considered conservatives by Progressives but this was not so. They supported Roosevelt's principles.

PEOPLE ACTIVE AT STATE LEVEL
Scope and Content Note: Dan Hoan inspired DCCC people. Stressed the importance of raising money, and the interrelatedness of state politics. State people made contact with county organizations through State Chairman Charles Green.

EARLY ORGANIZATION OF DCDC
Scope and Content Note: Women did majority of work before men returned from the war. Hjordis Wolfe was work chairman--kept track of who did what. All labor was volunteer. Had no office. George Schlotthauer and Bill Smith's partner donated space.

THE AMERICAN VETERANS COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Pfankuchen knew them as friends but did not have much contact with this organization.

DOC CONVENTION
Scope and Content Note: Pfankuchen attended some conventions. Sales tax a major issue at convention. Doyle, Reuss, Fairchild, Tehan, Boegholt, Hoan, Helen Marty from Monroe were active. Dane County sent large delegations.

PFANKUCHEN AS CHAIRPERSON OF STATUTORY COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Found people to work as precinct committeepersons to enlist poll workers. Very loose organization. This was an effective way to build the Party. Pfankuchen traveled often. The board decided which campaign tasks she would implement. Precinct committee-persons selected from dues-paying members of voluntary committee. Pfankuchen was secretary of statutory committee when John McGonigle was Chairman.

THE STATUTORY COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Julia Boegholt elected secretary. Pfankuchen served as secretary, then Chairperson. Also had ex-officio membership on voluntary Party board. Voluntary committee formed to raise money because statutory legally could not. Eventually the voluntary committee usurped all functions of the statutory committee. Not many people contended for committee jobs. (Active people listed.) Grassroots workers were mostly women--men worked at “regular” jobs.

1946 ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: McCarthy united Democratic Party. Pfankuchen's resolve to support Roosevelt reinforced when she returned from Washington to find that people in Wisconsin were not aware of what Hitler was doing in Europe. Supported Howard McMurray. Progressive Party was disintegrating, isolationist. Primaries were unimportant in early years when only one candidate ran. They became undesirable when candidates had to raise money for their campaign.

ANTI-McCARTHY ACTIVITIES
Scope and Content Note: Dr. Robert Becker was head of “Joe Must Go” movement, vigorous in Dane County. Fairchild, Doyle, Reuss, and others involved in Operation Truth. They followed McCarthy around the state and spoke in opposition. Very emotional issue.

TRUMAN CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: Supported Truman, does not recall campaign.

VOTER REGISTRATION
Scope and Content Note: Labor complained that registration hours coincided with working hours. Democrats managed to open the registration office one night a week. Anecdote about actual registering on election night.

PARTY AFFILIATION IN RURAL AREAS
Scope and Content Note: People preferred to remain independent rather than join Democratic Party. Old Progressive Republicans hesitated to join Democratic Party. Matt Kalscheur from Cross Plains was precinct Committeeman for both the Democrats and Republicans.

MARY DOWLING AND THE THREE GRAHAM SISTERS
Scope and Content Note: These women lived in the fourth ward. Did not support National Progressive Association. Became staunch Democrats. Held parties for candidates in their homes. Very helpful to Party. Supported Nestingen.

PFANKUCHEN'S POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT
Scope and Content Note: Politically active by end of 1930s. Delegate to Democratic convention in Los Angeles in 1960. Ran for Assembly 1964. Worked on Ruth Doyle's campaign--held teas for her. She had hard time getting recognition as a candidate because she was a woman.

Subseries: Virginia and Henry Hart, 1983 April 26
Note: Access online.

INTRODUCTION
Scope and Content Note: Virginia came to Madison in 1945, Henry in 1946. Involved in Madison politics until 1952 when they left for India.

VIRGINIA'S POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Worked for the YWCA with working women, first in Rochester, New York, then in Knoxville, Tennessee. Then became education director for the ILGWU in Knoxville at a cotton mill. Came to Wisconsin as an ILGWU delegate to the School for Workers, Moved to Madison to study for Masters under Selig Perlman After receiving degree, she taught at the School for Workers. With Gaylord Nelson and others, founded Madison Council on Human Rights. Involved with League of Women Voters. In 1947, stopped teaching, began volunteering full-time for Democratic Party. Hired as executive secretary of Party in 1946.

HENRY'S POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) 1936-1943. Went to college in Nashville, involved there with YMCA. In army 1943-1946. Came to Madison to study TVA under John Gaus.

MADISON ACADEMICS AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: John Gaus, William Ebenstein, professors of political science at the University. Gaus foremost expert on TVA. Howard McMurray, lecturer in political science department, ran as Democrat against Joe McCarthy for Senate. Hart urged by friends to vote for McCarthy in 1946 Republican primary because La Follette would be impossible to beat. They thought Democratic Party needed revamping. Returning liberal and Progressive veterans and Madison academics very involved in Democratic Party.

THE AMERICAN VETERANS COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Henry and many friends members of American Veterans Committee (AVC). Henry especially active 1946-1947. Many AVC members later active in Democratic Organizing Committee (DOC). Henry chaired AVC graduate student housing committee. AVC 1946 national convention held in Milwaukee. Two major matters: Chas Patterson and Dick Bolling's contention for national presidency; Communist manipulation of the AVC. Henry was Communist a few years in Tennessee, knew their methods. Spoke and organized successfully to prevent Communist takeover of AVC. Horace Wilkie very active in AVC. Jim Doyle, member, but not active. John Higham, AVC leader. Al Houghton and Harold Claus from Milwaukee active in AVC.

THE DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Many AVC members involved in DOC, but AVC itself did not organize DOC. Many returning veterans wanted to cause political change. DOC considered alternative party, most feasible channel for political activity outside traditional party organizations.

BOB TEHAN AND THE DOC
Scope and Content Note: Tehan most prominent Democratic leader during Roosevelt era. Supported returning veterans who wanted to take over Party. Tehan's support instrumental in success of Gaylord Nelson, Jim Doyle, Carl Thompson. Tehan agreed with DOC effort to recruit farmer and labor support. Jerry Fox, old line Democrat supported DOC. Fox and Doyle were to be Party chairmen, but were otherwise engaged. Virginia Hart and Doyle managed Tom Fairchild's Senate campaign. Tehan knew that a reconstituted Democratic Party could attract former La Follette supporters and thereby gain a focus. Old Party supporters largely Irish Catholics, patronage appointees, conservative. New constituency young, veterans, idealists.

LEADERS OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Leaders Doyle, Thompson, Julia Boegholt, Pat Lucey worked closely with Tehan. Also Red Newton from Kenosha. Newton active in AVC and DOC, editor of Kenosha Labor.

LEADERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Newton had close ties with many union people. Many union members in Party 1946-1948. Former Socialist Dan Hoan's decision to become a Democrat influenced others to join Party.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY ORGANIZATION
Scope and Content Note: Socialist attorney Ole Stolen donated small office at 115 Main Street to the Party, 1946 or 1947. Esther Kaplan, Gretchen Pfankuchen, and Virginia Hart volunteered there full-time. Next moved Party headquarters to University Avenue where Tom Amlie rented or donated space. John Moses and other students volunteered there. Then moved to large office at 18 1/2 East Mifflin. Virginia Hart recruited volunteers and arranged the office.

WARREN SAWALL
Scope and Content Note: Editor of Wisconsin Democrat, published monthly out of 18 1/2 East Mifflin. Sawall moved from Wisconsin Rapids where he did newspaper work. Very active in Party there.

WOMEN'S ROLE IN PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Virginia Hart participated in administrative planning meetings but did not vote. She carried out policy decisions. A few women were on state administrative committee: Marge Benson from Milwaukee, Julia Boegholt, national committeewoman from Madison, Grethchen Pfankuchen. Many women with children and not working, including faculty wives, volunteered.

DANE COUNTY DOC ACTIVITIES
Scope and Content Note: Held weekly meetings in members' houses. Usually, Carl Thompson would report on political activity in specific areas of the state. Thompson very systematic and energetic. Much Party spirit in Madison. Madison state headquarters and training ground for state workers. Virginia Hart made a few speeches but was not involved much in county organizing.

DOC ISSUES
Scope and Content Note: Issues: the economy, civil rights, peace, recognition of unions, collective bargaining, minimum wage, constitutional amendment to abolish the poll tax, farm issues, international issues--supported U.N., Marshall Plan, Truman's “Point Four” (technical assistance to the Third World).

THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Elections to Committee held at state convention. Members included national committee people, Party state officers, representatives of the ten districts. Discussed Party management, not policy. Raised money. Headquarters usually did not give local candidates money. Members: John Gronouski, tax specialist, was revenue secretary; Dave Carley, secretary; Mary Rohlich, active volunteer.

HORACE WILKIE CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: Wilkie had leading post in U.S. Bureau of the Budget, knew how to get things done in Washington. A vigorous campaigner. Henry Hart drafted almost all speeches for Wilkie in 1950 campaign. Strategy involved attacking Glenn Davis for soft anti-Communist attitude. MacArthur entered China just before election. Voters in second district disapproved--this became sole issue of election. Hart organized other writers for 1950 campaign and wrote for Wilkie in other campaigns.

PAT LUCEY
Scope and Content Note: Ran for Congress before he finished Assembly term. From third district. Virginia Hart et al. assembled a group of speechwriters from University faculty, including Henry Hart.

MADISON DEMOCRATIC PARTY MAKE-UP
Scope and Content Note: Considered eggheads by Milwaukee Democrats. Headquarters, including Virginia Hart, tried to recruit people from both east and west sides of town. Bud Morton on County Board. Bob Prideaux steelworker, involved in Party. In middle 1950s, Virginia Hart on Executive Board of Dane County Club. Non-University people found role in Party through city politics.

IVAN NESTINGEN'S CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: Elected with Democratic Party support. Madison had “city manager” government in late 1940s, allowing a declining business elite to keep control of city government. Challenged by Capital Times, Democratic Party, trade unions, activists. Union people got more say on City Council under ward system. Under “city manager” system five councilers elected on city-wide basis.

NESTINGEN'S ADMINISTRATION, FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT AUDITORIUM
Scope and Content Note: Nestingen made many appointments from Democratic Party, e.g. Jim Doyle appointed Police and Fire Commissioner. Nestingen supported by west side university people motivated by “the good of the city”, east side people motivated by availability of construction jobs. That coalition held until Henry Reynolds elected mayor. Reynolds represented conservative, Republican, business interests. Frank Lloyd Wright proposal spearheaded by small group of University people, particularly Harold Groves and Mary Lescohier, later Mary Ahmond. Carroll Metzner, attorney, was principal opponent.

VIRGINIA HART ON LEADING DEMOCRATS
Scope and Content Note: Carl Thompson --workhorse in legislature, committed to structure and organization. Drove long distances at night to promote Democratic cause in state. Gave Virginia Hart ideas on policy implementation
Gaylord Nelson --debonair, entertaining, amusing
Jim Doyle --”brains” of the Party, good speechwriter, knowledgeable about Washington and international scene
Andy Biemiller --Virginia did not know him until he was in Congress, helpful with Washington contacts
Bob Tehan --great charmer, big, imposing, great storyteller, gregarious
Julia Boegholt --only woman in “inner circle” because she held only post open to women, national committeewoman.

HENRY HART ON LEADING DEMOCRATS
Scope and Content Note: Carl Thompson --not eloquent, unemotional, very systematic
Jim Doyle --cosmopolitan, went to Columbia law school, clerked with James Byrnes, FDR's “assistant president”. Took part in many international relations policy decisions. Very eloquent, passionate speaker
Gaylord Nelson --came through La Follette movement, good speaker
John Lawton --Very close friend of Gaylord Nelson, both law students. They brought suit against Judge Ervin Bruner and others claiming that the legislature had been unconstitutionally elected because districts had not been reapportioned for decades. Suit got plaintiffs' names known. Lawton did AFSCME organizing upon graduation from law school.

ROLE OF THE NEWSPAPERS IN DEMOCRATIC CAUSE
Scope and Content Note: Newspaperman Miles McMillin very involved in building Party. William Proxmire was Capital Times reporter in 1949, organized Newspaper Guild. Also put on weekly radio show sponsored by Madison unions. Capital Times reporters active in challenging conservative Republicans. Ed Bayley of the Milwaukee Journal and Bob Fleming also supported Democrats.

HOWARD McMURRAY CAMPAIGN AND ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: National Democratic Party position very similar to Wisconsin Progressive Party position. McMurray thought he could get Progressive support if Bob La Follette was eliminated from Senate race. McMurray, an instructor at the University, took leave to run. Was denied reappointment after his loss in 1946. Political science faculty strongly recommended his reappointment. Capital Times attacked Regents, all Republicans, denial of reappointment. McMuarray was outgoing, politically active and ambitious.

Subseries: Erich Lenz, 1983 May 26
Note: Access online.

POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Helped organize and work for the Farmers Coop Oil Company in Merrill in 1931. Elected to Midland Cooperatives Wholesale (MCW) board of directors. Served four years, until 1942 or 1943. Also served as secretary of MCW. Became first secretary of Wisconsin Association of Cooperatives (WAC) in 1945 in Madison. Served until 1948. Then bought half interest in Hanley Implement Company in Sun Prairie.

PERSONAL HISTORY
Scope and Content Note: Born in Danzig (now Gdansk) in 1908. Came to U.S. in 1921. Spent three years in concentration camp in Siberia. Returned to Germany in 1918.

FARMERS COOP OIL COMPANY
Scope and Content Note: Managed oil coop until 1945. Formed coop because farmers needed good inexpensive merchandise. Coop expanded to other goods in 1938 or 1939, e.g. groceries. Opposition from oil companies, hardware store, grocery store.

MIDLAND COOPERATIVES WHOLESALE
Scope and Content Note: Describes elements of coop--four gas stations, etc. Does not know who appointed him secretary.

WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF COOPERATIVES
Scope and Content Note: Minimally involved in formation of WAC. Lenz operated only in Lincoln County. Various agricultural groups, and a few city coops in the later years, wanted to form a state organization to attend to their political needs. City coops needed to align with the more numerous agricultural coops to exert influence. Not much conflict between the two groups. Meetings on WAC held in different districts. Superior had a large grocery coop. Coop movement active in all parts of the state. State divided into five districts. Lenz attended meetings all over the state.

WAC INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS
Scope and Content Note: WAC very politically active. Lenz supervised two people who lobbied in state capitol. Lobbying issues--taxes, bills affecting farmers. Does not recall which legislators were sympathetic. Lenz helped get legislation passed concerning health.

WISCONSIN FEDERATION OF COOPS
Scope and Content Note: After Lenz retired he worked for WFC for eight years as manager and sales consultant. Two coop groups merged to become the WFC. Had no difficulties with the Council of Agriculture, which later had financial problems.

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION ADMINISTRATION
Scope and Content Note: Was a member, then quit.

WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF COOPS
Scope and Content Note: Anecdotes about Lenz's function as executive secretary of retaining coop members.

POLITICAL AFFILIATION
Scope and Content Note: A Democrat. Had good relations with Bill Evjue. Met Truman, Wallace. Voted for first time in 1928--Progressive on state level, Democrat on national level. Supported Progressive movement to Democratic Party. Refused to run for office. Was asked to be State Treasurer--refused.

THE DEMOCRATS AND THE COOPERATIVES
Scope and Content Note: Lenz spoke at district meetings in support of Democrats. Coop members generally supported Progressives' movement to Democratic Party. Lenz knew both Bob La Follettes. A majority of farmers were coop members--support of Democrats spread by informal personal interaction. Both Democrats and coops supported dividend taxation, support of farmers.

WORLD WAR II AND FARMERS
Scope and Content Note: War affected many farmers. Farmers divided on isolationist issue. Anecdote about Republican farmer in Lincoln county who voted Democrat.

THE YOUNG PROGRESSIVES
Scope and Content Note: Lenz held coffee for Nelson. Nelson ran very clean campaign. Knew Carl Thompson, Thompson supported coops. Knew Jim Doyle.

POLITICAL ACTIVITY OF COOPS
Scope and Content Note: Instrumental in electing certain Democrats. Worked closely with organized labor.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Very poor. Completed eighth grade. Went to business college in Merrill.

WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF COOPS
Scope and Content Note: Jack Tyler succeeded Lenz as executive secretary. He often conferred with Lenz, made few changes. Lenz's staff consisted of one woman and two men (lobbyists and organizers).

Subseries: Esther Lawton, 1983 May 31
Note: Access online.

INITIAL INVOLVEMENT WITH DEMOCRATS
Scope and Content Note: Held weekly coffees/work groups in her home in the third ward. Mostly blue collar workers with no Party affiliation attended, mostly women and a few men. Would work on material sent to them by state headquarters--clerical work. Before 1948 Lawton typed addressograph plates.

1948 ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: Delivered Mutual Assistance--political newspaper listing state and local candidates.

FIRST POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT
Scope and Content Note: Worked for Progressives statewide. As a student she spent much time listening to the Assembly. Became acquainted with every assemblyperson and senator.

1948 ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: Delivered Mutual Assistance door-to-door. Received them from Fran Rose.

1950
Scope and Content Note: Held work groups in her home. Leafleted and delivered Mutual Assistance.

POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN EARLY 1950s
Scope and Content Note: 1951 moved to Crestwood where people were much more politically involved. Leafleted with three or four women, only during campaigns. (Lists names of active women and a few men.) Many women also did clerical work and enlisted their children's help. Chairman of countywide telephone committee for one year. Used telephone to spread word of social and political events because it was inexpensive. Very little money available.

STATE HEADQUARTERS
Scope and Content Note: Used to do clerical work at state headquarters at night sometimes. Headquarters was two or three rooms. Fran Rose, executive secretary, ran office in the early 1950s. Also Janet Lee.

MEETINGS AT THE AMLIES
Scope and Content Note: Attended one or two. Was then working full-time as receptionist at Wisconsin General Hospital.

MEETINGS AT THE AMLIES (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Does not recall.

PROGRESSIVE PARTY WORK
Scope and Content Note: Did clerical work for Progressive Party while a student, 1938 or 1939.

STATE CONVENTIONS
Scope and Content Note: Attended only one convention after receiving her Masters degree. Had always attended conventions before then. Did not attend 1950 convention. Had attended Progressive conventions including the Fond du Lac convention. Bob La Follette thought Progressives could continue winning as Republicans. Many people thought they should take over Democratic Party instead of Republican Party. Started going to conventions in 1952.

DANE COUNTY CITIZENS COMMITTEE, HARRY TRUMAN'S VISIT TO MADISON, JULIA BOEGHOLT
Scope and Content Note: Does not recall.

MILES MCMILLIN
Scope and Content Note: A writer, knew him socially.

GAYLORD NELSON
Scope and Content Note: Very political, knew him socially.

AMERICAN VETERANS COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Husband not involved, knew little about this organization.

CARL THOMPSON
Scope and Content Note: Knew him.

CONVENTIONS IN THE 1950s
Scope and Content Note: Went to conventions as delegate from Dane County until 1955 or 1956.

GAYLORD NELSON'S 1960 GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: Worked very hard on campaign. Conducted campaign on $30,000. Organized a Nelson For Governor club in every county. Also did bookkeeping. Anecdote about Nelson and hitchhiker in northern Wisconsin.) (Lists people who worked closely with Nelson on campaign.

NELSON'S 1962 CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: Lawton did not think that Nelson could lose, but Nelson thought he might. Nelson ran a very hard campaign. Lawton was bookkeeper for statewide committee.

Subseries: Gehrta Amlie, 1983 June 1
Note: Access online.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Born in Rome, New York, 1898. Lived in many places in the United States and Europe. Parents were politically conscious. Gives family background. Living in Berlin when World War I started. Came to New York, then Wisconsin in 1919. Went to University in Madison--interested in dance. Married eight years, then married Amlie in 1932. Met him in law school. Became Amlie's housekeeper after his wife died. Amlie was very poor, had four children. Discusses Amlie's early years.

TOM AMLIE'S FIRST CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: In 1930 Tom Morrissey and a few others in Elkhorn who did not think that La Follette was radical enough suggested that Amlie run for Congress. Both Amlies were Progressives. Ran as a liberal Progressive. Phil La Follette helped campaign. Gehrta was taking care of Tom's children, could not help campaign much directly. After Tom's election Amlies lived in Washington, 1930-1932. Amlie was very poor, from the country, knew nothing about Washington.

TOM AMLIE AND THE LA FOLLETTES
Scope and Content Note: Defeated in 1932 because Phil La Follette insisted that Amlie run as a Progressive Republican. Tom became a Democrat in 1934, ran for Senate in 1938. Phil La Follette very bitter that he (La Follette) lost election. Went to Germany, was inspired by Hitler's methods. Tom tried to get Progressives to join Democrats.

TOM AMLIE'S SUPPORT OF THE DEMOCRATS
Scope and Content Note: Thought Roosevelt could be influenced by Progressives. Did not believe that a three party system could work. Discussion of Roosevelt's first successful campaign in Wisconsin.

TOM AMLIE'S SUPPORT OF THE DEMOCRATS (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Phil La Follette caused the Progressives not to enter the Democratic Party. Amlie thought that Roosevelt's programs were too conservative. Gehrta Amlie supported Roosevelt because he gave people hope and took action against widespread despair and poverty.

HUNGER MARCHES ON WASHINGTON
Scope and Content Note: Poor people encamped in Washington to demand social legislation. Hoover drove them out of Washington. The Amlies put up eighty people from Wisconsin in their home.

POVERTY AND HUNGER
Scope and Content Note: Many people hungry. 'Churches reluctant to distribute food. Many children in Elkhorn starved. People relied on each other--received no help until Roosevelt. (Description of soup kitchens, sleep-ins.) Roosevelt's actions made people aware that something could be done.

HOOVER'S “INTERIM”
Scope and Content Note: Hoover never appeared in public November 1932-March 1933. Was afraid of the public.

TOM AMLIE, THE LA FOLLETTES
Scope and Content Note: The La Follettes tried to help the poor. Amllie returned to law practice after defeat in 1932, but did not do well. Gehrta helped him campaign in 1932, told him that he must address people's personal problems rather than discussing abstract theories. (Description of campaign.) Phil La Follette charismatic, Bob La Follette not. Amlie and La Follette often spoke together. Rachel La Follette was shy, did not campaign. 1936--Amlie spoke in storefronts. Gehrta also spoke, particularly at women's union meetings. Tom Amlie did not feel that the public understood his views.

THE UNEMPLOYED
Scope and Content Note: Times still hard in 1936. Throughout the early 1930s unemployed people would often come to the Amlie's door looking for work or food. There was a shelter in Elkhorn for sixteen people. The Amlies fed many people.

LAKE GENEVA CAMP, 1934
Scope and Content Note: Eleanor Roosevelt set up camps around the country for the unemployed. One was at Lake Geneva. The White House called the Amlies and asked them to put up people because the camp was full. They housed and fed thirty-four people.

LAKE GENEVA CAMP, 1934 (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Gehrta drove the people from Lake Geneva and collected food from the Elkhorn community. This helped Tom's campaign. Some of the “campers” were puppeteers--they put on a show to raise money. People were very hungry.

THE NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION, THE STOCK PAVILLION RALLY
Scope and Content Note: The formation of this party surprised the Amlies. Rally was not publicized much. Amlies shocked that Phil La Follette did not tell them about the rally. Arthur Altmeyer informed Gehrta about the meeting. He, Aubrey Williams and Tom Amlie came from Washington to attend rally. Phil La Follette had discussed a third party for many years and held meetings in Madison to discuss it. He was afraid that he could not control the Democratic Party.

F.D. ROOSEVELT
Scope and Content Note: Does not recall Tom Amlie's-criticisms of Roosevelt. Tom thought that Roosevelt gave people hope.

LABOR
Scope and Content Note: Labor was major element in Amlie's election; labor support increased after Roosevelt's election.

TOM AMLIE AFTER HIS 1938 ELECTION LOSS
Scope and Content Note: Felt very defeated. Wrote Let's Look at the Record. (Discussion of other books Amlie wrote.) Roosevelt nominated him for Interstate Commerce Commission. Not confirmed. Wisconsin legislature named him a Communist. Amlie emotionally hurt because he was not confirmed. Was broken man after 1938. Gehrta worked hard to support the family.

AMLIE IN THE 1950s
Scope and Content Note: Meetings held at the Amlies to discuss the formation of new party. Dan Hoan was Tom's good friend. Tom lost faith that things could change. Thought that the Depression had only been alleviated by the war, that the economic system was based on war, that the military controlled the economy.

THE AMLIES' PART IN TRANSFORMING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Did not have much influence over former Progressives. Felt deeply involved but hopeless. Considered post-World War I foreign policy wrong.

TOM AMLIE'S VIEWS ON LIBERAL MOVEMENTS 1945-1950
Scope and Content Note: Thought they were very weak, considered situation hopeless. Left Progressives in 1934. Always more radical than Democrats, did not believe America would go Socialist. Did not believe that identifying with the Socialists was practical.

AMLIE'S 1938 SENATE CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: Ran as a Democrat, which Gehrta opposed. Amlie believed his district was growing more conservative, that he did not have a chance. After 1938 he was completely disillusioned, turned to writing.

TOM AMLIE'S VIEWS ON SOCIETY IN HIS LATER YEARS
Scope and Content Note: Was waiting for another depression. Believed that unless the country's economy was based on “production for use”, the rift between rich and poor would grow. Very disturbed about the state of the country.

TOM AMLIE'S SON TOM
Scope and Content Note: Was director of China Lake base. Now exposing the Pentagon's wasteful practices.

THE AMLIES' LIFE IN THE LATE 1940s AND AFTER
Scope and Content Note: Bought and improved land and houses. Only daughter, Marian-- born in 1943, married, lives in California. Gehrta ran a nursery school. Not involved much in Democratic campaign in the late 1940s. Held meetings and donated money. Gehrta now interested in the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

Subseries: Floyd Wheeler, 1983 June 1
Note: Access online.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Born in Beloit. Active in high school debating, YMCA. Graduated high school in 1922. Already a La Follette admirer. Had heard both Bob La Follettes speak. Parents were Republicans. Attended Beloit College.

TOM AMLIE IN BELOIT
Scope and Content Note: Very active in Non-Partisan League in Minnesota and North Dakota. Came to Beloit to join law firm. Belonged to YMCA where Wheeler worked. Amlie became Wheeler's mentor. (Anecdote about Glenn Frank and Amlie.) Amlie active in Beloit American Legion. Amlie moved to Elkhorn when Wheeler graduated from college.

1931 SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: Democrats conservative and weak before Roosevelt's election. Henry Allen Cooper died while in office. Amlie was Progressive Republican candidate in primary. Two conservatives split conservative vote, Amlie nominated, tantamount to election in strong Republican county. Wheeler graduated from law school in 1931.

FLOYD WHEELER 1931-1934
Scope and Content Note: Offered and refused a job in the attorney general's office. Practiced law 1931-1934. Not involved in 1931 Amlie campaign.

1932 ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: Wheeler active in Amlie's campaign. Amlie lost and practiced law in Elkhorn.

THE THIRD PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Amlie was prime motivating force for a third party in Wisconsin. Bob La Follette reluctantly supported idea. Phil La Follette supported formation of third party. Anecdote about Glenn Frank and Amlie.

CONFLICT BETWEEN AMLIE AND PHIL LA FOLLETTE
Scope and Content Note: Two were close until (1938) when Amlie ran agianst Herman Ekern, a Progressive and attorney general. Both of the La Follettes supported Ekern. Ekern won primary and lost election.

AMLIE'S PARTY AFFILIATION
Scope and Content Note: Dan Hoan influenced Amlie by joining Democrats. Amlie never supported Phil La Follette's attempt to form a national third party.

AMLIE/EKERN PRIMARY RACE
Scope and Content Note: Helen Wheeler active in Amlie campaign.

AMLIE AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Ran as Democrat in 1938 (Wheeler unsure) Active with Dan Hoan in early 1940s. Wheeler still in touch with Amlie when he moved from Washington to Madison, but not much after his loss of Senate race. Amlie not very successful lawyer in Madison. Helped draft platform planks for Democrats, had following among “new” Democrats, e.g. Carl Thmopson. Embittered that the La Follettes abandoned him.

AMLIE'S LATER YEARS
Scope and Content Note: Thought that younger people in Democratic Party did not appreciate him. Was sick at the end of his life.

WHEELER'S VIEW OF AMLIE
Scope and Content Note: Was honest, intelligent, had “unique and thoughtful approach to social problems.” Amlie's ideas often lacked supporters because they were ahead of their time.

HELENE WHEELER
Scope and Content Note: Second or third Chairman of Democratic Club. Vice Chairman when Horace Wilkie was Chairman. Active in Stevenson's 1952 campaign.

AMLIE'S CANDIDACY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
Scope and Content Note: Wheelers urged Dick Barber to run at the 1946 or 1948 convention in Eau Claire. Then Amlie announced candidacy--this put the Wheelers in a delicate situation. Amlie might have been embittered when Barber won.

AMLIE AND COMMUNISM
Scope and Content Note: Was left of most Democrats but not a Communist. 1932 Wisconsin legislature passed resolution declaring opposition to Roosevelt's appointment of Amlie to Interstate Commerce Commission because of Amlie's supposed Communist affiliation.

AMLIE'S PERSONALITY
Scope and Content Note: Shy, retiring, good sense of humor. Humerous anecdote about Amlie and doctor in Beloit.

AMLIE'S FAMILY
Scope and Content Note: First son died of tuberculosis. Gehrta took charge of family in Elkhorn.

AMLIE AS LAWYER IN ELKHORN
Scope and Content Note: Worked in law firm with conservative Republicans. Anecdote about Amlie's novel method of handling adultery case.

AMLIE'S POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT AFTER 1945
Scope and Content Note: Active in Democratic Club. Influenced both Wheelers.

WHEELERS' POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Scope and Content Note: Both active in Phil La Follette's 1931 campaign. Disturbed by La Follette's Stock Pavillion speech. Helene was office manager for Bill Rice's congressional campaign, and for Carl Thompson's congressional and both gubernatorial campaigns. Helene but not Floyd active in Dane County Democratic Club.

FLOYD WHEELER'S INVOLVEMENT WITH COOPERATIVES
Scope and Content Note: First involved in 1936. Studied at Harvard for a year. Returned to Wisconsin, worked on unemployment compensation program for three months. Appointed assistant council of the Public Service Commission. Worked in Rural Electrification Coordination Office, 1936. Has represented coops on a private basis since then.

1952 CAMPAIGNS
Scope and Content Note: Ruth Doyle and others urged Wheeler to run for Assembly seat she was vacating. Ran against Ted Boyle and was elected. Carl Thompson won eastern district of Dane County, Erv Bruner won western district. Thompson was hospitalized for much of first session.

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: Loomis was first coordinator. Conservatives also strongly supported program. Rural Electrification Administration was theoretically bipartisan, but dominated by Progressives.

WISCONSIN DEVELOPMENT ACT
Scope and Content Note: Phil La Follette was very active proponent of Act and got it passed but Supreme Court narrowed its scope.

ROLE OF COOPS IN FORMATION OF NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Coop leadership assisted Hoan. Earl Stoneman, active in agricultural coops, ran for Secretary of State and lost.

OSCAR (RENNEBOHM) LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Scope and Content Note: Anecdote about incidence of his foolish behavior in the legislature.

THE COOP'S POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT
Scope and Content Note: State law prohibited coops from campaigning but leaders were largely Progressives and, later, Democrats who aired their views. After Loomis died, the coops supported the Democrats. Discussion of Loomis' role in coops.

HUBERT HUMPHREY AND THE COOPS
Scope and Content Note: Gave long speeches at Eau Claire convention about what Democrats had done in the Rural Electrification program. Became a leader of coops. Had long supported coops. Anecdote about Wheeler meeting Humphrey.

ERICH LENZ
Scope and Content Note: Wheeler knew him well. First met him when he was secretary of the Wisconsin Association of Coops. The rural coops were in the forefront of liberal causes.

WHEELER'S 1952 ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: Represented tenth district. Later defeated by Metzner; this concluded Wheeler's involvement in electoral politics. Discussion of Metzner.

FRANK ANTOINE
Scope and Content Note: Wheeler knew him when he (Wheeler) did work for Crawford Electric and the Tri-State Power Cooperative. Antoine probably an active Democrat.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Subseries: Esther Kaplan, 1983 June 7
Note: Access online

POLITICAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Volunteer for Bill Rice's 1946 campaign for Congress. Did clerical work. Served as treasurer for Horace Wilkie's 1948 campaign for Congress. Very active full-time volunteer. Membership Secretary of Dane County Democratic Club. 1952--paid Finance Secretary. 1954--managed Gaylord Nelson's campaign for Congress. 1958--Treasurer for Nelson's campaign for Congress. Became Nelson's personal secretary when he was elected. Treasurer for his two campaigns for Senate. Treasurer for Lucey For Governor Committee. Treasurer for Carley committee. Got involved in politics through a friend in political science department working on Rice campaign. Worked with Helene Wheeler, E.B. Raushenbush, Gerta Amlie.

HELENE WHEELER IN 1946 RICE CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: Campaign manager. Capable, well organized, very nice. Directed small volunteer force. Does not recall Wheeler's activites as manager.

1948 CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES
Scope and Content Note: Did bulk mailing, gathered lists of names. By 1948 had more money and volunteers. Main activity was postering. Did some radio advertising.

CAMPAIGN BUDGETS
Scope and Content Note: Nelson's 1954 campaign for Congress--budget--$15,000. Nelson's gubernatorial campaign budget--$129,000.

E.B. RAUSHENBUSH
Scope and Content Note: Kaplan took economics course from Raushenbush. Raushenbush organized bulk mailings, was very poorly organized. Kaplan was not in policy-making at that time.

DANE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB
Scope and Content Note: Not more than one hundred members in the early 1950s. Very much a social club dominated by west side academics and lawyers. Held meetings in the Labor Temple, the Women's Club, other places. Discussed recruitment of candidates, organizational activities, resolutions to present at conventions, the constitution, some issues, but not an issue-oriented group.

HORACE WILKIE, 1952 CAMPAIGNS, PARTY HEADQUARTERS
Scope and Content Note: By 1952 Party had larger headquarters at 18 1/2 East Mifflin Street. Wilkie campaign was run from headquarters. Headquarters first located on University Avenue in Tom Amlie's law office. Then in Ole Stollen's office on Main Street. Stollen was attorney, former Progressive, Democrat. Much activity of Wilkie campaign centered in Wilkie home. By 1952 campaign procedures had become standardized. Published newsletter, weekly or monthly.

HORACE WILKIE 1952 CAMPAIGN (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Newsletter sent to most active campaign workers. Contained campaign news. Campaign consisted of touring in a mobile home and speaking.

CAMPAIGN FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES
Scope and Content Note: Primary method--sent requests for contributions to people whose names were on lists of likely supporters. Held fund raising dinners. Anecdote about cost of fund raising dinners.

DELEGATE TO STATE CONVENTION
Scope and Content Note: Attended every convention from 1948 until recently.

THE DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Formation of DOC did not affect organizations operation at local level Names of people active in DOC listed. DOC was very Madison oriented.

JERRY FOX
Scope and Content Note: Bridge to old Democrats. First DOC Chairman. Kaplan spent a week at Fox home going through files to find names of potential contributors.

JULIA BOEGHOLT
Scope and Content Note: National Committeewoman, but worked very much at local level. Kaplan did not know her at that time.

BOB TEHAN
Scope and Content Note: Friendly, Irish, suave, gregarious, diplomatic. Kaplan did not know him well.

1948 CONVENTION
Scope and Content Note: Took place at Central High School. Packy McParland was Chairman of convention. Many people, including Kaplan, discussed approaching Eisenhower to run. McParland halted discussion of possible Eisenhower nomination. Kaplan was bitter about this. Anecdote about Kaplan not voting for McParland.

1952 SENATE RACE
Scope and Content Note: Fairchild supporters were mainly from Madison. Reuss supporters mainly from Milwaukee. Gretchen Pfankuchen supported Reuss. Fairchild ran reluctantly. Kaplan and others gathered signatures to place Fairchild on the ballot. Very emotional campaign because of McCarthy. Neither Reuss nor Fairchild was charismatic. Financial help came from outside the state to defeat McCarthy.

FUND RAISING FOR 1952 SENATE RACE
Scope and Content Note: Kaplan suggested Doyle ask for a contribution from Ronald Reagan, head of Actors Guild. As Finance Secretary, Kaplan handled money contributed to Party not individual candidates. Party appealed for contributions to defeat McCarthy. Received small contributions from New York, Washington. Anecdote about donor who died before check cleared.

INTERNAL PARTY ENDORSEMENTS
Scope and Content Note: Conflict over individual endorsements within Party from 1952 on were “emotional and personality-identified“. This was a bad trend, e.g. 1952 Senate election, 1954 Proxmire-Doyle race. In earlier years people made sacrifice to run as Democrats. Later, as Democrats became successful, people developed their own organizations. This led to a weakening of the Party. Incumbents were less likely to rely on Party. Trend started when Nelson became governor. Party never supported candidates on any level financially.

MUTUAL ASSISTANCE PAMPHLETS, PARTY SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATES
Scope and Content Note: Started publication 1952. Concerned agriculture, taxes, other issues. Included candidates' positions on issues, biographies. Candidates paid for the pamphlets. Warren Sawall, editor of The Wisconsin Democrat, may have written some pamphlets. These publications were the major Party contribution to candidates. Party paid for some pamphlets for legislative candidates. Stopped publication by the next election--does not recall why. Party did not have “significant” resources until Nelson elected governor.

THE PARTY AND NELSON'S CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION
Scope and Content Note: Party, not Nelson's organization, received proceeds from inaugural banquet. Nelson did not compete for funds with Party. People who wanted to buy access to Nelson did it through the Party, not Nelson's campaign organization.

POSTMASTERS AND PATRONAGE
Scope and Content Note: 1948-1952 financial mainstay of Party was contributions from post-masters. This practice a remnant of old patronage system. Changed in 1953 because Republicans won national election. Party had to find new funding source--concentrated on individual donors.

ROLE OF WOMEN IN PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Women did all the work, received no recognition. Women with say in policy making--Julia Boegholt, Gladys Hoan, others. National Committeewoman only post open to women. Not a lot of competition for job--was very demanding, involved much travel. Policy makers--Gretchen Pfankuchen, Helene Wheeler, Julia Boegholt.

ROLE OF WOMEN IN PARTY (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Women did all organizational work. Describes work.

PARTY FINANCES AND WOMEN
Scope and Content Note: Kaplan discussed policy with Jim Doyle and Pat Lucey when she was Finance Secretary. Only influence on policy concerned fund raising, not spending. State Administrative Committee was all male, controlled spending. In mid-1950s one woman was elected to committee.

CHAIRMAN OF DANE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: In early years “outstanding” men willing to serve as Chairman. Later, it became increasingly difficult to fill position, became more open to women. After war, lawyers' practices not thriving, had time for political activities.

WOMEN'S INFLUENCE ON PARTY POLICY
Scope and Content Note: Virginia Hart participated in discussion of policy. Women had influence on county policy but not state policy.

OLD VS. NEW DEMOCRATS IN THE EARLY 1940s
Scope and Content Note: Jerry Fox was not liberal just pragmatic in supporting returning veterans. Old Democrats, e.g. Charlie Green, never accepted new Democrats. However, there were few old Democrats; young people made all the policy. A few older Progressives joined Democrats but young people were in control.

CHANGES IN THE PARTY IN THE 1940s
Scope and Content Note: Young people who built new Party were enthusiastic, idealistic. As Party successfully elected candidates, it attracted people looking for personal gain.

Subseries: Laurie Carlson, 1983 June 10
Note: Access online.

ROBERT TEHAN
Scope and Content Note: Not a “pathological” liberal.

OTHER LIBERAL DEMOCRATS IN LEGISLATURE PRIOR TO DOC
Scope and Content Note: “You couldn't find five.”

1934 ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: Both Phil and Bob La Follette assisted by President Roosevelt's endorsement of Bob.

CREATION OF THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY IN 1934
Scope and Content Note: Carlson circulated petitions to help create the party.

CARLSON'S DECISION TO RUN FOR THE LEGISLATURE
Scope and Content Note: Was interested in vocational education, especially as it pertained to agriculture.

ELIZABETH HAWKES
Scope and Content Note: Did not like Carlson. Was a Republican as late as 1940, when she was elected district attorney. Ran for Wisconsin Attorney General in 1944 on the Democratic ticket [Actually Hawkes did not run for Attorney General until 1946]. Called Carlson “a promising young upstart.” Politically “she didn't know where she was. She was not a liberal. How she ever got appointed to the Board of Regents, I don't know.” Got active in the Democratic Party in the Tenth District after 1944. An opportunist.

PHIL LA FOLLETTE
Scope and Content Note: Felt Franklin Roosevelt took the “Wisconsin Idea” and the La Follettes' ideas and created the New Deal without giving proper credit. Carlson was close to Phil. Phil was too young, immature, ambitious. Would have been more successful if he had been more mature. Never recovered from his defeat in 1938.

BILL EVJUE
Scope and Content Note: He was harder on people in office who were his political allies than he was on the opposition. He was liberal until it came to his own pocket book. Pro-labor until his own newspaper and radio station were organized. Bill Walker told Carlson that Evjue resisted Carlson's advancement at WIBA radio because Carlson was too pro-employee.

CARLSON GOES INTO BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF
Scope and Content Note: His children were getting older and Evjue was providing him no advancement.

MANY PROGRESSIVES WERE FAIRLY WEALTHY
Scope and Content Note: Wanted to make the capitalist system work. Therefore at odds with the socialists. Rural northern Wisconsin followed Bob La Follette into the Republican Party in 1946 while Milwaukee labor and socialists went into the Democratic Party.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY ADVOCATES AT THE 1946 PROGRESSIVE PARTY CONVENTION
Scope and Content Note: Mainly the Milwaukee contingent and the labor people. Madison people mainly in favor of following Bob La Follette into the Republican Party.

ANECDOTE ABOUT EVJUE ENCOURAGING LESTER JOHNSON TO RUN FOR MERLIN HULL'S CONGRESSIONAL SEAT AFTER HULL'S DEATH
Scope and Content Note: Won and claimed later that he would never have run without Evjue's encouragement.

MORE ON CARLSON'S ORGANIZING EFFORTS FOR THE PROGRESSIVES IN THE TENTH DISTRICT
Scope and Content Note: Thinks if the Party would have turned him loose to organize in 1946, he could have produced enough votes to give Bob La Follette victory over Joe McCarthy in the senatorial primary.

90-95 PERCENT OF PROGRESSIVES EVENTUALLY WOUND UP IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Defection of Progressives from the Republican Party began with Oscar Rennebohm's defeat of Ralph Immel in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 1948.

SHIFT OF NORTHERN PROGRESSIVES TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: In 1946 and 1948 voted in the Republican primary but for Democrats in the general election. By 1950, pretty much had decided to go into the Democratic Party.

LABOR UNIONS
Scope and Content Note: Strong Communist influence. Communists favored Republicans in the belief that the country would fall apart under Republicans and turn to Communists.

ANDY BIEMILLER
Scope and Content Note: In 1941 Carlson voted against Biemiller as floor leader because of his socialism. A strong character, a strong speaker.

Subseries: Carl Thompson, 1984 December 21
Note

• Access online.
• Also on Audio 1030A/34-35.

BIOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Father had been a professor of economics at the University of South Dakota and the University of Minnesota. Headed up the U.S. food survey “to feed the starving Belgians.” Died of influenza just before Carl's sixth birthday. Family moved to Stoughton, Wisconsin, to live with Carl's mother's father, a Lutheran minister. Lived there about six years, when his grandfather remarried. Two younger sisters. Mother then became home economics teacher in Stoughton school system, which position she held for 30-35 years. Carl was born March 15, 1914, in Washington, D.C.

EDUCATION
Scope and Content Note: Stoughton public schools. One year at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa; then came to the University of Wisconsin in Madison. After graduated, went to law school at University of Wisconsin, taking law degree in 1939.

WORKED FOR GOVERNOR PHIL LA FOLLETTE WHILE ATTENDING UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
Scope and Content Note: Shoveled walks, mowed grass, answered telephone. Lived in Governor's garage. Was paid fifteen dollars a month. Shared this job with Urban Van Sustern, later an ardent Joe McCarthy supporter. Occasionally would chauffeur Governor La Follette; frequently chauffeured Isen La Follette, the governor's wife.

THOMPSON'S EARLY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY
Scope and Content Note: When the party was formed in 1934, Thompson visited Phil La Follette and William Evjue to offer his services in the coming campaign. Put together a four-page newspaper; sold ads to all Progressive candidates in Dane County. From that, he got the job with the Governor.

FOUNDING CONVENTION OF THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Thompson was the youngest delegate at the convention--only twenty years old. He went to a preliminary Dane county convention, attended by 500-700 people. Gave a speech which impressed Bill Evjue who was on the delegate nominating committee.

THOMPSON'S INTEREST IN POLITICS
Scope and Content Note: First started with a civics course as a sophomore in high school. A second course, as a senior, on the environment also impressed him.

FAMILY POLITICS
Scope and Content Note: Grandfather was a moderate Republican; father was probably a Republican. Unsure of mother's politics, but she never argued against Franklin Roosevelt.

PROGRESSIVE CLUB THE MOST ACTIVE POLITICAL GROUP ON UW CAMPUS
Scope and Content Note: Interested both in party politics and campus politics. Brought in Progressive speakers, including an annual visit from Phil La Follette. Communists were the most active other political group on campus. As a junior, sought control of the three-person student governing body; formed a coalition with the sororities. Carol Morse, sister of future Senator Wayne Morse, received the most votes and was elected chair; Thompson came in second, thus becoming a member of the committee. Elected Jim Doyle as senior class president. Also, elected the Board of the Daily Cardinal, including the future Mrs. Jim Doyle, Ruth Bachhuber. The Cardinal Board named as editor someone who was accused of being a Communist, but he was replaced by a new Board before taking on his duties. Resulted in a student strike.

PEOPLE ACTIVE IN UW PROGRESSIVE CLUB
Scope and Content Note: Miles McMillin, John Lawton, Gaylord Nelson. Annual picnics with free beer from one of the Milwaukee breweries drew in many students. Progressive Club had circa 300-400 members.

THOMPSON BECAME A FILE CLERK IN GOVERNOR PHIL LA FOLLETTE'S OFFICE
Scope and Content Note: Would address all the postcards sent out prior to a La Follette speech in a particular area. Therefore, had access to the La Follette “Black Book,” which listed the most active members of the Progressive Party in each county.

PROGRESSIVE PARTY “BLACK BOOK”
Scope and Content Note: Because he actually copied the names from the “Black Book” on to postcards, he was probably more familiar with the names than were the La Follettes themselves. Phil La Follette's political technique was to speak on a street corner with a loud speaker and the start of the audience were those who had received postcards.

THOMPSON RETAINED A COPY OF THE “BLACK BOOK” WHICH WAS USED IN ORGANIZING THE DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (DOC)
Scope and Content Note: Whether the people in the “Black Book” joined the Democratic Party after 1946 depended on where they lived and whether they were officeholders. Those who held office went into the Republican Party. Those who were really progressives, tended to join the Democratic Party. Lester Johnson, who was Progressive Party District Attorney from Black River Falls, was an exception to the rule of officeholders going into the Republican Party.

WHY THE LA FOLLETTES FORMED THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY IN 1934
Scope and Content Note: Many Progressive Republicans were unhappy with being Republicans once Roosevelt was elected president as a Democrat. Also, labor was against the Republicans. Bob La Follette “was the most reluctant.” Felt he could win more easily as a Republican.

BOB LA FOLLETTE'S DEFEAT IN 1946
Scope and Content Note: Went into the Republican Party because he felt he could win more easily as a Republican, just as he had felt in 1934. Lost because he did not maintain ties in Wisconsin through personal visits. The same could be said for Senator Gaylord Nelson's defeat in 1980.

IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL CONTACT IN POLITICS
Scope and Content Note: Bill Proxmire epitomizes this type of political campaigning.

FORMATION OF THE NATIONAL PROGRESSIVES OF AMERICA (NPA) IN 1938
Scope and Content Note: Thompson attended the founding event at the Stock Pavilion. Phil La Follette formed the separate party because he felt the German vote in Wisconsin would be crucial as it was during World War I; this is Thompson's personal opinion.

ANECDOTE ABOUT STRONG VOTER LOYALTY TO THE LA FOLLETTES
Scope and Content Note: A Roxbury voter told Thompson in the previous election everyone in town voted for Bob La Follette except one person and “they were running around...to find the guy so they could beat the hell out of him.”

MORE ON FORMATION OF NATIONAL PROGRESSIVES OF AMERICA
Scope and Content Note: Phil felt the German vote would be important throughout the country. Also, he had been influenced by his visit to Germany. Further, his attitude on foreign policy was “diametrically” opposed to Roosevelt's. Thus, the NPA was formed more because of foreign policy than domestic policy. On domestic policy, La Follette felt Roosevelt should have pushed the Public Works Administration (PWA) rather than the Works Progress Administration (WPA). PWA projects were more constructive, more useful.

BOB LA FOLLETTE'S DECISION TO ABANDON THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY IN 1946
Scope and Content Note: Thompson visited him in Washington, D.C., shortly before his decision and La Follette indicated he felt the Progressive Party was no longer a vehicle through which he could be elected. In 1944 the Progressive Party almost did not get enough votes to get on the ballot. He knew the stalwarts would do everything possible to defeat him.

WHY THE LA FOLLETTES NEVER SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED JOINING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Scope and Content Note: In 1946 La Follette felt the Democratic Party was not strong enough to provide him victory. In 1934, the La Follettes were too much in the habit of running on the Republican ticket and “there were just all kinds of things about the Democratic Party in Wisconsin....” The strength of the Democrats in the 1933 legislature was also a hindrance.

MORE THOMPSON BIOGRAPHY
Scope and Content Note: Set up law practice in Stoughton after graduation. Married in 1942. Was active in Progressive Party during this period. Was a member of the statutory committee in Dane County, serving as chairperson. Never ran for office as a Progressive. In spring, 1939, ran for alderman in Madison, a nonpartisan office. Was endored by the Capital Times and opposed by the State Journal on the grounds that he was “a carpetbagger from Stoughton.”

MORE THOMPSON BIOGRAPHY
Scope and Content Note: In the military late summer 1942 to early summer 1946.

UPON RETURN FROM THE MILITARY, OFFERED HIS SERVICES TO THE BOB LA FOLLETTE SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: Campaign organizers told him to take his, planned vacation since La Follette's victory was not in doubt.

THOMPSON SHIFT TO THE DEMOCRATS
Scope and Content Note: Voted in the 1946 Republican primary. Then managed Bill Rice's campaign for Congress in the general election; Rice ran as a Democrat and was soundly defeated. The Republican victor died before taking office and a special election was necessary in 1947. Thompson ran and was narrowly defeated. Probably considered himself a Democrat once La Follette lost the primary. Voted for Howard McMurray, Democrat, for senator in 1946 general election.

THOMPSON RACE FOR CONGRESS IN 1947
Scope and Content Note: Bob Tehan and Andy Biemiller twisted his arm to get him to run. Telephone strike in the entire district, except Waukesha County. Waukesha County, therefore had a much higher voter turn out than the other counties in the district. Capital Times influence was very important in Thompson's strong showing-almost daily stories and pictures of Thompson. Capital Times did not present him as a Democrat, but as “a continuation of the Progressive Movement in Wisconsin.”

DOOR TO DOOR CAMPAIGNING AND BILL PROXMIRE
Scope and Content Note: Thompson never cared for it. Bill Proxmire, however, proved its usefulness. Proxmire visited every home in his district when he first ran for the assembly. Immediately after leaving a home, he would write the person a personal postcard to be mailed shortly before election day.

REASONS FOR THE RAPID DECLINE OF THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY
Scope and Content Note: Disadvantage of not having presidential candidates to lead a campaign. Importance of presidential elections to local candidates is exemplified to Andy Biemiller's congressional races; he won in presidential election years and lost in the off years. [Note: This pattern did not hold true in 1952.]

THOMPSON ADVICE TO HENRY REUSS AFTER HIS FIRST CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: Told him Biemiller had had a reputation for being a pawn of labor, and that Reuss needed another issue. Reuss went on to make a reputation as an environmentalist, especially for sportsmen.

MORE ON THOMPSON'S CONGRESSIONAL RACE IN 1947
Scope and Content Note: Ran generally on Progressive Party programs.

ANECDOTE ABOUT THOMPSON'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN 1948
Scope and Content Note: Miles McMillin wrote the announcement, including the phrase that “the Republican Party in Wisconsin is dragging the chains of the walking dead.” Thompson wanted that phrase taken out, but McMillin insisted that it be left in. Later, the editor of the Green Bay and Appleton newspapers, a Republican, asked McMillin to have Thompson stop in when in the area because “he gives all this dramatic stuff that you can make good stories out of.”

HOW THE SECOND DISTRICT COULD ELECT A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN (GLENN DAVIS) FOR YEARS AND THEN TURN AROUND AND ELECT A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT (BOB KASTENMEIER) FOR YEARS
Scope and Content Note: Kastenmeier is probably elected more for the attention he gives to constituent problems than for his liberal political stands.

HOW CONGRESSMAN ALVIN O'KONSKI SERVED HIS CONSTITUENTS
Scope and Content Note: If a constituent wrote with a problem by return mail he would get an acknowledgement of receipt of the letter and a commitment that O'Konski would act on it. O'Konski would then follow up a week or two later saying he had visited the proper federal agency and the situation was being investigated. A third letter would finally come telling the constituent that the problem had been solved and O'Konski was the greatest, or that the problem was not solved and it was all the fault of the federal agency which could have solved it. Thompson talked to a lot of people in his gubernatorial races who said they would vote for him for governor, but for Republican O'Konski for Congress “because he really takes care of his local people.”

EFFECTIVE CONSTITUENT INPUT TO LEGISLATORS
Scope and Content Note: The worst thing is to flood a politician with standard letters. Letters should be personalized.

THOMPSON'S METHOD OF RESPONDING TO CONSTITUENTS
Scope and Content Note: His secretary, Florence Bender, who finally retired at age 80, was the fastest typist in the capitol building. They used the technique of a very short personal letter with an enclosure.

DAN HOAN'S LIBERAL LEAGUE AND OTHER LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY ACTIVITIES IN THE MID-1940s
Scope and Content Note: “It laid the groundwork which very substantially affected the time required for the state to go Democratic.”

BOB TEHAN
Scope and Content Note: His role in the rebirth of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin is underrated. Told Thompson it important to distribute candidacies amongst the various ethnic groups. Complained that Wisconsin Democratic Party was viewed by many as being made up solely of Roman Catholic tavernkeepers.

THE 1948 STATE DEMOCRATIC TICKET
Scope and Content Note: Henry Reuss refused to run for lieutenant governor because he had just been defeated in election for mayor of Milwaukee and thought two defeats in a row would not be good for his political career. Lieutenant governor candidacy then fell to a man who was Polish and had voted against the Rural Electric Cooperatives consistently (Anthony Gawronski). Tom Fairchild won attorney general because of his respectable political family and because the Republican primary winner was a labor lawyer who was distasteful to conservative Republicans. Ticket had a good ethnic mix. By the time Reuss decided not to run for lieutenant governor, it was too late to get a candidate better than Gawronski. Ticket was picked at a meeting in a restaurant in Jefferson County.

THOMPSON'S 1948 GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: Used a panel truck, loaned by George Card. Would drive up and down the main street announcing over the truck's loudspeaker that Carl Thompson would be speaking at such and such a time and such and such a place. One day he spent visiting towns in Waupaca County and not one officer of the county Democratic Party came to hear the speeches. That convinced Thompson that the current officers of the statutory party had to be replaced by strengthening the Democratic Organizing Committee (DOC).

ORGANIZING LOCAL DOC UNITS--COMPETITION FOR CONTROL
Scope and Content Note: Battle in Eau Claire County between Arthur Henning, who represented labor, and Eppie Lederer, who was later to become famous as “Ann Landers.” Battle in Racine was between Sam Rizzo and labor versus Gerald Flynn and the rest of the Democrats. When Flynn was elected to Congress, however, Rizzo became his home secretary. In Forest County the fight was between “the Poles and the Kentucks.” The “Kentucks” made moonshine during Prohibition and Gerry Clifford, a Green Bay attorney and Democratic Party activist provided them legal counsel.

1948 ELECTION IN DANE COUNTY
Scope and Content Note: Virtual sweep for Democrats. No one thought Gaylord Nelson could defeat Fred Risser. Two people were convinced to run on the county ticket because they were assured they could not possibly win, but running would be good for the Party. Thompson spent two hours one night trying to convince assemblyman Earl Mullen to run as a Democrat, but was unsuccessful since Mullen felt it improper to announce as a Republican and then run as a Democrat. He was defeated by a Democrat.

MORE ON ORGANIZING LOCAL DOC UNITS
Scope and Content Note: Started with names of labor and farm organization leaders. Added people who had participated in the 1948 campaign.

LABOR'S ROLE IN THE DOC
Scope and Content Note: State AFL President George Haberman, “a Republican,” was no longer the boss of labor. Jake Friedrick and Andy Biemiller had more influence with labor in political matters.

ORGANIZING IN MILWAUKEE
Scope and Content Note: Objective was to pull in Socialists, Progressives, and old-time Democrats.

MORE ON ORGANIZING DOC
Scope and Content Note: Contacts were farm co-op people, longtime Progressives, and active Democrats. “But...unlike any other state in the country, I'll bet, these guys who had been appointed to a national position by Roosevelt and the Democrat Party, they didn't do a thing for us, the vast majority of them.” Postmasters were much more helpful than those with high level positions, like Leo Crowley. “They didn't even write a letter saying 'Glad to see you got elected.'”

FINANCING THE EARLY CAMPAIGNS
Scope and Content Note: “Shocked” by a five hundred dollar contribution by a longtime, wealthy Democrat from the northern part of the state (Jim Corcoran). Campaign collected probably less than ten thousand dollars. The CIO became active in the 1950 campaign; campaign spent between thirty and thirty-five thousand dollars. The Republican gubernatorial candidates probably spent a minimum of two hundred thousand dollars in each of those campaigns.

GREENE-TEHAN FIGHT
Scope and Content Note: Tehan was national committeeman, which was much more important then than it is now, since Wisconsin did not have a Democratic governor or senator to deal with national appointments. The national committeeman and national committeewoman “channeled through all the recommendations for appointments. And that is what, I'm sure, Charlie Greene was after,” basically control over patronage. Elizabeth Hawkes and Art Henning were amongst the few who supported Greene.

FORMATION OF DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (DOC)
Scope and Content Note: The Democratic Party prior to the DOC was simply not a vehicle which could be used to win elections. Activists recruited candidates for local offices.

THE EDMUND BOBROWICZ AFFAIR
Scope and Content Note: Thaddeus Waslewski, fourth district congressman, “voted more like a Republican than the Republicans.” Bobrowicz was recruited to run against Waslewski. He defeated Wasklewski in the primary, but then it was revealed that he was a Communist. The Democrats then wound up tacitly supporting the Republican candidate in the general election, and the Republican won.

CONSERVATIVE WILLIAM CARROLL WAS MADE TREASURER OF THE DOC
Scope and Content Note: “An effort was made to marry all the factions and get a united front.” Surprising to Thompson that longtime party activist Carroll did so poorly in the 1948 gubernatorial primary. An indication that many new people were coming into the Democratic Party.

THOMPSON'S LEGAL BUSINESS
Scope and Content Note: During his first year out of law school and his first year out of the army, he didn't make enough money to cover his expenses.

THOMPSON OPPOSED PRE-PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS BY THE DOC
Scope and Content Note: However, he thought it was going too far when some people suggested that people in positions of influence should not reveal even their personal choices.

THOMPSON APPOINTED NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN BY THE CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: By request of Bob Tehan. Julia Boegholt felt he should have spent more time at meetings and in touch with the National Committee. Thompson, however, felt his time was best spent trying to organize the party throughout Wisconsin.

DAN ROAN
Scope and Content Note: “I don't think he had any other great hobby or great mission in life. And so he stepped in the tenth district.” Very close to Herman Jessen.

HERMAN JESSEN
Scope and Content Note: Probably came from a place where being a Socialist was an effective way of getting things done.

BOB TEHAN'S SUPPORT OF THE YOUNG TURKS AND THE DOC BROUGHT IN MANY OLD-LINE DEMOCRATS
Scope and Content Note: He would talk to people on a one to one basis. He would not talk liberal versus conservative, but simply about building the party.

CHARLES GREENE CANDIDACY IN 1950 GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY
Scope and Content Note: Greene claimed to be more liberal than Bob Tehan; so his candidacy was not an attempt to provide a conservative alternative. His candidacy was probably just a continuation of his fight with Bob Tehan.

MORE ON GREENE-TEHAN FIGHT
Scope and Content Note: To his credit, Greene did not take advantage of a potential scandal in his fight with Tehan.

THE ROLE OF AMVETS AND THE AMERICAN VETERANS COMMITTEE (AVC)
Scope and Content Note: Ken Kunde from Oshkosh was a leader in AmVets. AVC activists felt the existing veterans organizations “would not necessarily represent our point of view.”

Subseries: John and William Duffy, 1984 December 20
Note: Access online.

WILLIAM DUFFY BIOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND (William)
Scope and Content Note: Born in Minnesota in 1916. Father worked for International Harvester in Minneapolis. Moved to Town of Holland, Wisconsin, while very young. Father a lifelong progressive. Father a friend of Governor John Blaine and of Phil and Bob La Follette.

LAST PROGRESSIVE PARTY CONVENTION, 1946 (William)
Scope and Content Note: Brown County voted three to two to go into the Republican Party.

AFTER 1946 ELECTION, ACTIVITY IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY PICKED UP CONSIDERABLY (William)
Scope and Content Note: Younger, progressive people, especially in the Madison area, began to appear in the Democratic Party. Old-time Democrats were conservative, as evidenced by their alliance with the Republicans in 1938. Gerald Clifford, the most active Democrat in the Green Bay area, claimed there was too much interest in postmasterships and not enough in getting elected.

WILLIAM ELECTED TO ASSEMBLY IN 1948 (William)
Scope and Content Note: Pat Lucey, Ruth Doyle, Tom Taylor were all elected to the assembly for the first time in 1948.

MORE BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM DUFFY (William)
Scope and Content Note: Graduated from St. Mary's College in 1938 and went to University of Wisconsin Law School, finishing in 1941. Entered the service immediately (prior to Pearl Harbor) for a one year hitch, but because of World War II was in for about four years.

JOHN DUFFY BIOGRAPHY (John)
Scope and Content Note: Born in 1921 in Town of Holland, Brown County. Attended parochial schools, graduating from high school in 1938. Farmed for a year. Then went to University of Wisconsin in Madison, eventually getting a law degree. Returned to Green Bay and set up law practice with Ray Eberhardt, who had been Progressive Party County Chairman for many years. Father served on Brown County Board for 35-36 years and ran for the assembly as a Progressive in 1934 and 1936, losing each time. Father was a delegate to the founding convention of the Progressive Party, 1934. While at the UW, John was active in the Young Progressives.

THE BROWN COUNTY DELEGATION TO THE LAST PROGRESSIVE PARTY CONVENTION (John)
Scope and Content Note: Three voted to join the Republicans and two, including John, voted to join the Democrats. Other delegates from Brown County were Ray Eberhardt, John Reynolds, Sr., Alex Shane, and Mrs. Bloomer. Bloomer was the other vote for the Democratic Party. Bob Lewis and others spoke in favor of going to the Democrats and later became active in the Democratic Party.

JOHN'S POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY (John)
Scope and Content Note: Democratic county chairman, 1948 to about 1953. Never ran for public office, but always had a keen interest in politics. Was a delegate to five national Democratic conventions as a Kefauver delegate in 1952 and 1956, Kennedy delegate in 1960, Johnson delegate in 1964, and Eugene McCarthy delegate in 1968. “Spent a very unhappy week in the Windy City getting pushed around.” Vice-chairman of the eighth district DOC for a couple years in the 1950s; William was Chair for a while.

JOHN VOTED FOR HOWARD McMURRAY, DEMOCRAT, IN THE 1946 SENATE PRIMARY, BUT HIS FATHER PROBABLY VOTED FOR BOB LA FOLLETTE (John)
Scope and Content Note: Father then became a Democrat.

WILLIAM PROBABLY VOTED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IN 1946 (William)
Scope and Content Note: No one felt La Follette would lose. What hurt La Follette most was his decision to return to the Republican Party.

GROWTH OF DEMOCRATS AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE (William)
Scope and Content Note: “Jerry Fox was a great catalyst.” (William incorrectly states that Fox was Speaker of the Assembly in 1932.) “He also enjoyed the confidence of all of us because he was a completely reliable and trustworthy individual and open to all of the Roosevelt philosophy of government, which many of the old-time Democrats were not.” Many Wisconsin Democrats had a strong anti-Roosevelt streak in the 1930s.

ANECDOTE ABOUT HOW LOOSELY RUN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS IN 1948 (William)
Scope and Content Note: A resolution was offered from the floor to endorse Eisenhower for president as a Democrat. Many delegates had already gone home and of those remaining probably a majority of them favored the resolution. A motion to adjourn headed off the resolution, but a rump group met to endorse Eisenhower anyway. Brown County delegation opposed the resolution. “We knew that Truman was our president and...we would not indulge in that kind of foolishness.” “We had such a loose organization that a resolution like that could be offered right from the floor.” It seemed on the motion to adjourn that the noes won, but Chairman Leland McParland ruled that it passed and the convention was over.

WHY LA FOLLETTE RETURNED TO THE REPUBLICANS IN 1946 (John)
Scope and Content Note: He felt that was the easiest way to get re-elected.

JERRY CLIFFORD AND OTHER LIBERAL ELEMENTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRIOR TO 1946 (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: By 1946 the few statewide leaders the Democratic Party had were mostly liberal. Charles Broughton, Miles McMillin, Bill Evjue. As early as the mid-1930s Evjue had some reservations about Phil La Follette. “Phil was pretty autocratic.”

KATHERINE SULLIVAN, IMPORTANT LIBERAL DEMOCRAT (William)
Scope and Content Note: Of Kaukauna. Husband, W.C. Sullivan, ran for Governor as a Democrat in 1942.

LAVERNE DILWEG (William and John)
Scope and Content Note: A partner of Jerry Clifford, which was the law firm William joined after the War. A Roosevelt Democrat. Elected to Congress in 1942, defeated in 1944. Eighth district is very difficult for a Democrat to win “because Appleton is in it, and Sturgeon Bay and Oconto, a lot of strong...Republican territory.” “You had to have some pull greater than just their political affiliation.” Dilweg's pull was his reknown as a football player for the Green Bay Packers and earlier at Marquette University. He received a lot of support from Republicans, through friendships. His wife had Republican leanings and all his children were Republicans.

DAN HOAN (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: “Very interesting man.”

ASSEMBLYMAN ROBERT LYNCH OF GREEN BAY (William)
Scope and Content Note: Had conservative instincts, but went along with the younger, more liberal Democrats. A colleague of Ruth Doyle in the assembly.

DECLINE OF THE PROGRESSIVE PARTY IN WISCONSIN (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: The death of Orland Loomis. Without the governorship, it is difficult to keep a party going. Also, a lot of people became disenchanted with Phil La Follette and the autocratic way he ran the governor's office. Then Phil became close to General Douglas MacArthur, who was not a popular figure amongst liberals. “The time was ripe for the young Democrats. There's no question about it. And most of them saw that.”

TOM FAIRCHILD (William)
Scope and Content Note: First Democrat to be elected statewide (since 1932). “A remarkable individual...very capable...very unique individual.”

MORE ON KATHERINE SULLIVAN (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: “She challenged everything she ever heard.”

ORGANIZING LOCAL DOC UNITS (William)
Scope and Content Note: William would go out to various counties with Pat Lucey, Tom Taylor, and Ruth Doyle. Carl Thompson visited many areas of the state. Pat Lucey was “a tremendous organizer.”

LITTLE RECOLLECTION OF THE FIRST DOC MEETING IN FOND DU LAC, 1948 (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: Suspect it was called by Dan Hoan, Jerry Fox, and Jerry Clifford.

GREENE-TEHAN FIGHT (William)
Scope and Content Note: Greene had the “onus” of being chair of the unpopular Democratic Party. Tehan emerged “as a man of character.... When he made mistakes, he admitted them.”

MORE ON GREENE-TEHAN FIGHT (William and John)
Scope and Content Note: Basically a struggle for power in the party. Tehan was popular and Greene “kind of rode along on his popularity and was sort of using Tehan more than Tehan realized until somewhere along the way they clashed and Tehan emerged as the one who should run the show.”

EARLY DOC FINANCES (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: Poorly financed. All volunteer. Clifford and Hoan spent their own money on the DOC. Hoan was pretty well off by this time. First convention had a press room with an open bar. Paul Burke of Green Bay, an engineer, was generous to the party. A few bankers active in the party. John was John Reynolds' campaign manager for the 1950 congressional race, and “we just didn't have much money at all.”

1948 CAMPAIGN (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: Thompson drove around in a truck and “he'd speak to any group that would have him.” “Pretty disorganized.”

1950 CAMPAIGN (William)
Scope and Content Note: The Korean War and a major Chinese victory at a crucial time greatly hurt the Democrats. “It was a very, very, very unpopular position that Truman had at that time. That's why I guess I never could understand how we could get back into Vietnam after we finally wormed our way out of that (Korea).”

1949-1951 DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE (William)
Scope and Content Note: Barely enough Democrats to get a roll call. Worked to a degree with former Progressives who were in the legislature now as Republicans. William introduced a bill for a consumers council to represent the public at hearings before commissions and the like. “Almost without exception” the old progressives supported that measure. Democrats in the legislature really did not have a program of their own at the time; to do so would have been “absurd.”

PARTY LINE VOTING MUCH MORE PREVALENT IN THE EARLY 1950s (William)
Scope and Content Note: William defeated for re-election, with the Korean War as an issue which brought many Democrats down. In 1952 Eisenhower “knocked out” Democratic county officeholders.

LITTLE OPPOSITION AMONGST OLD-LINE DEMOCRATS TO THE DOC (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: Jerry Fox smoothed over what differences there were. Old Democrats wanted to win again. There were some county chairmen who “felt abused when this organization kind of got build up around them.”

ELIZABETH HAWKES (William)
Scope and Content Note: “Nobody paid much attention to her.”

ANECDOTE ABOUT A VISIT TO PAUL DOUGLAS IN CHICAGO (William and John)
Scope and Content Note: John and William were county and district chairs; Pat Lucey was along; John Reynolds had been the congressional candidate and was the head of the Office of Price Administration in Green Bay. “When we showed up in Chicago where they had all these mature, old-time politicians running the show, I think they got the biggest kick out of all the titles on such youngsters.”

PRE-PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: Brown County people showed little sentiment for endorsement. John and William often had two friends running for the same statewide office.

MORE ON PRE-PRIMARY ENDORSEMENT (William and John)
Scope and Content Note: Never had “a ghost of a chance” at the first convention.

JERRY CLIFFORD (William and John)
Scope and Content Note: Had a lot to do with selection of Green Bay for first DOC convention.

SELECTION OF NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN AND NATIONAL COMMITTEEWOMAN (William and John)
Scope and Content Note: Do not recall how that was done at first. Eventually done by election at the annual convention.

IMPORTANCE OF FARM AND LABOR GROUPS (William and John)
Scope and Content Note: Labor “always considered a strong ally.” Miles Singler, a farmer, ran for Congress in the eighth district. Farmers Union was Democrat and Farm Bureau was Republican. Several Farmers Union leaders were party activists. Building trades were not very politically active and the State AFL-CIO, under George Haberman, was not very active. George Hall (State AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer) “was always an outspoken Democrat. But then, when Johnny Schmitt got in, there was no question about where the labor groups stood and it was a very significant part of the support of the Democrats.” Labor would contribute money even in districts where it had few members. Haberman never had much control over labor's political action committees. “I'm sure he was a Republican; there's not much question about that. But his influence was very minimal, I would say.” In Green Bay area, the paper mill unions, as such, were not very active; but leaders of these unions were active in the party. As time went on, union political action committees became more common and they were “Democratic.” Ran phone banks from the labor temple for a number of years.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEGISLATORS AND THE PARTY (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: The caucuses had a certain amount of discipline. “Of course, when we got the governor, that's when you had a real party organization .... Before that I suspect party discipline was pretty lax.”

MAINTENANCE OF ENTHUSIASM, 1948-1958 (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: Enthusiasm was kept up. Conventions were always spirited. Everyone seemed convinced the breakthrough would eventually come. “Those were rough years, I'll admit that.” The leadership was very young, as compared to today. A dedicated group.

RAPID GROWTH OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY FROM ALMOST NOTHING TO A GENUINE CONTENDER (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: Tradition of voting for Franklin Roosevelt on the national level helped considerably.

HENRY REUSS (William)
Scope and Content Note: A man of strong convictions. Became a powerful leader in Congress. Wisconsin Democrats were fortunate to have so many dedicated and competent people.

GAYLORD NELSON (William)
Scope and Content Note: Instinctively had strong feelings about consumerism before it was a big issue nationally.

HORACE WILKIE (William)
Scope and Content Note: A great humanist.

CALIBER OF YOUNG WISCONSIN DEMOCRATS WAS SUCH THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN LEADERS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES (William)
Scope and Content Note: Because of the leadership vacuum in the Democratic Party, they got an early start. Responsible and loyal to the party.

THE SALES TAX ISSUE (William)
Scope and Content Note: There were differences on this issue, “but nothing so bitter that it caused any real friction.” Doubt if Gaylord Nelson lost much support because of it.

PARTY SPLITS (William)
Scope and Content Note: Sometimes based on personalities, “but not too many real bitter ones among the original Democrats that I can recall.”

1950 DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL PRIMARY (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: (Note: The interviewer's initial question was misstated, confusing the 1950 primary and the 1952 primary. This distorts the answer somewhat by incorrectly identifying Joe McCarthy as the Republican opponent.) Four candidates. William was in the same law firm as Laverne Dilweg, one of the candidates, but does not recall giving any speeches. John recalls supporting Tom Fairchild.

JOE McCARTHY AND THE McCARTHY ERA (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: “A good deal of soul-searching by everybody.” McCarthy opposed by many Republicans. “McCarthy was a very unusual man, a very strange individual.... As circuit court judge, he would occasionally come to Green Bay. No one thought him unusual then; but then, you know, it wasn't long before he was doing strange things.... It left a strange feeling that you don't forget; that whole McCarthy era was odd.” When the McCarthy issue came up at social gatherings, the mood would turn ugly. As a judge, McCarthy had been pretty likeable.

McCARTHYISM “WAS JUST RAMPANT” IN GREEN BAY (John and,William)
Scope and Content Note: Green Bay was eighty-five percent Catholic in 1952. McCarthy's crusade against Communists was well received in Green Bay. “That's why we lost the whole Democratic population in the courthouse that one year.”

EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT VERY DIFFICULT FOR DEMOCRATS (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: Victory possible for a Democrat only if the candidate has greater pulling power than merely being a Democrat. The district has many strong Republican areas, particularly Appleton. Strangely, Appleton had once been a Socialist stronghold.

DEFEAT OF JOHN REYNOLDS IN 1964 (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: As governor, he had had to raise taxes in a couple unpopular ways. Warren Knowles was a popular candidate. Some voters were unhappy with Reynold's generosity to the University.

JOHN'S SUPPORT OF EUGENE McCARTHY IN 1968 (John)
Scope and Content Note: Chairman of Brown County committee for McCarthy. Lots of support from young people. John's support was strictly on the peace issue. Had been a great supporter of Hubert Humphrey in the early days of the DOC. “I liked Humphrey. I figured he got caught up in Johnson's web on the war issue.” Was with McCarthy the day that Ted Kennedy came to Green Bay and told him Bobby Kennedy was going to run for president. “And he was pretty mad at Bobby that day.”

1968 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN CHICAGO
Scope and Content Note: “The whole thing was just completely overplayed by the Chicago Police Department. Daley, I think, reacted much more severely than he had to. I think he was out to prove something and I don't think it would've got completely out of hand if they hadn't misused their judgement, such as beating all the kids.” Even on the convention floor, things were different from previous conventions--pushing, ordered to stay seated, etc.

HERMAN JESSEN (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: Not the best liked person in the world, but friendly once you got to know him. Liked controversy. Colorful in his speech. Anecdote about his explaining his diarrhea to everyone at a meeting.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE PROBABLY WAITING “FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO DEVELOP, ALTHOUGH IT TAKES A WHILE FOR PEOPLE TO CHANGE NAMES POLITICALLY.” (William)
Scope and Content Note: Joke about the Irish being Democrats.

DAN HOAN (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: “He just loved politics.” An idealist. Knew how to fight. “Viewed government as an instrumentality that should be working in a positive way for people.”

GOVERNMENT NEVER PLAYED A NEUTRAL ROLE; “IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF WHICH WAY IT'S TUNED” (William)
Scope and Content Note: So-called laissez-faire government of the 1920s had the highest protective tariff in history and “we had a policy of shifting the loss of personal injury to the consumer and to the employee rather than to spread the loss over many people.”

MORE ON DAN HOAN (William)
Scope and Content Note: He always wanted to be in the middle of the action. Well respected and well liked.

ELLIOT WALSTEAD (John)
Scope and Content Note: “A real straightforward guy.” Honest; good sense of humor.

FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT (William)
Scope and Content Note: A great educator of Democrats. Had a great concern for blacks, the poor, etc. Had to do battle with his own class. Bitterness against Roosevelt was very deep with some people.

PAT LUCEY-PHILLEO NASH COMPETITION FOR CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE PARTY (John)
Scope and Content Note: A “pretty spirited contest.” Pat felt Phileo was not doing enough organizing. Part of it was carryover from the previous convention when Nash beat Horace Wilkie by a narrow margin. “And Pat wanted to be chairman too.”

PHILLEO NASH (William)
Scope and Content Note: Interesting; had lots of stories about playing poker with Harry Truman.

MORE ON LUCEY-NASH COMPETITION FOR THE CHAIRMANSHIP (John)
Scope and Content Note: “A legitimate exercise in ambition.” Not philosophical.

CURRENT PARTY ACTIVITY BY THE DUFFY BROTHERS (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: John goes to an occasional meeting, but is not active. “It's very time-consuming.” William is currently a judge and therefore inactive in politics.

HOW WELL THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN TODAY FULFILLS THE PROMISE OF 1948 (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: Times change; problems change. Things like the Homestead Exemption on taxes are important, though not well-publicized. Democrats on regulatory commissions are a positive thing. Tony Earl “has done a terrific job as governor.” Smart; knows government; steps on toes when necessary. Lucey “was a great innovator.” Good at seeing his legislation through the legislature. By putting forward good candidates, the Democrats have had a positive effect on the Republicans. Environmental protection is a good example. Cleaner water today. State is well run.

JOHN BROGAN (William)
Scope and Content Note: Very active local Democrat. Has served on the DNR. Active in Gaylord Nelson's campaign and Earl's campaign.

JIM DILLON (William)
Scope and Content Note: Became a federal marshall during the Kennedy administration.

JACK GRADY (William)
Scope and Content Note: Colorful.

THE RARITY OF HOW THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DEVELOPED IN WISCONSIN (John and William)
Scope and Content Note: Basically a new party. The general compatibility of the principal characters.

Subseries: Ruth Doyle, 1985 January 4
Note: Access online.

BIOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Parents active Democrats. Father had been in the legislature, as was his father and his grandfather. She was always interested in politics.

ANECDOTE ABOUT ATTENDING A SMALL RECEPTION AT THE WHITE HOUSE IN 1940
Scope and Content Note: She and her husband moved to Washington, D.C., shortly after their marriage (in August 1940) She volunteered her services to the Democratic Party National Committee Women's Division. Had a temporary job selling dresses in a department store. Received a call from the White House at work. Was invited to a party for the Democratic National Committee office workers. Only twenty people at the party. In reception line behind a woman who was a polio victim and with whom President Roosevelt talked at length. Eleanor Roosevelt gave a tour of the White House. The whole thing lasted about two hours. “One of the great events of my life.”

REAL ACTIVE POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OCCURRED AFTER RETURNING TO MADISON AREA IN 1946
Scope and Content Note: Elected secretary, of the Dane County Democratic Club in spring 1947.

HER FIRST POLITICAL SPEECH
Scope and Content Note: At a large candidates' forum at the University of Wisconsin's Memorial Union. No one wanted to give a speech on behalf of President Truman, his popularity being at low ebb. She volunteered to give the speech and it was extremely well received. She realized later it was not her great speechmaking skill, but the unknown popularity of Truman.

ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 1948
Scope and Content Note: Did not expect to be elected. Very difficult, since she had three pre-school children at the time.

FATHER'S ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATURE AS A DEMOCRAT IN THE 1932 ROOSEVELT LANDSLIDE WAS UNEXPECTED
Scope and Content Note: He only served one term because he was too busy at home. Parents considered themselves Roosevelt Democrats.

SIBLINGS
Scope and Content Note: Two brothers and a sister. One brother slightly active in politics. Sister lives in Boston and is active in local politics.

EARLY INTEREST IN POLITICS
Scope and Content Note: Attended Democratic Conventions with parents when in high school. Spend high school summer vacations in legislative galleries when her father was an assemblyman. “I really was fascinated, always. Up to a certain point.”

FATHER
Scope and Content Note: A lawyer. Founder and secretary of a building and loan association in Wausau. Was working for Marshall-Isley bank in Milwaukee when she was born. Then was sick for four years; lived in Mayville; mother taught school. Then moved to Wausau when Ruth was about six years old.

YEARS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN IN MADISON, 1934-1938
Scope and Content Note: Majored in history. Very involved in campus politics. Both she and her future husband were on the Daily Cardinal Board of Control and active in student politics. First year in college, “I felt absolutely fancy free.... By the second year I began to get serious about things... peace.” In the last semester of her senior year, she was president of the Daily Cardinal Board of Control; and the Board, as its last official action, appointed a Jewish editor. The next day, the newly elected Board of Control fired him. The old Board and the staff struck the Cardinal and published a “strike Cardinal” for six weeks. “It was an enormously important experience, a very concentrated, very concentrated period in which the Silver Shirts appeared on the campus and the Communist Party came in and tried to help out.... A very intensive quarrel.” Finally resolved when the university administration dissolved the old Daily Cardinal and established a new corporation with anew Board of Control. Big election for the new Board of Control, which the liberals lost by twenty-six votes.

BIOGRAPHY AFTER COLLEGE
Scope and Content Note: Graduated from the University in 1938. Entered graduate school at Columbia University in the fall of 1939. Received a masters degree. Taught high school at Lake Mills for a year. Married Jim Doyle in summer of 1940, after he graduated from Columbia Law School. Returned to Wausau with her baby when husband entered the Navy. “Along with all my friends. We were all home for those crucial years. All of us had babies and...we developed a very nice little life over a couple year period there. And then the men started coming home and that ended it. Our little bridge groups had to break up....” Returned to Washington D.C. for a short while after the war. Not particularly politically active at this time.

WISCONSIN POLITICS DURING WORLD WAR II
Scope and Content Note: Some liberal Democratic activity in Dane County and Dan Hoan ran for governor, but she was not involved.

AMERICAN VETERANS COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Liberal veterans group her husband and most of their Democratic friends were involved in.

DANE COUNTY DOC WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR LIVES, SOCIALLY AND OTHERWISE
Scope and Content Note: Many old college friends became friends in the party once again. Carl Thompson and his wife; Horace Wilkie and his wife. “Madison is a great magnet,” which brought back many people who had been friends in college and who had dispersed during the War.

CHILDREN
Scope and Content Note: Oldest born in 1943, son born in 1945, then a daughter in 1947, and the youngest in 1954.

UNINVOLVED IN THE McCARTHY-LA FOLLETTTE PRIMARY IN 1946
Scope and Content Note: It was a Republican primary and they were in the process of returning to Wisconsin.

CARL THOMPSON'S 1947 CONGRESSIONAL RACE
Scope and Content Note: The Doyles were still in Lake Mills. Interested in the race because of Carl and donated a little money, but not involved; husband was a U.S. attorney and thus under the Hatch Act.

INVOLVEMENT IN DANE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB, 1947-1948
Scope and Content Note: Big debates over who should become president of the United States. Many meetings at George Card's house.

FIRST STATEWIDE MEETING SHE RECALLS WAS IN MILWAUKEE IN THE MIDST OF THE GREENE-TEHAN FIGHT
Scope and Content Note: National Committeeman had control of postmaster appointments. Greene was seeking to oust Tehan as Committeeman. Main speech was given by Minneapolis Mayor Hubert Humphrey, “a exciting thing to happen.” She was unaware of the Greene-Tehan fight until she got to the meeting.

ISSUES AT EARLY DOC MEETINGS
Scope and Content Note: Everyone a New Dealer, an internationalist, in favor of the Brannan Plan, supported the Korean War. Government spending and intervention. She did not pay any attention to internal struggles.

ORGANIZING LOCAL DOC UNITS
Scope and Content Note: A nucleus in every county. After first DOC convention, Pat Lucey was hired (actually in July 1951) to organize counties. One of his main goals was to get full county tickets. When Ruth went out to help organize, she generally served as the visiting speaker.

EARLY PARTY FINANCES
Scope and Content Note: Postmasters and rural mailcarriers were the main contributors to party coffers. A few fund raisers. Not much money spent. “Shameful” the way money is spent in campaigns today. “The best way to campaign doesn't cost a nickel--the neighborhood meeting or the gatherings of people in small groups that want to talk to you about things.” Hand distributions, small meetings, telephone work. Spent less than one hundred dollars in her assembly campaigns. Usually paid her own expenses when she did party organizing.

SHIFT FROM STATUTORY PARTY TO DOC WAS SMOOTH
Scope and Content Note: Oldtimers like Jerry Fox were helpful and welcoming. No struggle about “who gets the money.” William Carroll and others who opposed the liberalization of the party “rapidly disappeared.” “Generally speaking it was an expansion, not a struggle within the party.” “A very friendly organization.”

RUTH'S CANDIDACY FOR AND ELECTION TO THE ASSEMBLY, 1948
Scope and Content Note: Could not find anyone else to do it. Had made the very successful pro-Truman speech. Figured she could not be elected anyway; “that's the last time I ever entered a race with that thought in mind.” Election victory was stunning. Anecdote about victory party at Park Hotel where Ruth remarked to a friend, “What is my mother going to say?” No polling at that time, although Truman had been to town and was enthusiastically received and also Truman and Carl Thompson had won the straw vote at West High School. She also won the straw vote at West High, but by the narrowest of margins. No one figured these results were all that significant.

SERVICE IN THE ASSEMBLY
Scope and Content Note: Her election required a lot of adjustment. Being in the assembly required a lot of work. No staff; no office space; a pool of secretaries; desks in the chamber only, except for committee chairs. Many demands on her time. On the Education Committee, which was heavily involved at the time with school consolidation, which took up nearly every afternoon during the session. “Strenuous and interesting.” “I decided after two terms it really wasn't the way I wanted to spend my life.” Had a fulltime, live-in housekeeper for a couple years. “Made me feel sort of like a visitor in my own house.... I didn't really go for that.” Then got live-in students. “And my kids survived it all. They've done well.”

RE-ELECTION IN 1950
Scope and Content Note: Did not consider not running. “I figured you owe anything two terms.”

CAMPAIGN FOR STATE TREASURER IN 1952
Scope and Content Note: A lot more travelling. Travelled extensively for about six weeks during the campaign. Travelled with U.S. Senate candidate Tom Fairchild's wife Eleanor. Cordially received in general. Being a woman was not a drawback. One ugly situation in Wisconsin Dells, because of an audience which backed her opponent, who was a very conservative, very pro-McCarthy person. On the way out of the hall, was met by a high school boy who took them to the local Democratic headquarters, where they met a small group of Democrats. The young man turned out to be Jim Wimmer, who was later to become state chair of the Democratic Party. Generally people were very friendly. “I've always found campaigning very congenial; it's more fun than holding office actually.” Ran very well in Dane County.

WHEN SHE WAS IN LEGISLATURE, DEMOCRATS ATTEMPTED TO INTRODUCE THE ENTIRE DOC PLATFORM, EVEN THOUGH THEY CONSTITUTED ONLY ABOUT TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE ASSEMBLY
Scope and Content Note: “We had a nice little group there.” Pat Lucey, Bill Duffy, Tom Taylor, and other freshmen. Had enough people to force a roll call.

PROUD OF HER WORK ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: A bi-partisan effort. Committee took a lot of abuse. Proponents of the one-room school would fill the Capitol for the committee's hearings. Received a lot of letters from people accusing her of being the big city person trying to tell the rural people how to run their schools. The program, however, was very successful. Within a year or so many communities were building new schools and were very proud of these new structures. Cut the number of school districts from about 4800 to 400.

PACKY MCPARLAND WAS DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY FLOOR LEADER WHEN SHE WAS IN THE ASSEMBLY
Scope and Content Note: Mike O'Connell, Eddie Mertz, and other oldtimers were the Democratic legislative leaders. Milwaukee types. Got along well with the new Democrats. Her best friends in the legislature, however, were former progressives, then serving as Republicans, older men, mostly farmers.

POLITICAL ALIGNMENTS IN THE LEGISLATURE, 1948-52
Scope and Content Note: Former Progressives would usually line up with the Republicans on party line matters. “In those days... if you do something that changes peoples way of acting and so on, that is considered political (partisan), but anything that has a purely local interest...that was sincere; they would think you were sincere about your own community, but any broader view that you had, you were just a politician and all that stuff didn't matter.”

RUTH INTRODUCED A BILL TO CLOSE STATE OFFICES ON SATURDAY AND PROVIDE A FORTY HOUR WORK WEEK FOR STATE EMPLOYEES
Scope and Content Note: Previously offices were open until noon on Saturday. Could not get her bill out of committee. Finally it was put on the calendar, but Vernon Thomson “stole the bill word for word.” Had it introduced as a committee bill and it passed by overwhelming margin.

MORE ON STATE EMPLOYEE WORK WEEK BILL
Scope and Content Note: Actually the change was from a thirty-seven and a half hour week to a forty hour week, but with the closing on Saturday.

HER ASSEMBLY DISTRICT WAS COMPARATIVELY VERY LARGE IN TERMS OF POPULATION
Scope and Content Note: Took in the entire city of Madison. There had not been any reapportionment since 1920.

RUTH'S CAMPAIGN FOR ASSEMBLY IN 1960
Scope and Content Note: District now was just the west side of Madison. Presidential candidate John Kennedy did not carry the west side in 1960. The Irish Catholic thing. She lost. Used to get many votes from the east side.

1952 CAMPAIGN FOR STATE TREASURER
Scope and Content Note: No one anxious to run for the lesser statewide offices at that time. “I wanted the experience of the campaign, I think.” Defeat did not bother her. Does not recall why she chose state treasurer rather than secretary of state or some other officer.

THE STATE TREASURERSHIP
Scope and Content Note: Warren Smith, who ran for the office as a Republican in 1948, made a remark about how one could become rich in that office because of its revenue collecting functions. Right after his election, the legislature stripped the office of most of its functions.

ROLE OF WOMEN IN DOC
Scope and Content Note: Men held all the important positions. “Just the way things were.” She wrote an article for the Wisconsin Democrat on women in politics. In the article, pointed out how the Republicans had prevented a woman's candidacy and how she felt the Democrats would never be guilty of such a thing. On the other hand, she recalls a meeting up north where only three of the sixty people in attendance were women. When she pointed this out to a man after the meeting, he responded that the men did not know they could bring their wives. One of the reasons DOC was so successful in Dane County was that many “women volunteered their services and actually performed them. I think men often take these jobs and then don't do the job.” Dane County Democrats always had women on the board; state party always had women on the Administrative Committee. Women were shy about being candidates, however.

DOC'S WOMEN'S ISSUES COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Presumes its purpose was to get women active. She was never involved with it. She was too busy for much party involvement after she was elected.

WOMEN LEADERS IN DOC
Scope and Content Note: Julia Boegholt “felt that she was short changed.” Marge Benson “was much more of a team player:” Gladys Hoan was “very capable.” “Their row was harder to hoe in Milwaukee than it was here.” In Milwaukee a good deal of party planning took place at Wendelin Kraft's tavern and other places where women did not hang out. Helen Marty got along well with the men.

SERVED ON COUNTY BOARD, 1953-1960
Scope and Content Note: There were eighty-four members of the county board at the time and she was the only woman. “I was secretary of everything: You know, the woman that goes to the meeting, tends to be the secretary. And as a result of being a secretary and doing a good job of being a secretary, I got to be a very knowledgeable supervisor. In fact there was no recognition that I was even a woman on the county board.” Had her last baby in 1954 and never missed a meeting. Some members of the board did not even know she had the baby. “I'd been donating to the flower fund. Nobody sent me any flowers while I was in the hospital.”

SERVED ON SCHOOL BOARD, 1963-1972
Scope and Content Note: Only woman. Traditionally had been only one woman on the school board. Major change today where most school board members are women.

MORE ON THE COUNTY BOARD
Scope and Content Note: For several years while she was on the county board, she was also teaching high school in Oregon. She would get “terribly tired” because the meetings went on so far into the night.

HUSBAND'S CANDIDACY FOR GOVERNOR IN 1954 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Scope and Content Note: It seemed “do-able.” Everyone underestimated Bill Proxmire's strength. Jim did not enjoy campaigning. Probably a good thing he was not elected. Later ran for circuit judge and lost. “The job he's had for the last twenty years (judge) is the one he's really suited for, and I think he's really enjoyed that.”

MANAGING SUCH A BUSY LIFE
Scope and Content Note: In 1954 her husband had just finished chairing the DOC, was serving as co-chair of the Americans for Democratic Action, and ran for Governor. She was teaching high school, serving on the county board, and having her fourth child. “I wonder. Every day I wake up and I wonder. Now I see my own daughters going through this same sort of thing, and I scold them, my youngest daughter particularly.” Youngest daughter is a professor and a law school dean in Arizona and was just elected to a board there; in addition she's writing a book. “I'm fussying at her, occasionally. I've given it up now. She says, 'it sounds just exactly the same words that grandma used to use on you.'” Good health, especially amongst the children, was an important reason why they could lead such busy lives. The children were “cooperative. And they kind of enjoyed politics.” “The other thing was that my husband and I were co-partners. He was a very much of a father. And we spelled each other off.” “Somehow, I don't know how, when they needed us, we were there.” Good live-in student helpers.

PHIL LA FOLLETTE, 1950s-1960s
Scope and Content Note: Law partner of her husband. He was quite conservative by that time, “but a fascinating, interesting man.” Politics did not come up often at social gatherings.