Frank P. Zeidler (1912-2006) was born September 12, 1912 in Milwaukee, the youngest
son of Michael (1878-1970) and Clara (Nitschke) Zeidler (1880-1950). He had three
siblings: Carl F. Zeidler (1908-1942), Clemens H. Zeidler (1911-1980) and Dorothy
Zeidler Boeck (1916-1998). He graduated from West Division High School in 1929. He
worked towards his undergraduate degree by taking classes through correspondence
schools from the University of Chicago and University of Wisconsin Extension as well
as studying at Marquette University. He received an honorary doctorate from the
University of Wisconsin in 1958. Zeidler married Agnes Reinke on June 30, 1939. They
had six children: Clara, Dorothy, Michael, Anita, Mary, and Jeannette.
Zeidler worked as a surveyor and topographical engineer from 1931 to 1943. He was
elected and served from 1938 to 1940 as Milwaukee County Surveyor. From 1943 to 1948
he was a surveyor for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad.
In 1941, Zeidler won election to the Milwaukee Board of School Directors and served
in that position until 1948. He ran unsuccessfully for Wisconsin State Treasurer as
a Progressive in 1940, and as a Socialist he ran for Wisconsin Governor in 1942,
Mayor of Milwaukee in 1944, and United States Congress in 1946. In 1948, Milwaukee
Mayor John Bohn chose not to seek re-election and Zeidler entered the primary. He
won the primary and then went on to defeat Henry Reuss in the general election.
After serving three terms, Zeidler decided not to seek re-election, for health
concerns, and retired in 1960.
Important issues in Milwaukee during Zeidler's administration included urban
expansion, urban renewal, blight elimination, public housing, and civil defense. The
City expanded greatly through a vigorous annexation program until the Oak Creek Law
of 1953 effectively blocked further expansion, which allowed the creation of fourth
class cities in thinly populated areas. Public housing projects were built and slum
clearance pursued. Milwaukee's civil defense plans were among the most innovative
and elaborate in the country.
Zeidler pursued many interests after his retirement from office. He wrote extensively
for the American Institute of Municipal Research, Education, and Training, Inc., a
subsidiary of the American Municipal Association. He worked with the Ford Foundation
reviewing grant applications in urban affairs. Zeidler was appointed Director of
Resource Development for Wisconsin in 1964 by Governor John W. Reynolds, serving in
that position for two years. Beginning in 1967, Zeidler was a labor arbitrator or
"umpire" as he preferred, in Milwaukee County and elsewhere in the state. Zeidler
taught courses and lectured on a variety of subjects from government to the history
of science at area Milwaukee colleges and universities such as Cardinal Stritch
College, Marquette University, Alverno College, and the University of Wisconsin, and
the University of Wisconsin Fox River Valley, in Menasha.
Zeidler's community interests included membership in or advisory help to many
community action groups in Milwaukee. Some of these included ESHAC (East Side
Housing Action Committee), the 13th Ward Community Council (later known as the
Central North Community Council) and the Atkinson Capitol Teutonia Community
Council. Zeidler also served on the board of directors of the Commonwealth Savings
Bank and the board of trustees of Alverno College. He was an active member of the
Lutheran Church locally and in the regional synod. Zeidler wrote and spoke on social
issues affecting the Church.
Zeidler was one of the founders and served as secretary of the Public Enterprise
Committee (originally Municipal Enterprise). Since 1948, this political education
group has published a newsletter, the Public Enterprise
Record, and has served as a forum for liberal viewpoints in Milwaukee.
Founded by a coalition of Socialists, Progressives, and liberal Democrats, the
Committee continues to provide commentary on political affairs. Frank Zeidler ran on
political platforms promulgated by the Committee in his three successful mayoral
bids.
Zeidler joined the Socialist party in 1932 and continued his active membership for
decades. He became secretary of the Milwaukee County Socialist Party in 1937 and has
served the Socialist Party in various state level positions since then. The
Socialist Party merged with the Progressives in 1935, forming the Progressive Party
Federation but broke up in 1941. Zeidler, unsuccessfully, ran for Wisconsin Governor
in 1942
The Socialist Party dropped out of national electoral politics after Darlington
Hoopes' presidential campaign in 1956. During the 1960s, some of the Party moved
toward working within the Democratic Party. The (Eugene) Debs Caucus opposed this
trend and, in 1973, at a meeting in Milwaukee's Turner Hall, attempted to revive the
Party. National headquarters moved to Milwaukee following this meeting. Zeidler
began to play a more central role in the Party at this time.
In 1975, the Socialists returned to national political activity and nominated Frank
Zeidler for President of the United States. His campaign was faced with varied
election laws, limited finances, and little press coverage. Zeidler garnered about
8,000 votes and modest publicity. In December 1975, the Party headquarters was
destroyed by fire. Most of the records were lost or damaged.
Frank Zeidler continued on with his political and educational activity for many years
after. The Zeidler Municipal Building in downtown Milwaukee is named for him, along
with the Frank P. Zeidler Humanities Room at the Milwaukee Public Library. He spoke,
wrote, and issued press releases on major current events until the time of his death
in 2006.
