Frank James Sensenbrenner, Jr., is the offspring of a well-known Wisconsin family. His grandfather, Frank Jacob Sensenbrenner (1864-1952) was president and chairman of the board of Kimberly-Clark and a longtime director of the Wisconsin Manufacturers' Association. It was in politics, however, rather than business that his grandson was to make his mark.
F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., was born in Chicago on June 14, 1943, but moved to the Milwaukee North Shore with his family at the age of four. After attending the Milwaukee Country Day School, he graduated from Stanford University in 1965 with a degree in political science and returned to Wisconsin to take a law degree in 1968. During this period he was a leader in the Young Republican organization both in Wisconsin and California, and he served political apprenticeships with California Congressman J. Arthur Younger and Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Jerris Leonard. Even before he sought elective office himself, Sensenbrenner's work was recognized by inclusion in the 1967 Who's Who in American Politics.
After graduation from law school Sensenbrenner established a practice in Cedarburg and almost immediately declared his candidacy for the 25th Assembly District seat which consisted of Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, and Fox Point. As a freshman representative, Sensenbrenner quickly established a name for himself. He was selected as co-chairman of the Legislative Council's Committee on the Age of Majority, and as chairman of the Election Committee he was the only new legislator to head a standing committee. He also gained prominence for his legislation to curb campus anti-war demonstrations and in opposition to the take-over of the Legislature by Father Groppi. Sensenbrenner also proved unusually adept at communicating with his constituents whose conservatism he almost precisely mirrored. In 1970 Sensenbrenner was reelected by the largest margin gained by a Republican assemblyman; he was reelected in 1972 and 1974. During this period he chaired the joint Committee on Revision, Repeals and Uniform Laws. His other Assembly committee posts are noted in the biennial editions of the Blue Book.
In a special election in April 1975 Sensenbrenner was elected to the State Senate seat vacated by Robert Kasten. As one of the most vocal and aggressive Republicans in that body, Sensenbrenner was chosen as assistant majority leader in 1977, a position which took advantage of his expert knowledge of the rules and parliamentary procedure. He was a frequent critic of the Lucey Administration's tax and fiscal policies, especially those which concerned educational funding. Sensenbrenner also served on the Administrative Rules, Education, Revenue, Urban Affairs, and Organization committees.
In 1978 Sensenbrenner was elected to the seat in the House of Representatives vacated by Robert Kasten in his unsuccessful try for governor. Although he was initially elected only after a close primary election, he has since been reelected by wide margins by the predominantly Republican district. In Congress Sensenbrenner serves on the Judiciary and Ethics Committees, assignments which make use of his special experience and interests. He has continued his reputation as an intelligent, hard-working legislator and his voting record, which consistently earns high ratings from conservative and business groups, is the most conservative of the Wisconsin delegation.
Sensenbrenner is married to Cheryl Warren, also a Republican Party activist and the daughter of former Wisconsin Attorney General Robert Warren.
