Progressive Republican Clifford W. Krueger was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on June 24, 1918 but was raised and educated in Merrill. Even as a boy Krueger was very heavy and that condition was responsible both for the nickname “Tiny” by which he was generally known and for much of the character and success of his political career. In 1937 when Krueger was only a junior at Merrill High School, he was invited to join the Serls and Sterling Circus as a fatman. During that summer and the following year Krueger traveled with the circus. He later recalled that the experience had a profound influence on him, for it broadened his perspective, sensitized him to people's problems and concerns, and helped him to overcome his shyness. After graduation from high school Krueger attended Merrill Commercial College and with the assistance of his father became established in the tavern business.
Due to the influence of his grandparents and his father, who was elected elected sheriff on the Progressive ticket, Krueger was active in politics at an early age. Political columnist John Wyngaard, who first met him in 1939, described Krueger was a “mover and shaker” in the Young Progressives. Nevertheless, Krueger's first attempts at elective office were unsuccessful; in 1940 he was defeated in a try for county treasurer and in 1942 he made an unsuccessful run for the state Senate. Then in 1945 he was elected to the Merrill city council. In 1946, the year in which the district senate seat was again up for election, the Progressive Party disbanded and like many of the leaders of that organization, Krueger determined to make his next try for the Senate in the Republican Party. After defeating his opponent in the primary he had to face a strong independent write-in campaign in the general election from Republicans who were anxious to keep him out of the party. After his victory, Krueger held his seat until 1955 when he was redistricted out of the Senate; he returned in 1957 and remained in the Legislature without interruption until his resignation in 1982.
Krueger's election at age 28 was unusual because of the limited number of young men then serving in the Legislature. His election also attracted nationwide publicity because of the special chair which had to be constructed for him for use in the Senate chamber. Throughout his career Krueger continued to receive a great deal of press coverage because of his size, and this attention partly obscured his record of legislative accomplishment and the moderating influence which he exerted within the Republican ranks in the Legislature. Often referred to as the “Voice of the North” Krueger was a strong advocate of the interests of that part of the state. He was also well
known for his support of conservation and agricultural interests, and he served on numerous standing and special committees on these topics. (A full record of his committee assignments is included in the biennial editions of theBlue Book.) After the Watergate-inspired election losses of 1974 the Republicans in the Senate turned to Krueger for leadership, and he served as minority leader for three sessions until his resignation in 1982. In 1978 Krueger greeted the election of independent Republican Lee S. Dreyfus as governor with pleasure, but his resignation was rumored to have been caused by poor relations with the governor's office.
After he left the Senate, Krueger resided in Merrill, Wisconsin. He died on October 15, 1988.
