Title: Oral History Interview with Julia Hodgdon Boegholt
Inclusive Dates: 1976 July 8

Creator:

• Boegholt, Julia Hodgdon, 1901?-

Call Number: Tape 571A

Quantity: 1 tape recording (61 min.)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Tape-recorded interview, made July 8, 1976, by James A. Cavanaugh of the Historical Society staff with Julia Boegholt of Oregon, Wisconsin, a founder of the Democratic Organizing Committee in 1948 which enlisted former Progressives, Socialists, labor people, and others in successfully establishing the Democratic Party as a political force in Wisconsin.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-tape00571a

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Seventy-five-year-old Mrs. Julia Hodgdon Boegholt is a lifelong liberal Democrat who came to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1926 with her husband, who began graduate studies that year under Alexander Meiklejohn. Mr. and Mrs. Boegholt lived near Philip La Follette and their liberal leanings naturally led them into local volunteer work for the progressive faction of the Republican Party. When the movement to liberalize and vitalize the Democratic Party of Wisconsin arose in the early 1940's, Andy Biemiller, former Socialist and Progressive labor leader in Milwaukee and now chief lobbyist for the AFL-CIO, asked Mrs. Boegholt to help organize Democrats in Dane County. Mrs. Boegholt did the spade work in Dane County, 1942-46, and was recognized for her efforts in May 1948 when she was named vice-chairman of the Democratic Organizing Committee (DOC) at its organizational meeting in Fond du Lac. Further recognition of her work came that same year when she was elected national committeewoman at the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia. When she resigned from that post in 1951 in order to give geographical credibility to Wisconsin's two national committee posts, Mrs. Boegholt became less active in the party.

Interview

As a field representative for the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, my [interviewer James Cavanaugh] search for materials pertaining to the Democratic Organizing Committee led me to write Milwaukee labor lawyer Philip Marshall who directed me to Mrs. Boegholt. Marshall described Mrs. Boegholt as the “strong right arm and co-conspirator” of Robert Tehan, the main architect of Democratic revival in Wisconsin. Marshall felt that Mrs. Boegholt “played such an important role in those early days that I think it would be a mistake if you did not interview her as well as seeking whatever materials she may have accumulated.”

I taped Mrs. Boegholt for one hour on a hot summer day in her farmhouse near Oregon, Wisconsin. She is very alert and rather articulate. The neighbor's dogs and passing vehicles sometimes provided annoying background noises, but Mrs. Boegholt's strong voice always came through clearly. Although we had talked on the phone, I had not met Mrs. Boegholt previously. Prior knowledge of the general subject matter of the interview -- the Democratic Organizing Committee and the early days of the Democratic Party's revitalization in Wisconsin -- was the only preparation she had. Because of this lack of preparation, Mrs. Boegholt was sometimes mistaken on certain dates and names, and occasionally fumbled for an answer to a question which she probably was not equipped to answer. Usually, she would conclude this herself and refer me to someone else who could give a better answer. This problem is particularly evident during the first few minutes of the second side of the tape.

There were two aspects of the interview. First, it was an information-gathering interview. I wanted to find out from Mrs. Boegholt exactly how the grass-roots spade work was performed when people started to rebuild and liberalize the Wisconsin Democratic Party. Second, we covered many events, personalities, decisions, etc. which Mrs. Boegholt, by the nature of her position within the party discussed from her unique perspective. This provides an interpretative aspect to the interview.

Probably out of modesty, Mrs. Boegholt tended to minimize her importance and her position in the party during its formative years. She probably would deny Marshall's description of her as Tehan's “strong right arm.” She seemed to be quite frank in our interview, but on at least one occasion she pleaded ignorance about a subject about which other sources indicate she should not have been so ignorant.^[1]

Researchers interested in Wisconsin politics of the past four decades will be interested in several of Mrs. Boegholt's observations. She sees Philip La Follette's attempt to form a national Progressive Party in 1938 (and the character of that party) as being a turning point for many liberals, particularly labor people, who were eventually to end up in the Democratic Party. She credits Socialist and Progressive labor people in Milwaukee with a more crucial role than they are usually attributed. She also introduces the purely pragmatic political need for patronage as a main motive for establishing a strong state party in tune with the national party.

Abstract to the Interview

The Abstract lists, in order of discussion, the distinct topics covered on the tape, and indicates the time-marking on the user tape at which point the beginning of the particular discussion appears. The numbers (time-markings) indicate the point on the second track of each tape where discussion of the distinct topic listed in capital letters begins. These time-markings are keyed to a time announcement, heard at five-second intervals, on the second track of the tape.

Thus, the researcher may listen to distinct topics without listening to all of the material on the tapes. For instance, the user who wishes to listen to the discussion of “PATRONAGE AS A FACTOR IN DECISION TO FORM STRONG STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY” should locate the place on the second track of side one where the voice announces the 05:10 time-marking (the voice says at this point, “five minutes, ten seconds”), and at this point switch to the first track to hear the discussion. The discussion of “PATRONAGE AS A FACTOR...” continues until approximately 07:35 at which point discussion of the next topic (“INABILITY TO ASSESS LABOR'S VIEW...”) listed in the Abstract begins.

Notice that in most cases sentences beneath each headline explain more about the contents of the topic discussed. For example, the sentences underneath “PATRONAGE AS A FACTOR...” give further details on what appears on the tape between 05:10 and 07:35.

The Abstract is designed to provide only a brief outline of the content of the tape and cannot serve as a substitute for listening to the tape.

Mrs. Boegholt had not accumulated many materials pertaining to her work for the Democratic Party, just a few personal letters and some bank statements. Most of what she had was turned over to Mrs. Gladys Hoan in 1951 when Mrs. Hoan succeeded Mrs. Boegholt as National Committeewoman from Wisconsin. Mrs. Boegholt had not yet pulled these materials together when this tape was made. She promised to do so and to donate the materials to the State Historical Society. In addition, the materials of other people active in the Democratic Organizing Committee, particularly those of Robert Tehan and Philip Marshall, have been promised to the Society.

Acquisition Information

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared by James A. Cavanaugh, August 25, 1976.

Side   1 Time   00:00	INTRODUCTION
Side   1 Time   00:30	BACKGROUND OF JULIA BOEGHOLT Scope and Content Note: Julia Boegholt arrived in Madison in 1926 when her husband began graduate school at the University of Wisconsin. Volunteer work for Progressives in late 1920's and 1930's.
Side   1 Time   1 01:10	COALITION OF DISILLUSIONED PROGRESSIVES DETERMINE TO MAKE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THE LIBERAL PARTY OF WISCONSIN Scope and Content Note: Disillusionment and dissatisfaction with the Progressive Party began amongst labor people as early as the late 1930's. Soon joined by young, non-labor liberals. Led by Dan Hoan, Howard McMurray, et al.
Side   1 Time   03:25	JULIA BOEGHOLT'S FIRST INVOLVEMENT IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY ORGANIZING Scope and Content Note: Asked by Andy Biemiller in 1942 to get Dane County Progressives to serve as Democratic election officials at the precinct level.
Side   1 Time   05:10	PATRONAGE AS A FACTOR IN DECISION TO FORM STRONG STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY Scope and Content Note: McMurray, Biemiller et al. dissatisfied with Milwaukee labor's share of federal patronage. (See also, side 2, 12:05.)
Side   1 Time   07:35	INABILITY TO ASSESS LABOR'S VIEW OF ITS TREATMENT BY PROGRESSIVE PARTY
Side   1 Time   08:15	WHY JULIA BOEGHOLT AND OTHERS WERE READY TO WORK FOR A STRONG LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY Scope and Content Note: National, New Deal Democrat for years. La Follette's attempt in 1938 to make Wisconsin Progressive Party a national organization in competition with New Deal Democracy. This new party more conservative than Wisconsin Progressive Party, excluded Socialists, etc. (See also, side 2, 14:15.)
Side   1 Time   11:45	FORMATION OF NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE PARTY A TURNING POINT Scope and Content Note: Young people, especially, find it easier to switch to Democratic Party work on local level after formation of Progressive Party on national level.
Side   1 Time   12:40	PROGRESSIVES' REACTIONS TO ROBERT LA FOLLETTE'S RETURN TO REPUBLICAN PARTY IN
Side   1 Time   13:30	FIRST SUCCESSFUL STEPS BY LIBERALS IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN WISCONSIN Scope and Content Note: McMurray and Biemiller, 1942-44, run for Congress and Senate as Democrats. Milwaukee labor/socialists were first in the movement to the Democratic Party.
Side   1 Time   14:50	ROOSEVELT, MCMURRAY, HOAN TICKET Scope and Content Note: Referred to as a liberal ticket, not Democratic; Julia Boegholt's activities in Dane County on behalf of this ticket; becomes launch for making Democratic Party the liberal party in Dane County and Wisconsin; “to establish a patronage route.”
Side   1 Time   17:00	FIRST EFFECTIVE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN IN DANE COUNTY Scope and Content Note: Former Progressive William G. Rice in 1946 runs as Democrat for second Congressional District seat; Democratic county ticket also; some Assemblymen elected as Democrats. [Mrs. Boegholt is two years off here. No Democrats won Assembly seats in Dane County in 1946; they did sweep all three seats in 1948.]
Side   1 Time   18:00	DANE COUNTY GOES DEMOCRATIC IN Scope and Content Note: County ticket, assemblymen, state senator elected; success spurs young people to go statewide.
Side   1 Time   19:15	BOB TEHAN GODFATHER OF YOUNG PROGRESSIVES WHO JOIN DEMOCRATIC PARTY Scope and Content Note: Serves as bridge between Milwaukee labor people and Dane County's younger, more intellectual Progressives.
Side   1 Time   21:05	HARMONY BETWEEN FACTIONS Scope and Content Note: Dan Hoan alleviates potential discord.
Side   1 Time   22:10	DOC MEETINGS PURPOSELY HELD OUTSIDE MILWAUKEE AND DANE COUNTIES Scope and Content Note: November 1949 constitutional convention at Green Bay, home of Progressive Reynolds family; other meetings out-state to prevent image as just Dane and Milwaukee party; Jim Doyle activities to spread the Party beyond Dane County.
Side   1 Time   25:05	TEHAN AND BOEGHOLT RESIGNATIONS FROM NATIONAL COMMITTEE POSTS Scope and Content Note: When Dane County resident Carl Thompson replaces Tehan, Boegholt must resign so that both committee seats are not occupied by Dane County people.
Side   1 Time   27:10	GLADYS HOAN REPLACES BOEGHOLT Scope and Content Note: Picked in order to provide socialist/labor people representation.
Side   1 Time   28:10	CHOICE OF CARL THOMPSON TO REPLACE TEHAN Scope and Content Note: A well-known Progressive who had firmly cast his lot with the Democrats.
Side   2 Time   00:00	INTRODUCTION
Side   2 Time   00:30	INABILITY TO ASSESS TEHAN-GREENE FIGHT FOR CONTROL OF PARTY IN
Side   2 Time   02:45	BOEGHOLT'S FIRST CONTACT WITH CHARLES GREENE AND ROBERT TEHAN Scope and Content Note: Telephone conversation with Tehan arranged by Biemiller; Tehan asks her to get 350 election officials lined up for 1946 election; reimburses her $8.80 postage; successful search for election officials.
Side   2 Time   05:05	MORE INABILITY TO ASSESS TEHAN-GREENE FIGHT
Side   2 Time   05:20	BOEGHOLT FIRST INVOLVEMENT WITH DEMOCRATIC PARTY WORK OUTSIDE DANE COUNTY Scope and Content Note: Greene steals mailing lists; Boegholt provides Tehan with hand-copied mailing list for Second District for 1948 election.
Side   2 Time   06:30	CHARLES GREENE Scope and Content Note: Old line Democrat; identified with conservative wing; active in teachers' union.
Side   2 Time   08:20	OLD LINE DEMOCRATS COOPERATE HEARTILY WITH NEWCOMERS Scope and Content Note: Welcome a chance to be on the winning side; remain active in the party; no feud. Lists traditional pockets and old leaders of Democratic Party.
Side   2 Time   12:05	BELIEF IN A TWO PARTY SYSTEM ANOTHER MOTIVE OF MCMURRAY, BIEMILLER, ET AL. Scope and Content Note: Biemiller experiences in Washington, D.C., job convinces him that Democratic Party alive and two party system most effective method. McMurray, a political scientist, arrives at same conclusion. Belief that federal patronage could be more effectively dispensed through local Democratic Party than through Progressive Party as previously.
Side   2 Time   14:15	PHILIP LA FOLLETTE'S “GREAT MISTAKE” IN Scope and Content Note: Attempt to make Progressive Party a national organization helped convince many of the “two party system” argument. That, plus conservatism of La Follette's new party, lead many to search for alternative liberal party. [At 16:10 Mrs. Boegholt is a little confused about dates. She does not recognize the fact that Phil La Follette was elected Governor as early as 1934 on a Progressive Party ticket. She does not say as much, but seems to be assuming that there was no Progressive Party, as such, in Wisconsin until La Follette formed the Progressive Party on a national scale. This confusion, however, does not detract from her argument that the attempt to place Wisconsin Progressivism in the national arena as a competitor to the New Deal was an early and crucial factor in driving many Wisconsin Progressives to the Democratic Party on the state level. It appears, however, that the conservative nature of this national Progressive Party was also a crucial factor.]
Side   2 Time   17:10	ORGANIZING OUTSIDE DANE AND MILWAUKEE COUNTIES Scope and Content Note: Done by “populist” type Progressives, young Progressives, out-of-state progressives, many inexperienced, mainly locals. Merlin Hull, 9th District; Tom Amlie; Pat Lucey, Crawford County; Tom Amish, Bayfield and Ashland; Larry Dilweg and John Reynolds, Green Bay; Jim Delman, Sheboygan; Jerry Fox, Chilton and Fond du Lac; Ray Ware, Oshkosh; Norman Clapp, Lancaster; Bob Lewis, farmer groups; Carl Thompson, throughout the state; a Superior newspaperman; a Polish man near Hayward; Byron Nelson, Spooner.
Side   2 Time   25:20	FORMATION OF DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE Scope and Content Note: Name not consciously patterned after CIO Organizing Committees; purpose was to form an extralegal organization not subject to constraints of official political parties.
Side   2 Time   26:05	UNION PEOPLE VERY ACTIVE IN THE EFFORT Scope and Content Note: Unions along the lakeshore, plus AFSCME in Madison.
Side   2 Time   27:00	BOB TEHAN THE MOST IMPORTANT FIGURE IN THE WHOLE SCHEME Scope and Content Note: Able to raise enough money from small contributions to pay expenses of the young organizers.
Side   2 Time   28:10	ANDY BIEMILLER Scope and Content Note: First met through Virginia North, in early 1930's; a little biography of Biemiller.

The main “other source” is Richard Haney, “A History of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Since World War Two,” (UW-Madison, Ph.D. thesis, 1970). The instance to which I refer here comes at the beginning of side 2 where Mrs. Boegholt has difficulty sorting out names, times, and motives when asked about the fight between Bob Tehan and Charles Greene for control of the Party in early 1948. She claims not to have come into prominence within the party on a statewide level until after this battle, but certainly she must have engaged in conversations about the fight since then. Unlike historians, however, people like Mrs. Boegholt, who are active in politics, usually do not dwell on personalities or past political differences. Mrs. Boegholt's memory may well have failed her on this point, but she does, nevertheless, add a new dimension to the Tehan-Greene feud -- Greene's theft of the party mailing lists.