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

INTRODUCTION

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.)

END OF TAPE 1, SIDE 1

INTRODUCTION

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.

END OF INTERVIEW