Subseries: Lucile Miller, 1983 March 5
Note: Access online.

INTRODUCTION

PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Born in Madison, 1904. Father, attorney, Progressive, came to Madison in 1901 to work for Bob La Follette. Mother arrived in 1903. Both from Kentucky. Lucile was not graduated from seventh or eighth grade because she would not work for the Red Cross because her father was against the war. Spent a lot of time in south Chicago with grandmother in 1920s.

WOMEN'S POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Scope and Content Note: Lucile's mother and her mother's friends thought women should be able to vote. Most politically active women were educated.

LUCILE'S POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT
Scope and Content Note: Never worked with Progressives. First active in the 1940s. Attended Dane County Citizens Committee (DCCC) convention in Green Bay. Impressed with enthusiasm of new Democrats. Attended meetings at the Amlies--most participants were university people. Attended meetings in Milwaukee after new Democrats merged with the statutory Party. Dan Hoan was at thoese meetings. Was precinct committeewoman in Madison. Organized Blacks to register to vote.

END OF TAPE 9, SIDE 1, PART 1

INTRODUCTION

LUCILE'S POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Politically active Blacks in Milwaukee were Republicans. People responsive to organizing. People shocked by dissolution of Progressives were encouraged by the liberalization of the Democratic Party. Meetings in Milwaukee were large.

JOE McCARTHY, COMMUNISM
Scope and Content Note: Lucile and her mother supported Phil La Follette to the end. Furious that Bob La Follette was defeated by McCarthy, another Hitler. (Discussion of anti-Communist hysteria.) Communists wanted to control third parties. Could not influence Dane County Democrats because the Democrats knew the identity of all local Communists and kept vigilant guard against them. Communist control of Democrats never an issue in Dane County. Lucile did not get along with Communists.

END OF TAPE 9, SIDE 1, PART 2

INTRODUCTION

WOMEN'S POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Scope and Content Note: Women did a lot of volunteer work. Lucile worked with Gretchen Pfankuchen and Julia Boegholt. Boegholt was primary figure, first national committeewoman. Educated people were the leaders. (Lists leaders.) Many Catholics were Democrats.

THE LA FOLLETTES
Scope and Content Note: Supported by labor and The Capital Times. Little coop support because there were few coops in the 1940s. Lucile's mother and father were devoted supporters and friends of the La Follettes. Lucile used to babysit for Phil La Follette's children.

DISCUSSION OF CONTEMPORARY WOMEN'S GROUP

END OF INTERVIEW