Subseries: Esther Lawton, 1983 May 31
Note: Access online.

INTRODUCTION

INITIAL INVOLVEMENT WITH DEMOCRATS
Scope and Content Note: Held weekly coffees/work groups in her home in the third ward. Mostly blue collar workers with no Party affiliation attended, mostly women and a few men. Would work on material sent to them by state headquarters--clerical work. Before 1948 Lawton typed addressograph plates.

1948 ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: Delivered Mutual Assistance--political newspaper listing state and local candidates.

FIRST POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT
Scope and Content Note: Worked for Progressives statewide. As a student she spent much time listening to the Assembly. Became acquainted with every assemblyperson and senator.

1948 ELECTION
Scope and Content Note: Delivered Mutual Assistance door-to-door. Received them from Fran Rose.

1950
Scope and Content Note: Held work groups in her home. Leafleted and delivered Mutual Assistance.

POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN EARLY 1950s
Scope and Content Note: 1951 moved to Crestwood where people were much more politically involved. Leafleted with three or four women, only during campaigns. (Lists names of active women and a few men.) Many women also did clerical work and enlisted their children's help. Chairman of countywide telephone committee for one year. Used telephone to spread word of social and political events because it was inexpensive. Very little money available.

STATE HEADQUARTERS
Scope and Content Note: Used to do clerical work at state headquarters at night sometimes. Headquarters was two or three rooms. Fran Rose, executive secretary, ran office in the early 1950s. Also Janet Lee.

MEETINGS AT THE AMLIES
Scope and Content Note: Attended one or two. Was then working full-time as receptionist at Wisconsin General Hospital.

END OF TAPE 16, SIDE 1

INTRODUCTION

MEETINGS AT THE AMLIES (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Does not recall.

PROGRESSIVE PARTY WORK
Scope and Content Note: Did clerical work for Progressive Party while a student, 1938 or 1939.

STATE CONVENTIONS
Scope and Content Note: Attended only one convention after receiving her Masters degree. Had always attended conventions before then. Did not attend 1950 convention. Had attended Progressive conventions including the Fond du Lac convention. Bob La Follette thought Progressives could continue winning as Republicans. Many people thought they should take over Democratic Party instead of Republican Party. Started going to conventions in 1952.

DANE COUNTY CITIZENS COMMITTEE, HARRY TRUMAN'S VISIT TO MADISON, JULIA BOEGHOLT
Scope and Content Note: Does not recall.

MILES MCMILLIN
Scope and Content Note: A writer, knew him socially.

GAYLORD NELSON
Scope and Content Note: Very political, knew him socially.

AMERICAN VETERANS COMMITTEE
Scope and Content Note: Husband not involved, knew little about this organization.

CARL THOMPSON
Scope and Content Note: Knew him.

CONVENTIONS IN THE 1950s
Scope and Content Note: Went to conventions as delegate from Dane County until 1955 or 1956.

GAYLORD NELSON'S 1960 GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: Worked very hard on campaign. Conducted campaign on $30,000. Organized a Nelson For Governor club in every county. Also did bookkeeping. Anecdote about Nelson and hitchhiker in northern Wisconsin.) (Lists people who worked closely with Nelson on campaign.

NELSON'S 1962 CAMPAIGN
Scope and Content Note: Lawton did not think that Nelson could lose, but Nelson thought he might. Nelson ran a very hard campaign. Lawton was bookkeeper for statewide committee.

END OF INTERVIEW