Fighting Bob La Follette: The Righteous ReformerRobert "Fighting Bob" La Follette (1855-1925) was one of the most significant leaders of American progressivism. Nancy Unger integrates previously unknown details from La Follette's personal life with important events from his storied political career, revealing a complex man who was a compelling mixture of failure and accomplishment, tragedy and triumph. Serving as U.S. representative from 1885 to 1891, governor of Wisconsin from 1901 to 1906, and senator from Wisconsin from 1906 to his death in 1925, La Follette earned the nickname "Fighting Bob" through his uncompromising efforts to reform both politics and society, especially by championing the rights of the poor, workers, women, and minorities. Based on La Follette family letters, diaries, and other papers, this biography covers the personal events that shaped the public man. In particular, Unger explores La Follette's relationship with his remarkable wife, feminist Belle Case La Follette, and with his sons, both of whom succeeded him in politics. The La Follette who emerges from this retelling is an imperfect yet appealing man who deserves to be remembered as one of the United States' most devoted and effective politicians. |
Contents
BEGINNINGS OH MY IDOLIZED FATHER | 7 |
CIVIL WARS NY NAME IS LA FOLLETTE | 20 |
THE UNIVERSITY YEARS TRAINING FOR THE DUTIES OF CITIZENSHIP | 31 |
BELLE CASE LA FOLLETTE WOMANS VICTORY WOMANS TRAGEDY | 47 |
LA FOLLETTE AND THE LAW EVERYTHING IS NOT ENOUGH | 69 |
CONGRESSMAN LA FOLLETTE SO GOOD A FELLOW EVEN HIS ENEMIES LIKE HIM | 85 |
CITIZEN LA FOLLETTE FORCED INTO THE FIGHT | 98 |
GOVERNOR LA FOLLETTE AND THE WISCONSIN IDEA WISCONSIN IS A HAPPIER AND BETTER STATE TO LIVE IN | 120 |
INCIDENT IN PHILADELPHIA LA FOLLETTES POLITICAL SUICIDE | 200 |
NO SURRENDER ONE HARDLY KNOWS WHETHER TO PITY LA FOLLETTE OR ADMIRE HIS BRAVERY | 221 |
WORLD WAR I A LITTLE GROUP OF WILLFUL MEN | 239 |
RESURRECTION TIME AND EVENTS ARE BRINGING THINGS YOUR WAY AT LAST | 263 |
FINAL BATTLES I WANT TO DIE WITH NY BOOTS ON | 281 |
A CHALLENGE TO YOUTH IN AMERICA DOWN ALL THE FUTURE YEARS | 305 |
NOTES | 311 |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | 353 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
African Americans audience Autobiography BCL and FL BCL to RML Belle La Follette Belle's bill Bob La Follette Bob's Bobbie Bobbie's campaign candidate Congress death defeat Democratic Despite efforts election father fight Fola Follette claimed Follette family Follette's friends governor Hiram Johnson husband illness Insurgent Isaac Stephenson John July June La Follette family labor leader legislation lette letter Lincoln Steffens Madison Magazine of History Mary noted party Phil Philetus Sawyer political president presidential Progressive Era Progressive Movement progressivism railroad reform Republican RML to family RML to JR Robert La Follette Saxton Senate Senator La Follette Sept SHSW-H speaking speech Taft Thelen Theodore Roosevelt tion urged vote Washington William Wilson Wisconsin Idea Wisconsin Magazine women wrote