Hes the most important political figure in wisconsins history and one of the most important in the history of the 20th century in the United States. He was a reforming governor. He defined what progressivism is. He was one of the first to use the term to self identify. He was the United States senator. He was recognized by his peers in the 1950s as one of the five greatest senators in american history. He was an opponent of world war i. He stood his ground advocating for free speech. Above all, he was about the people. In the area after the civil war, america changed radically from a nation of small farmers, small producers, small manufacturers. 1870s, we had concentrations of wealth. We had growing inequality. We had concern about the influence of money in government. The United States senators were elected by legislators. There were huge sums of money going into those campaigns. Individuals were looking for a way to change the status quo. Around 1900, the idea of progressivism coales
Live coverage begins at 3 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan. [cheering] we want willkie we want willkie we want willkie i stand before you without a single pledge or promise or understanding of any kind except for the advancement of your cause and the preservation of american democracy. [applause] as your nominee, i will have an aggressive fighting campaign. [applause] we want willkie the republicans in we want wi llkie. Wendell willkie ran for president in 1940. These are some images of him on the campaign trail. We are here with david willkie, his grandson. I want you to introduce the audience to some of the fervor. As were seeing from these Iconic Images from the 1940s campaign that surrounded your grandfather as he ran for president and tried to defeat Franklin Delano roosevelt, who was seeking a third term. What an exciting time in the country. We are entering the end of the hoover administration, eight years of the Roosevelt Administration. President roosevelt was right at the height of
Home to the house and senate since 1800. It is their home districts and states that send members to washington, d. C. Over the next 90 minutes, a look at pivotal u. S. Politicians as we travel the nation in search of their stories. Coming up first, former wisconsin governor and 1924 Progressive Party president ial bobdate, robert fighting lafalce. Hes the most important political figure in wisconsins history and one of the most important in the history of the 20th century in the United States. He was a reforming governor. He defined what progressivism is. He was one of the first to use the term to self identify. He was the United States senator. He was recognized by his peers in the 1950s as one of the five greatest senators in American History. He was an opponent of world war i. He stood his ground advocating for free speech. Above all, he was about the people. In the era after the civil war, america changed radically from a nation of small farmers, small producers, small manufacturer
It is a glorious service. The call comes to every citizen. It is an unending struggle to make and keep government representative. Bob lafollett is probably the most important political figure in Wisconsin History and one of the most important in the history of the 20th century of the United States. He was a reforming governor. He defined what progressivism is pretty was one of the first to use the term progressive to selfidentify. He was United States senator who is ready nice by his peers in the 1950s as one of the five greatest senators in American History. He was an opponent of world war i, stood his ground advocating for free speech. Above all Bob Lafollett was about the people. After the civil war america changed radically from a nation of Small Farmers and small producers and small manufacturers and by the 1870s and 1880s, 1890s we had concentrations of wealth. We had growing inequality and we had concerned about the influence of money in government. The United States senators we
I stand before you i stand before you without a single pledge or promise or understanding of any kind except for the advancement of your cause and the preservation of american democracy. [applause] as your nominee, i will have an aggressive fighting campaign. [applause] the republicans l willkie ran for president in 1940. These are some damages some images of him on the campaign trail. We are here with david willkie. I want you to introduce the cabinet audiences of some of the fervor. Your grandfather ran for president and try to defeat Franklin Delano roosevelt, who was seeking a third term. Here we are just entering into the great depression, the end of the hoover administration, eight years of the Roosevelt Administration. President roosevelt was right at the height of its power. That opened up a tie for a dark horse candidate. Keep in mind the state of the Republican Party. It was a party defeated by roosevelt in 1932. What were the republicans looking for and why was your grandfat