Philip La Follette
Encyclopedia
Philip Fox La Follette was an American politician from the US state of Wisconsin
. He served three terms as the Governor of Wisconsin and helped create the Wisconsin Progressive Party.
, a member of the politically-prominent La Follette family
, the son of Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
and Belle Case La Follette
, brother of Robert M. La Follette, Jr.
, brother of Fola La Follette
, whose husband was the playwright George Middleton
, and uncle of Bronson La Follette
.
La Follette served as a second lieutenant in the United States Army
Infantry in 1918, during World War I. In 1919 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Wisconsin
, Madison. and in 1922 a Bachelor of Laws
degree from University of Wisconsin. He married Isabel Bacon in 1923.
for Dane County, Wisconsin
from 1925–1927. La Follette was the 27th and 29th Governor of Wisconsin
from 1931 to 1933 and 1935 to 1939. He was first elected as a progressive member of the Republican Party
in the 1930 election.
After a defeat in the 1932 Republican Primary, however, La Follette along with his brother, Robert M. La Follette, Jr. created the Wisconsin Progressive Party
and both ran successfully under its ticket in 1934. The gregarious governor was known as "Phil" on the streets of Madison
during his governorship, much as his father had been known as simply "Bob." His governorship saw the implementation of many of the progressive measures of the New Deal
, with La Follette being responsible for the implementation of some of them on the state level before the Roosevelt Administration could do so on the national level.
La Follette was defeated seeking reelection as governor in 1938. That spring he had attempted to launch the National Progressive Party of America in an attempt to create a national third party (as the La Follettes had helped create in Wisconsin) in anticipation of Franklin D. Roosevelt
not seeking a third term for President
. The plan for a new national Progressive Party never materialized at the time, and Roosevelt soon decided to defy convention and precedent and seek a third term; La Follette never again sought public office for himself.
, serving on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur
. He would later spearhead a slate of delegates supporting MacArthur in the 1948 presidential campaign.
From 1955 to 1959, La Follette served as president of Hazeltine Electronics, and made his home in Douglaston, New York. He later returned to Wisconsin, wrote his autobiography, and was active in the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
He died in Madison, Wisconsin on August 18, 1965 at age 68.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. He served three terms as the Governor of Wisconsin and helped create the Wisconsin Progressive Party.
Early life and family
La Follette was born in Madison, WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, a member of the politically-prominent La Follette family
La Follette family
The La Follette family is a family of politicians from the United States. Below is a list of members:*Robert M. La Follette, Sr. , District Attorney of Dane County, Wisconsin 1880-1884; U.S. Representative from Wisconsin 1885-1891; delegate to the Republican National Convention 1896, 1904; Governor...
, the son of Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
Robert M. La Follette, Sr.
Robert Marion "Fighting Bob" La Follette, Sr. , was an American Republican politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, was the Governor of Wisconsin, and was also a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin...
and Belle Case La Follette
Belle Case La Follette
Belle Case La Follette was a lawyer and a women's suffrage activist in Wisconsin, USA. La Follette worked with the women's peace party during World War I...
, brother of Robert M. La Follette, Jr.
Robert M. La Follette, Jr.
Robert Marion "Young Bob" La Follette, Jr. was an American senator from Wisconsin from 1925 to 1947, the son of Robert M. La Follette, Sr., the brother of Philip La Follette, and Fola La Follette, whose husband was the playwright George Middleton.- Early life:La Follette was born in Madison,...
, brother of Fola La Follette
Fola La Follette
Flora Dodge 'Fola' La Follette was a women's suffrage and labor activist from Madison, Wisconsin, USA. At the time of her death in 1970, the New York Times highlighted her quotation: "A good husband is not a substitute for the ballot." She was the daughter of progressive politician Robert...
, whose husband was the playwright George Middleton
George Middleton (playwright)
George Middleton was an American playwright, director, and producer.-Career:He was famous for his plays The Failures and Adam and Eva...
, and uncle of Bronson La Follette
Bronson La Follette
Bronson Cutting La Follette was Attorney General of the state of Wisconsin. La Follette was a candidate for governor of Wisconsin in 1968 as a Democrat....
.
La Follette served as a second lieutenant in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Infantry in 1918, during World War I. In 1919 he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, Madison. and in 1922 a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree from University of Wisconsin. He married Isabel Bacon in 1923.
Political career
He was the District attorneyDistrict attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for Dane County, Wisconsin
Dane County, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
from 1925–1927. La Follette was the 27th and 29th Governor of Wisconsin
Governor of Wisconsin
The Governor of Wisconsin is the highest executive authority in the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position was first filled by Nelson Dewey on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state...
from 1931 to 1933 and 1935 to 1939. He was first elected as a progressive member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in the 1930 election.
After a defeat in the 1932 Republican Primary, however, La Follette along with his brother, Robert M. La Follette, Jr. created the Wisconsin Progressive Party
Wisconsin Progressive Party
The Wisconsin Progressive Party , was a third party which briefly held a dominant role in Wisconsin politics. The Party was the brainchild of Philip La Follette and Robert M. La Follette, Jr., the sons of the famous Wisconsin Governor and Senator Robert M. La Follette, Sr....
and both ran successfully under its ticket in 1934. The gregarious governor was known as "Phil" on the streets of Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
during his governorship, much as his father had been known as simply "Bob." His governorship saw the implementation of many of the progressive measures of the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
, with La Follette being responsible for the implementation of some of them on the state level before the Roosevelt Administration could do so on the national level.
La Follette was defeated seeking reelection as governor in 1938. That spring he had attempted to launch the National Progressive Party of America in an attempt to create a national third party (as the La Follettes had helped create in Wisconsin) in anticipation of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
not seeking a third term for President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. The plan for a new national Progressive Party never materialized at the time, and Roosevelt soon decided to defy convention and precedent and seek a third term; La Follette never again sought public office for himself.
Later life and career
Much as his father opposed US entry into World War I, Phil La Follette strongly opposed, like most other Americans, US entry into World War II. Once war was declared, he abandoned his opposition and joined the U.S. ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, serving on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
. He would later spearhead a slate of delegates supporting MacArthur in the 1948 presidential campaign.
From 1955 to 1959, La Follette served as president of Hazeltine Electronics, and made his home in Douglaston, New York. He later returned to Wisconsin, wrote his autobiography, and was active in the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
He died in Madison, Wisconsin on August 18, 1965 at age 68.
Published works
- La Follette, Philip Fox, Adventure in politics: the memoirs of Philip La Follette edited by Donald Young, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970.
Further reading
- Fighting Son: A Biography of Philip F. La Follette By Jonathan Kasparek. Wisconsin Historical SocietyWisconsin Historical SocietyThe Wisconsin Historical Society is simultaneously a private membership and a state-funded organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of North America, with an emphasis on the state of Wisconsin and the trans-Allegheny West...
(July 31, 2006) ISBN 0-87020-353-3. Book review of biography