Overview

"The La Follettes of Wisconsin—Robert, Belle, and their children, Bob Jr., Phil, Fola, and Mary—are vividly brought to life in this collective biography of an American political family. As governor of Wisconsin (1901–06) and U.S. Senator (1906–25), """"Fighting Bob"""" battled relentlessly for his Progressive vision of democracy—an idealistic mixture of informed citizenry and enlightened egalitarianism. By contrast, the private man suffered from intense, isolated periods of depression and relied heavily on his family for survival. Together, """"Old Bob"""" and his beloved wife, Belle Case La Follette—a lawyer, journalist, and Progressive leader in her own right—raised their children in the distinctly uncompromising La Follette tradition of challenging social and political ills. Fola became a campaigner for women's suffrage, Phil was governor of Wisconsin, and """"Young Bob"""" became a U.S. senator."

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9780299141349

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Reviews

Highly readable, judicious in tone, aware of the La Follettes limitations while insistent upon their manifest accomplishments, committed in its admiration of reform values and goals, and long overdue. Its attention to love and affection within the [La Follette] family demonstrates how important these values and relationships can be to any family, including political ones. John E. Miller, Reviews in American History

Focusing on the intense personal relationships that bound the state's first family together in the pursuit of the public good, Weisberger's account breaks fresh ground in its analysis of the origins and development of Wisconsin Progressivism and enhances our understanding of Midwestern insurgency. --James J. Lorence, Journal of American History Highly readable, judicious in tone, aware of the La Follettes' limitations while insistent upon their manifest accomplishments, committed in its admiration of reform values and goals, and long overdue. Its attention to love and affection within the [La Follette] family demonstrates how important these values and relationships can be to any family, including political ones. --John E. Miller, Reviews in American History

Highly readable, judicious in tone, aware of the La Follettes' limitations while insistent upon their manifest accomplishments, committed in its admiration of reform values and goals, and long overdue. Its attention to love and affection within the [La Follette] family demonstrates how important these values and relationships can be to any family, including political ones. --John E. Miller, Reviews in American History

Author Information

"Bernard A. Weisberger is currently the """"In the News"""" columnist for American Heritage. In his distinguished career he has published seventeen books and countless articles on Americana. His television and film credentials include collaborations with Bill Moyers and Ken Burns."

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