Fighting bob lafollette biography of rory

But for La Follette it marked the beginning of a lifelong fight for political reform. La Follette's career as a reformer began in earnest a few months later when state Republican leader Senator Philetus Sawyer offered him a bribe to fix a court case against several former state officials. Furious that Sawyer would try to use money to influence the legal system, La Follette refused the bribe.

For nearly ten years, La Follette traveled around the state and spoke out against crooked politicians, powerful lumber barons and the railroad interests that dominated his own party. Elected governor inLa Follette pledged to institute his own sweeping political reforms. Until that time, candidates listed on ballots were selected by party leaders in private caucuses.

Drawing on the ideas of other reformers, La Follette pushed the legislature to institute direct primary elections to let voters choose their own candidates. He supported measures that doubled the taxes on railroads, broke up monopolies, preserved the state's forests, protected workers' rights, defended small farmers and regulated lobbying to end patronage politics.

La Follette worked closely with professors from the University of Wisconsin to help the state become "a laboratory of democracy. Senate inLa Follette had become a national figure. Unger is assistant professor of history at Santa Clara University.

Fighting bob lafollette biography of rory

For more information about Nancy C. Unger, visit the Author Page. Fighting Bob La Follette effectively introduces La Follette to a new audience and reminds readers of the complexity of the man and his politics. Unger's narrative is riveting. Publisher Wisconsin Historical Society Press. Buy this Book. Elsevier - Digital Commons. Turning Points in Wisconsin History.

The Career of Robert M. La Follette Robert La Follette developed his fierce opposition to corporate power and political corruption as a young man.