Wisconsin History Day By Day

Related Web Sites:
Philip La Follette photo


Read More About It

"Adventures in Politcs: The Memoirs of Philip La Follette"

"Wisconsin Blue Book" 1960

"The History of Wisconsin: War, a New Era, and Depression, 1914-1940" by Paul W. Glad

"Philip La Follette, 68, dies," Wisconsin State Journal, Aug. 19, 1965


Vocabulary:

incumbent
primary
general


Interesting Fact:

Soon after leaving the governor's office in 1939, La Follette joined the army and spent 34 months in the Southwest Pacific during World War II.


Study Questions:

  • What were the primary issues that La Follette dealt with while governor of the state?
  • What was the economic climate in Wisconsin and across the country when La Follette was governor?
  • La Follette was 33-years-old when he became govenor. Who was the youngest governor in Wisconsin's history?


    U.S. historical events that occurred on August 18:

    1587: The first English child, Virginia Dare, is born in America in what is now Roanoke Island, N.C.
    1963: James Meredith becomes the first black to graduate from the University of Mississippi.



    • August 18

    Wisconsin's Governors

    Philip La Follette, the 27th and 29th governor of Wisconsin, died on August 18, 1965. He was born on May 8, 1897 in Madison, the son of Robert and Belle La Follette. La Follette served in the army during World War I and returned to Madison to study and practice law. In 1924, La Follette was elected Dane County district attorney and ran for governor in 1930, defeating incumbent Walter Kohler in the primary and winning the general election. Kohler defeated La Follette in 1932 primary, but La Follette came back in 1934 for two more terms as governor. His administration was a return to the Progressive politics.

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