Robert M. La Follette
Progressive reformer and third-party presidential candidate from Wisconsin.
Robert Marion La Follette Sr., known as “Fighting Bob,” was a lawyer and Wisconsin’s most prominent progressive politician from the 1890s until his death in 1925. He spent his final 20 years as a U.S. senator from Wisconsin; before that, he served as the state’s 20th governor (1901–1906) and three terms in the U.S. House (1885–1891). Though a Republican for most of his career, he ran for president in 1924 as the candidate of his own Progressive Party. Historian John D. Buenker called him “the most celebrated figure in Wisconsin history.”
Born on a farm in Primrose, Wisconsin, on June 14, 1855, to Josiah La Follette and Mary Ferguson, he lost his father eight months later. In 1862, his mother married John Saxton, a wealthy 70-year-old merchant, and La Follette’s difficult childhood included a poor relationship with his stepfather. His mother was a Democrat, but he grew up a Republican like most neighbors. He started school at age four, often working the family farm. After Saxton died in 1872, La Follette, his mother, and his older sister moved to Madison. He entered the University of Wisconsin in 1875, graduating in 1879 with a Bachelor of Science degree. A mediocre student, he won a statewide oratory contest and started a student newspaper, the *University Press*. University president John Bascom deeply influenced his views on morality, ethics, and social justice. During college, he became a vegetarian, claiming it gave him more energy and a “clear head.” He met Belle Case at the university; they married on December 31, 1881, in Baraboo, Wisconsin. She became a feminist leader, women’s suffrage advocate, and a major influence on his ideas.
La Follette was elected Dane County district attorney in 1880. Four years later, he entered the U.S. House, where he got along with party leaders like William McKinley. After losing his seat in the 1890 Democratic wave, he regrouped. Embracing progressivism as a populist, he built a coalition of disaffected Republicans. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1896 and 1898 before winning both the nomination and the office in 1900. As governor, he pushed a bold progressive agenda: progressive taxation, banking and railroad regulation, labor and sanitation protections, and campaign finance and civil service reforms. He also secured a law requiring primary elections to nominate state officials, r
- born
- June 14, 1855
- died
- June 18, 1925
- field
- Law, Politics
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Leading progressive politician in Wisconsin; governor, U.S. senator, and 1924 third-party presidential candidate
Lore & Background
La Follette was born on a farm in Primrose, Wisconsin, to Josiah La Follette and Mary Ferguson. His father died when he was eight months old, and his mother later married John Saxton, a wealthy merchant with whom La Follette had a poor relationship. He attended the University of Wisconsin, graduating in 1879 with a Bachelor of Science degree, and married Belle Case in 1881; she became a feminist leader and important influence on his ideas. After serving as Dane County district attorney, he was elected to the U.S. House in 1884, where he supported high tariffs and developed a friendship with William McKinley, though he also voted for the Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act. He lost his seat in the 1890 Democratic landslide, partly due to a compulsory-education law that alienated Catholic and Lutheran communities.
Reader's Guide
La Follette's significance lies in his transformation of Wisconsin politics through progressive reforms and his national influence as a third-party candidate. As governor, he enacted progressive taxation, banking and railroad regulation, labor and sanitation protections, and campaign finance and civil service reforms, as well as a primary election law that replaced party conventions. In the Senate, he clashed with conservatives like Nelson Aldrich and opposed U.S. involvement in World War I. His 1924 presidential run, supported by the Socialist Party, farmer groups, and labor unions, won 16.6% of the popular vote, one of the best third-party performances in U.S. history. His sons, Robert M. La Follette Jr. and Philip La Follette, succeeded him as progressive leaders in Wisconsin. His legacy is that of a principled reformer who challenged party machines and corporate power, though his refusal to support Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 alienated some progressives.
Did You Know?
- La Follette was nicknamed 'Fighting Bob' due to his extraordinarily energetic and dominating personality.
- He claimed that Senator Philetus Sawyer attempted to bribe him in 1891, precipitating a split with many party leaders.
- During his time at the University of Wisconsin, he became a vegetarian, declaring it gave him more energy and a 'clear head'.
- He won 16.6% of the popular vote in the 1924 presidential election as the nominee of his own Progressive Party.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Robert M. La Follette?
Robert Marion La Follette Sr., nicknamed 'Fighting Bob,' was a Wisconsin lawyer and progressive politician whose career spanned from the 1890s until his death in 1925. He is often described as the most celebrated figure in Wisconsin history.
What political offices did Robert M. La Follette hold?
He served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1885–1891), then became Wisconsin's 20th governor (1901–1906), and spent his final two decades as a U.S. senator from Wisconsin.
How did Robert M. La Follette's political career end?
After leaving the Senate, he launched a 1924 presidential bid under his own Progressive Party banner. He died on June 18, 1925, just four days after his 70th birthday.
Why is Robert M. La Follette considered important in American politics?
He drove a wave of progressive reforms in Wisconsin during his governorship and continued advocating for labor protections, antitrust enforcement, and political transparency as a senator. His 1924 third-party run also demonstrated that a serious challenge to the two-party system was possible.
Was Robert M. La Follette a Democrat or Republican?
He identified as a Republican for the bulk of his career but ultimately broke from the party to found his own Progressive Party for the 1924 presidential race.
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