Bronson La Follette: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|American politician}}{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox Governor
|name= Bronson La Follette
|name= Bronson La Follette
|image=
|image= Bronson La Follette (WI).jpg
|caption=
|caption=
|office= 36th and 39th<br>[[Wisconsin Attorney General]]
|office= 36th and 39th [[Attorney General of Wisconsin]]
|term_start= January 3, 1965
|term_start = January 3, 1975
|term_end= January 3, 1969
|term_end = January 3, 1987
|governor = [[Patrick J. Lucey]]<br>[[Martin J. Schreiber]]<br>[[Lee S. Dreyfus]]<br>[[Anthony S. Earl]]
|predecessor= [[George Thompson (Wisconsin politician)|George Thompson]]
|successor= [[Robert W. Warren]]
|predecessor = [[Victor A. Miller]]
|order=
|successor = [[Don Hanaway]]
|term_start2= January 3, 1975
|term_start1 = January 3, 1965
|term_end1 = January 3, 1969
|term_end2= January 3, 1987
|predecessor2= [[Victor A. Miller]]
|governor1 = [[Warren P. Knowles]]
|predecessor1 = [[George Thompson (Wisconsin politician)|George Thompson]]
|successor3= [[Don Hanaway]]
|successor1 = [[Robert W. Warren]]
|birth_name=Bronson Cutting La Follette
|birth_name=Bronson Cutting La Follette
|birth_date= {{birth date|1936|02|02}}
|birth_date= {{birth date|1936|02|02}}
|birth_place= [[Washington, D.C.]], [[United States]]
|birth_place= [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
|death_date= {{death date and age|2018|03|15|1936|02|02}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|2018|03|15|1936|02|02}}
|residence= [[Madison, Wisconsin]], United States
|death_place= [[Madison, Wisconsin]], U.S.
|residence= [[Madison, Wisconsin]], U.S.
|alma_mater= [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]<br>[[University of Wisconsin Law School]]
|alma_mater= [[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]<br>[[University of Wisconsin Law School]]
|spouse= Barbara La Follette
|spouse= Barbara La Follette
|children=2
|children=2
|father = [[Robert M. La Follette Jr.]]
|profession= [[Lawyer]]
|relatives = [[Robert M. La Follette, Sr.]] (grandfather)<br />[[Philip La Follette]] (uncle)<br />[[Doug La Follette]] (third cousin)<br />[[La Follette family]]
|party= [[Democratic Party of Wisconsin]]
|profession = [[Lawyer]]
|party= [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|religion=
|religion=
|footnotes=
|footnotes=
}}
}}
'''Bronson Cutting La Follette''' (February 2, 1936 &ndash; March 15, 2018) was the [[State Attorney General|Attorney General]] of the state of [[Wisconsin]]. La Follette was the unsuccessful [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidate for [[governor of Wisconsin]] in 1968.
'''Bronson Cutting La Follette''' (February 2, 1936 &ndash; March 15, 2018) was an American [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] lawyer and politician. He was the 36th and 39th [[List of Attorneys General of Wisconsin|Attorney General]] of the state of [[Wisconsin]], and was an unsuccessful candidate for [[Governor of Wisconsin]] in [[1968 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|1968]].


==Family==
==Family==
Born in [[Washington, D.C.]], he was the son of the [[United States Senator|US Senator]] [[Robert M. La Follette, Jr.]] and Rachel Wilson Young, and the grandson of Senator [[Robert M. La Follette, Sr.]], all of Wisconsin. He was named in memory of former Senator [[Bronson Cutting]] of [[New Mexico]], a close family friend who died in an airplane crash in 1935.<ref name=Kestenbaum>{{Cite web |url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/families/10001-159.html |title=LaFollette [sic] family of Madison, Wisconsin |work=Politicalgraveyard.com |accessdate=March 16, 2018 }}</ref><ref>Patrick J. Maney. ''Young Bob: A Biography of Robert M. La Follette, Jr.''. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2003, pp. 152-154.</ref>
Born in [[Washington, D.C.]], he was the son of [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] [[Robert M. La Follette Jr.]] and the grandson of U.S. Senator [[Robert M. La Follette|Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette]], both of Wisconsin. He was named in memory of former U.S. Senator [[Bronson Cutting]] of [[New Mexico]], a close family friend who died in an airplane crash in 1935.<ref name=Kestenbaum>{{Cite web |url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/families/10001-159.html |title=LaFollette [sic] family of Madison, Wisconsin |work=Politicalgraveyard.com |accessdate=March 16, 2018 |archive-date=October 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003020208/http://politicalgraveyard.com/families/10001-159.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Patrick J. Maney. ''Young Bob: A Biography of Robert M. La Follette, Jr.''. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2003, pp. 152-154.</ref>


==Background==
==Biography==
La Follette received a bachelor of arts degree in [[political science]] from the [[University of Wisconsin&ndash;Madison]] in 1958 and a [[University of Wisconsin Law School|law degree]] in 1960.<ref name=BlueBook>Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (comp.). ''[http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=goto&id=WI.WIBlueBk1985&page=6&isize=L State of Wisconsin 1985–1986 Blue Book]''. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Administration, 1985, pp. 6–7.</ref> He worked in private practice until 1962, when he began serving as an [[Assistant US Attorney]].<ref name=WSJ74>{{Cite news |date=October 25, 1974 |title=Inside Campaign '74: La Follette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1867301// |newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]] |location=Madison, Wis. |via = [[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=July 25, 2015 }} {{Open access}}</ref>
La Follette went to [[Landon School]] in [[Bethesda, Maryland]]. He received a bachelor of arts degree in [[political science]] from the [[University of Wisconsin&ndash;Madison]] in 1958 and a [[University of Wisconsin Law School|law degree]] in 1960.<ref name=BlueBook>Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (comp.). ''[http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=goto&id=WI.WIBlueBk1985&page=6&isize=L State of Wisconsin 1985–1986 Blue Book]''. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Administration, 1985, pp. 6–7.</ref> He worked in private practice until 1962, when he was appointed an [[Assistant United States Attorney|Assistant U.S. Attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin|Western District of Wisconsin]] by U.S. Attorney General [[Robert F. Kennedy]].<ref name=WSJ74>{{Cite news |date=October 25, 1974 |title=Inside Campaign '74: La Follette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1867301// |newspaper=[[Wisconsin State Journal]] |location=Madison, Wis. |via = [[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=July 25, 2015 }} {{Open access}}</ref>


In 1964 he was elected [[Wisconsin Attorney General]] and served for two consecutive two-year terms, and then three consecutive four-year terms from 1975 to 1987.<ref name=BlueBook/> He challenged the incumbent Republican Governor [[Warren P. Knowles]] in the [[Wisconsin gubernatorial elections|1968 Wisconsin gubernatorial election]] and lost.<ref name=WSJ74/> He ran for and was again elected Attorney General in 1974. Despite a 1981 conviction for drunk driving (his blood alcohol content was .12 while the legal limit was .10),<ref>Jack Craver, [http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/jack_craver/notable-wisconsinites-no-strangers-to-owi-charges/article_14042cb0-c54d-11e2-bb32-001a4bcf887a.html "Notable Wisconsinites No Strangers to OWI Charges"], ''[[Capital Times]]'', May 26, 2013</ref> he was re-elected in 1982. After his 1986 defeat following an ethics investigation,<ref>Peter Maller, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19860919&id=MvopAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jhIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4584,3349997 "Boullion sees 'police state' tendency in La Follette ethics probe"], ''[[Milwaukee Sentinel]]'', September 19, 1986, p. 1</ref> he retired from public service and lived in [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]].<ref>[https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS9534 La Follette, Bronson C. 1936]. [[Wisconsin Historical Society]].</ref> La Follette died on March 15, 2018.<ref>[http://host.madison.com/news/local/obituaries/lafollette-bronson-c/article_5fa4573b-0ea5-5137-8cf5-d87b2a99796a.html Bronson C. La Follette-death notice]</ref><ref>"[https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/obituaries/2018/03/16/former-wisconsin-attorney-general-bronson-la-follette-dies/432178002/ Former Wisconsin Attorney General Bronson La Follette dies]". ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', March 16, 2018.</ref>
In 1964 he was elected Wisconsin Attorney General and served for two consecutive two-year terms, and later three consecutive four-year terms from 1975 to 1987.<ref name=BlueBook/> He challenged the incumbent Republican Governor [[Warren P. Knowles]] in the [[Wisconsin gubernatorial elections|1968 Wisconsin gubernatorial election]] and lost.<ref name=WSJ74/> He ran for and was again elected Attorney General in 1974. Despite a 1981 conviction for drunk driving,<ref>Jack Craver, [http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/jack_craver/notable-wisconsinites-no-strangers-to-owi-charges/article_14042cb0-c54d-11e2-bb32-001a4bcf887a.html "Notable Wisconsinites No Strangers to OWI Charges"], ''[[Capital Times]]'', May 26, 2013</ref> he was re-elected in 1982, and in the process became the first candidate for Wisconsin statewide office to receive one million votes.<ref>{{cite act |url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/related/proposals/sr7/_16 |title= 2017 Senate Resolution 7 |accessdate= April 12, 2019 |legislature = [[Wisconsin State Senate]] | date= March 20, 2018 |year=2018 |type=Resolution}}</ref> After his 1986 defeat following an ethics investigation,<ref>Peter Maller, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19860919&id=MvopAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jhIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4584,3349997 "Boullion sees 'police state' tendency in La Follette ethics probe"], ''[[Milwaukee Sentinel]]'', September 19, 1986, p. 1</ref> he retired from public service and lived in [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]].<ref>[https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS9534 La Follette, Bronson C. 1936]. [[Wisconsin Historical Society]].</ref>
==Death==
La Follette died on March 15, 2018, at the age of 82 at the [[University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics|University of Wisconsin Hospital]], in Madison, Wisconsin.<ref>[http://host.madison.com/news/local/obituaries/lafollette-bronson-c/article_5fa4573b-0ea5-5137-8cf5-d87b2a99796a.html Bronson C. La Follette-death notice]</ref><ref>"[https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/obituaries/2018/03/16/former-wisconsin-attorney-general-bronson-la-follette-dies/432178002/ Former Wisconsin Attorney General Bronson La Follette dies]". ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', March 16, 2018.</ref><ref>[http://www.ryanfuneralservice.com/notices/Bronson-LaFollette Bronson C. La Follette-obituary]</ref>

Governor [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]] said in a statement: "[[Tonette Walker|Tonette]] and I send our prayers to the family of former Wisconsin Attorney General Bronson La Follette. He was a dedicated public servant for several decades."


==See also==
==See also==
*[[La Follette family]]
*[[La Follette family]]

==Electoral history==

===Wisconsin Attorney General (1964, 1966)===
{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1964<ref>{{cite report|chapter-url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1966 |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1966 |publisher= State of Wisconsin|author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |accessdate= April 12, 2019 |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= 732, 750}}</ref>}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''Primary Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = [[George Thompson (Wisconsin politician)|George Thompson]] (incumbent)
|votes = 299,771
|percentage = 48.60%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette
|votes = 225,521
|percentage = 36.56%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = William H. Evans
|votes = 91,487
|percentage = 14.83%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''616,779'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''General Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette
|votes = 882,318
|percentage = 54.32%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = [[George Thompson (Wisconsin politician)|George Thompson]] (incumbent)
|votes = 741,917
|percentage = 45.68%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''1,624,235'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
|loser = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1966<ref>{{cite report|chapter-url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1968 |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1968 |publisher= State of Wisconsin|author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |accessdate= April 12, 2019 |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= 705, 750}}</ref>}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''Primary Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent)
|votes = 232,176
|percentage = 55.45%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = [[Louis J. Ceci]]
|votes = 186,499
|percentage = 44.55%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''418,675'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''General Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent)
|votes = 609,216
|percentage = 53.56%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = [[Louis J. Ceci]]
|votes = 528,202
|percentage = 46.44%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''1,137,418'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

===Wisconsin Governor (1968)===

{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election, 1968<ref>{{cite report|chapter-url=http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1970 |title= The state of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1970 |publisher= State of Wisconsin|author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |accessdate= April 12, 2019 |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= 793, 810}}</ref>}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''Primary Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = [[Warren P. Knowles]] (incumbent)
|votes = 272,504
|percentage = 57.04%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette
|votes = 173,458
|percentage = 36.31%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Floyd L. Wille
|votes = 31,778
|percentage = 6.65%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''477,740'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''General Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = [[Warren P. Knowles]] (incumbent)
|votes = 893463
|percentage = 52.88%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette
|votes = 791100
|percentage = 46.82%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (United States)
|candidate = Adolf Wiggert
|votes = 3,225
|percentage = 0.19%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (United States)
|candidate = Robert Wilkinson
|votes = 1,813
|percentage = 0.11%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''1,689,601'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

===Wisconsin Attorney General (1974-1986)===
{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1974<ref>{{cite report|chapter-url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1975 |title= The state of Wisconsin 1975 Blue Book |publisher= State of Wisconsin|author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |accessdate= April 12, 2019 |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= 798, 818}}</ref>}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''Primary Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = [[Gerald Lorge]]
|votes = 143,337
|percentage = 30.64%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette
|votes = 132,538
|percentage = 28.33%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = [[Tony Earl|Anthony S. Earl]]
|votes = 106,041
|percentage = 22.67%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Thomas M. Jacobson
|votes = 50,678
|percentage = 10.83%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = [[Edward Nager]]
|votes = 35,165
|percentage = 7.52%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''467,759'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''General Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette
|votes = 669,968
|percentage = 58.10%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = [[Gerald Lorge]]
|votes = 483,232
|percentage = 41.90%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''1,153,200'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1978<ref>{{cite report|chapter-url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1979 |title= The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book |publisher= State of Wisconsin|author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |accessdate= April 12, 2019 |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= 898, 916}}</ref>}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''Primary Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent)
|votes = 232,057
|percentage = 51.96%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = William Mattka
|votes = 213,651
|percentage = 47.84%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Constitution Party (US)
|candidate = Thomas J. Bergen
|votes = 903
|percentage = 0.20%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''446,611'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''General Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent)
|votes = 868,829
|percentage = 61.28%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = William Mattka
|votes = 533,943
|percentage = 37.66%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Constitution Party (US)
|candidate = Thomas J. Bergen
|votes = 15,045
|percentage = 1.06%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''1,417,817'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change = '''+22.95%'''
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1982<ref>{{cite report|chapter-url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1983 |title= The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book |publisher= State of Wisconsin|author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |accessdate= April 12, 2019 |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= 880, 902}}</ref>}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''Primary Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent)
|votes = 433,513
|percentage = 99.24%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Libertarian Party (US)
|candidate = James S. Hoffert
|votes = 1,510
|percentage = 0.35%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Constitution Party (US)
|candidate = Gene D. Lineham
|votes = 1,435
|percentage = 0.33%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = Marcus Gumz
|votes = 327
|percentage = 0.07%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = [[William Belter]]
|votes = 28
|percentage = 0.01%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''436,813'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''General Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent)
|votes = 1,062,322
|percentage = 96.40%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Libertarian Party (US)
|candidate = James S. Hoffert
|votes = 27,004
|percentage = 2.45%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Constitution Party (US)
|candidate = Gene D. Lineham
|votes = 12,643
|percentage = 1.15%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''1,101,969'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change = '''-22.28%'''
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing|
|winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1986<ref>{{cite report|chapter-url= http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1987 |title= The state of Wisconsin 1987-1988 Blue Book |publisher= State of Wisconsin|author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |accessdate= April 12, 2019 |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= 880, 898}}</ref>}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''Primary Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent)
|votes = 217,185
|percentage = 48.38%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = [[Don Hanaway|Donald J. Hanaway]]
|votes = 174,519
|percentage = 38.88%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = Bartley G. Mauch
|votes = 56,200
|percentage = 12.52%
|change =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Labor-Farm Party of Wisconsin
|candidate = Dennis L. Boyer
|votes = 967
|percentage = 0.22%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''436,813'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change =
}}
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| '''General Election'''
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = [[Don Hanaway|Donald J. Hanaway]]
|votes = 751,208
|percentage = 51.96%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent)
|votes = 664,181
|percentage = 45.94%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Labor-Farm Party of Wisconsin
|candidate = Dennis L. Boyer
|votes = 30,455
|percentage = 2.11%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total
|votes = '''1,101,969'''
|percentage = '''100.0%'''
|change = '''+31.21%'''
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
|loser = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}


==References==
==References==
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{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=William H. Evans}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Attorney General of Wisconsin]]|years=1964, 1966}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Richard Dickson Cudahy]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Patrick Lucey]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of Wisconsin]]|years=[[1968 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|1968]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Patrick Lucey]]}}
{{s-bef|before=Thomas M. Jacobson}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Attorney General of Wisconsin]]|years=1974, 1978, 1982, 1986}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jim Doyle]]}}
{{s-legal}}
{{s-legal}}
{{s-bef|before = [[George Thompson (Wisconsin politician)|George Thompson]]}}
{{succession box|
{{s-ttl|title = [[Attorney General of Wisconsin]]|years=1965{{spaced ndash}}1969}}
before=[[George Thompson (Wisconsin politician)|George Thompson]]|
{{s-aft|after = [[Robert W. Warren]]}}
title=[[Wisconsin Attorney General]]|
{{s-bef|before = [[Victor A. Miller]]}}
years=1965-1969|
{{s-ttl|title = [[Attorney General of Wisconsin]]|years=1975{{spaced ndash}}1987}}
after=[[Robert W. Warren]]
{{s-aft|after = [[Don Hanaway]]}}
}}
{{succession box|
before=[[Victor A. Miller]]|
title=Wisconsin Attorney General|
years=1975-1987|
after=[[Don Hanaway]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
{{Wisconsin Attorneys General}}
{{Wisconsin Attorneys General}}
{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:La Follette, Bronson}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:La Follette, Bronson}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
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[[Category:Lawyers from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Politicians from Madison, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Politicians from Madison, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin&ndash;Madison alumni]]
[[Category: University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin Law School alumni]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Wisconsin Democrats]]
[[Category:Wisconsin Democrats]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Madison, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Madison, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Wisconsin politicians convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]

Revision as of 17:12, 13 May 2024

Bronson La Follette
36th and 39th Attorney General of Wisconsin
In office
January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1987
GovernorPatrick J. Lucey
Martin J. Schreiber
Lee S. Dreyfus
Anthony S. Earl
Preceded byVictor A. Miller
Succeeded byDon Hanaway
In office
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1969
GovernorWarren P. Knowles
Preceded byGeorge Thompson
Succeeded byRobert W. Warren
Personal details
Born
Bronson Cutting La Follette

(1936-02-02)February 2, 1936
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedMarch 15, 2018(2018-03-15) (aged 82)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBarbara La Follette
Children2
Parent
RelativesRobert M. La Follette, Sr. (grandfather)
Philip La Follette (uncle)
Doug La Follette (third cousin)
La Follette family
Residence(s)Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin Law School
ProfessionLawyer

Bronson Cutting La Follette (February 2, 1936 – March 15, 2018) was an American Democratic lawyer and politician. He was the 36th and 39th Attorney General of the state of Wisconsin, and was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Wisconsin in 1968.

Family

Born in Washington, D.C., he was the son of U.S. Senator Robert M. La Follette Jr. and the grandson of U.S. Senator Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette, both of Wisconsin. He was named in memory of former U.S. Senator Bronson Cutting of New Mexico, a close family friend who died in an airplane crash in 1935.[1][2]

Biography

La Follette went to Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland. He received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1958 and a law degree in 1960.[3] He worked in private practice until 1962, when he was appointed an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin by U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.[4]

In 1964 he was elected Wisconsin Attorney General and served for two consecutive two-year terms, and later three consecutive four-year terms from 1975 to 1987.[3] He challenged the incumbent Republican Governor Warren P. Knowles in the 1968 Wisconsin gubernatorial election and lost.[4] He ran for and was again elected Attorney General in 1974. Despite a 1981 conviction for drunk driving,[5] he was re-elected in 1982, and in the process became the first candidate for Wisconsin statewide office to receive one million votes.[6] After his 1986 defeat following an ethics investigation,[7] he retired from public service and lived in Madison.[8]

Death

La Follette died on March 15, 2018, at the age of 82 at the University of Wisconsin Hospital, in Madison, Wisconsin.[9][10][11]

Governor Scott Walker said in a statement: "Tonette and I send our prayers to the family of former Wisconsin Attorney General Bronson La Follette. He was a dedicated public servant for several decades."

See also

Electoral history

Wisconsin Attorney General (1964, 1966)

Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1964[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Republican George Thompson (incumbent) 299,771 48.60%
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette 225,521 36.56%
Democratic William H. Evans 91,487 14.83%
Total votes '616,779' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette 882,318 54.32%
Republican George Thompson (incumbent) 741,917 45.68%
Total votes '1,624,235' '100.0%'
Democratic gain from Republican
Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1966[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent) 232,176 55.45%
Republican Louis J. Ceci 186,499 44.55%
Total votes '418,675' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent) 609,216 53.56%
Republican Louis J. Ceci 528,202 46.44%
Total votes '1,137,418' '100.0%'
Democratic hold

Wisconsin Governor (1968)

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election, 1968[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Republican Warren P. Knowles (incumbent) 272,504 57.04%
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette 173,458 36.31%
Democratic Floyd L. Wille 31,778 6.65%
Total votes '477,740' '100.0%'
General Election
Republican Warren P. Knowles (incumbent) 893,463 52.88%
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette 791100 46.82%
Independent Adolf Wiggert 3,225 0.19%
Independent Robert Wilkinson 1,813 0.11%
Total votes '1,689,601' '100.0%'
Republican hold

Wisconsin Attorney General (1974-1986)

Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1974[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Republican Gerald Lorge 143,337 30.64%
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette 132,538 28.33%
Democratic Anthony S. Earl 106,041 22.67%
Democratic Thomas M. Jacobson 50,678 10.83%
Republican Edward Nager 35,165 7.52%
Total votes '467,759' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette 669,968 58.10%
Republican Gerald Lorge 483,232 41.90%
Total votes '1,153,200' '100.0%'
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1978[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent) 232,057 51.96%
Republican William Mattka 213,651 47.84%
Constitution Thomas J. Bergen 903 0.20%
Total votes '446,611' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent) 868,829 61.28%
Republican William Mattka 533,943 37.66%
Constitution Thomas J. Bergen 15,045 1.06%
Total votes '1,417,817' '100.0%' +22.95%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1982[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent) 433,513 99.24%
Libertarian James S. Hoffert 1,510 0.35%
Constitution Gene D. Lineham 1,435 0.33%
Republican Marcus Gumz 327 0.07%
Republican William Belter 28 0.01%
Total votes '436,813' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent) 1,062,322 96.40%
Libertarian James S. Hoffert 27,004 2.45%
Constitution Gene D. Lineham 12,643 1.15%
Total votes '1,101,969' '100.0%' -22.28%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Attorney General Election, 1986[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent) 217,185 48.38%
Republican Donald J. Hanaway 174,519 38.88%
Republican Bartley G. Mauch 56,200 12.52%
Labor–Farm Dennis L. Boyer 967 0.22%
Total votes '436,813' '100.0%'
General Election
Republican Donald J. Hanaway 751,208 51.96%
Democratic Bronson C. La Follette (incumbent) 664,181 45.94%
Labor–Farm Dennis L. Boyer 30,455 2.11%
Total votes '1,101,969' '100.0%' +31.21%
Republican gain from Democratic

References

  1. ^ "LaFollette [sic] family of Madison, Wisconsin". Politicalgraveyard.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  2. ^ Patrick J. Maney. Young Bob: A Biography of Robert M. La Follette, Jr.. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2003, pp. 152-154.
  3. ^ a b Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (comp.). State of Wisconsin 1985–1986 Blue Book. Madison: Wisconsin Department of Administration, 1985, pp. 6–7.
  4. ^ a b "Inside Campaign '74: La Follette". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wis. October 25, 1974. Retrieved July 25, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ Jack Craver, "Notable Wisconsinites No Strangers to OWI Charges", Capital Times, May 26, 2013
  6. ^ 2017 Senate Resolution 7 (Resolution). Wisconsin State Senate. March 20, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2019.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  7. ^ Peter Maller, "Boullion sees 'police state' tendency in La Follette ethics probe", Milwaukee Sentinel, September 19, 1986, p. 1
  8. ^ La Follette, Bronson C. 1936. Wisconsin Historical Society.
  9. ^ Bronson C. La Follette-death notice
  10. ^ "Former Wisconsin Attorney General Bronson La Follette dies". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 16, 2018.
  11. ^ Bronson C. La Follette-obituary
  12. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1966 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 732, 750. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  13. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1968 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 705, 750. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  14. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1970 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 793, 810. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  15. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1975 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 798, 818. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  16. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1979-1980 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 898, 916. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  17. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1983-1984 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 880, 902. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  18. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1987-1988 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 880, 898. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
Party political offices
Preceded by
William H. Evans
 Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Wisconsin
1964, 1966 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Wisconsin
1968 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Thomas M. Jacobson
 Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Wisconsin
1974, 1978, 1982, 1986 		Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Wisconsin
1965 – 1969 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Attorney General of Wisconsin
1975 – 1987 		Succeeded by
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