Written in a clear, vigorous style, this account of Robert M. La Follette's political life and philosophy is not only a personal history, but in a large measure, a history of the Progressive cause throughout the United States. This is a book for every conscientious citizen. For, as Allan Nevins states in his Introduction, ". . . the battle La Follette led still goes on, and the lessons he instilled still need pondering."
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A Progressive Tells His Story,
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This review is from: La Follette's Autobiography: A Personal Narrative of Political Experiences (Paperback)
LaFollette's Autobiography, is a well written outline of his political struggles, as he saw them up to the time of the writing in October, 1912. The book was written just after LaFollette had concluded his campaign for the 1912 Republican Presidential Nomination. This spirited pronouncement of the Progressive program can be divided into two parts. The first part deals with the political struggles and accomplishments which LaFollette made during his career in Wisconsin state politics, concluding with his service as Governor. In the section, LaFollette tells the story of his fight against machine politics to achieve a more open political process and the struggle against the representatives of the railroads in his effort to bring the lines into the tax system on a par with other taxpayers. Those goals having been accomplished, LaFollette moved on to achieve state regulation of railroad rates. The second section of the book deals with his involvement on the national political scene. This covers the issues with which LaFollette was interested, particularly railroad regulation. The last parts of the book is devoted to a report of LaFollette's unsuccessful bid for the 1912 Republican Presidential nomination, won by President William Howard Taft. Toward the end the book turns into an attack on the record of Theodore Roosevelt, who had effectively ended LaFollette's bid for the Presidency when he entered the 1912 race by usurping LaFollette's position as the bearer of the Progressive banner. LaFollette engages in an examination of Roosevelt's record to establish the point that Roosevelt was never a true Progressive. The main difference seems to be that LaFollette was unwilling to compromise on the Progressive agenda, willing to fight indefinitely for victory, whereas Roosevelt is depicted as willing to espouse the Progressive agenda and then agree to political compromises which were not to LaFollette's satisfaction. The conclusion of the book calls for the preservation of the Progressive movement in the Republican Party and blasts Theodore Roosevelt for splitting the movement by the creation of the Progressive Party. Ironically, LaFollette would bolt the GOP to form a Progressive Party to support his own Presidential bid twelve years later. Although the details may be a bit boring for the general reader, LaFollette's Autobiography is an interesting read for anyone interested in LaFollette or the Progressive Era.
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