Frank J. Lausche, first generation son of Slovenian immigrants, broke through an ethnic barrier and became Cleveland’s first mayor of Eastern European ancestry with his election in 1941. He opened the door for a succession of ethnics affectionately labeled Lausche clones: Celebrezze, Locher, Perk, Kucinich and Voinovich.
Lausche began his career in politics with an appointment to Cleveland Municipal Court in the 1930s. By the time his career ended, he had served in three branches of the government. He was a two-term U.S. senator, five-term governor, two-term mayor and a Municipal Court and Common Pleas judge.
Lausche dominated state politics for over 35 years. The late Cleveland mayor Ralph J. Perk dubbed him the George Washington of nationalities movement, and he connected to the voters like no other Ohio politician in the twentieth century.
Lausche was a Democrat on the ballot but many called him a Dixiecrat because he repeatedly bucked his party, offended organized labor and regularly endorsed Republicans. His independence, however, sat well with voters who consistently returned the bushy-browed maverick to office.
Early in his career as a judge, he teamed up with legendary lawman Eliot Ness to close down gambling houses in Greater Cleveland. He captured the attention of the newspapers, especially Louis B. Seltzer, the king-making editor of the Cleveland Press. He refused the offer to run for mayor several times before acceding to be a candidate in 1941. During his tenure as mayor, the city took over the Cleveland Rail System and in 1942 the Cleveland Transit System (forerunner of the Regional Transit Authority) was created.
The thrifty Lausche drove old cars and became known as a penny pincher when it came to government spending. With the exception of highway construction and the planting of trees, Lausche’s gubernatorial tenure was characterized as status quo.
The venerable solon disliked his years in the senate, commenting they were the "most miserable and painful days of his political life." He railed against federal tax breaks for large oil companies and fought unnecessary spending at nearly every turn. He received attention from President Dwight Eisenhower who, according to one author, suggested Lausche as a possible replacement on the 1956 GOP ticket when the dumping of Richard Nixon was being considered.
Lausche’s anti-labor views finally caught up with him and he was targeted by organized labor when he sought reelection for his third term in 1968. His refusal to endorse Carl Stokes for mayor of Cleveland in 1967 left him vulnerable among black voters. Lausche was defeated in the 1968 Democratic primary by former Congressman John J. Gilligan of Cincinnati. After thirty-four years in office, Lausche’s political career ended.
The author’s authoritative account is based on use of an extensive variety of resources. Superbly weaving rich detail into a moving narrative, Odenkirk provides a fascinating account of a man of immense intellect, of unquestioned integrity and of steadfast devotion to the highest principles of public service. To many, Lausche was Ohio’s most significant political figure in the second-half of the twentieth century.
Lausche began his career in politics with an appointment to Cleveland Municipal Court in the 1930s. By the time his career ended, he had served in three branches of the government. He was a two-term U.S. senator, five-term governor, two-term mayor and a Municipal Court and Common Pleas judge.
Lausche dominated state politics for over 35 years. The late Cleveland mayor Ralph J. Perk dubbed him the George Washington of nationalities movement, and he connected to the voters like no other Ohio politician in the twentieth century.
Lausche was a Democrat on the ballot but many called him a Dixiecrat because he repeatedly bucked his party, offended organized labor and regularly endorsed Republicans. His independence, however, sat well with voters who consistently returned the bushy-browed maverick to office.
Early in his career as a judge, he teamed up with legendary lawman Eliot Ness to close down gambling houses in Greater Cleveland. He captured the attention of the newspapers, especially Louis B. Seltzer, the king-making editor of the Cleveland Press. He refused the offer to run for mayor several times before acceding to be a candidate in 1941. During his tenure as mayor, the city took over the Cleveland Rail System and in 1942 the Cleveland Transit System (forerunner of the Regional Transit Authority) was created.
The thrifty Lausche drove old cars and became known as a penny pincher when it came to government spending. With the exception of highway construction and the planting of trees, Lausche’s gubernatorial tenure was characterized as status quo.
The venerable solon disliked his years in the senate, commenting they were the "most miserable and painful days of his political life." He railed against federal tax breaks for large oil companies and fought unnecessary spending at nearly every turn. He received attention from President Dwight Eisenhower who, according to one author, suggested Lausche as a possible replacement on the 1956 GOP ticket when the dumping of Richard Nixon was being considered.
Lausche’s anti-labor views finally caught up with him and he was targeted by organized labor when he sought reelection for his third term in 1968. His refusal to endorse Carl Stokes for mayor of Cleveland in 1967 left him vulnerable among black voters. Lausche was defeated in the 1968 Democratic primary by former Congressman John J. Gilligan of Cincinnati. After thirty-four years in office, Lausche’s political career ended.
The author’s authoritative account is based on use of an extensive variety of resources. Superbly weaving rich detail into a moving narrative, Odenkirk provides a fascinating account of a man of immense intellect, of unquestioned integrity and of steadfast devotion to the highest principles of public service. To many, Lausche was Ohio’s most significant political figure in the second-half of the twentieth century.
