Philip La Follette

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La Follette, as pictured on a 1928 cover of Time

Philip Fox La Follette (May 8, 1897 – August 18, 1965) was a Wisconsin politician. Born in Madison, Wisconsin, he was the son of Robert M. La Follette, Sr., brother of Robert M. La Follette, Jr., and uncle of Bronson Cutting La Follette, and was Governor of the U.S. state of Wisconsin from 1931 to 1933 and 1935 to 1939. He was elected as a member of the Progressive Party. The gregarious governor was known as "Phil" on the streets of Madison during his governorship, much as his father had been known as simply "Bob." His governorship saw the implementation of many of the progressive measures of the New Deal, with La Follette being responsible for the implementation of some of them on the state level before the Roosevelt Administration could do so on the national level.

La Follette was defeated seeking reelection as governor in 1938. That spring he had attempted to launch the National Progressive Party of America in an attempt to create a national third party (as the La Follettes had helped create in Wisconsin) in anticipation of Franklin Delano Roosevelt not seeking a third term for President. The plan for a new national Progressive Party never materialized at the time, and Roosevelt soon decided to defy convention and precedent and seek a third term; La Follette never again sought public office for himself.

Much as his father opposed U.S. entry into World War I, Phil La Follette strongly opposed U.S. entry into World War II. Once war was declared, he abandoned his opposition and joined the U.S. Army, serving on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur. He would later spearhead MacArthur's unsuccessful 1952 presidential campaign.

From 1955 to 1959, La Follette served as president of Hazeltine Electronics.

Preceded by: Walter J. Kohler, Sr.	Governor of Wisconsin 1931–1933	Succeeded by: Albert G. Schmedeman
Preceded by: Albert G. Schmedeman	Governor of Wisconsin 1935–1939	Succeeded by: Julius P. Heil