Sen. Robert LaFollette Sr. R-Wisconsin – 1908
18 hours and 23 minutes
Why would one man spend 18 consecutive hours and 23 minutes talking? What was he trying to achieve?
The answer is relatively simple, But the backstory is a little more complex. Let's start at the beginning... Sen. Robert LaFollette Sr. was born on a farm in 1855 in Primrose, WI. LaFollette continued his education at the University of Wisconsin and then went on to start his career as a district attorney. When the state Republican offered him a bribe to sway a judge in a court case, LaFollette took up his political calling. He created his own Republican party in Wisconsin, and claimed they stood for anyone who felt like they weren't being represented by the state Republican party. LaFollette was infamously know for being an advocate for causes that appealed to voters, even when it was against what his political party was for. This led to many disagreements between himself and the party leaders, which gave him the nickname "fighting Bob". He stood for what he believed was right, and took whatever actions necessary to achieve his goals.
"Fiery Progressive Senator" |
"A Stem-Winding Orator and Champion of Family Farmers and the Laboring Poor" |
"The Wisconsin Idea"
When LaFollette was governor, he used his home state to test new laws and reform legislation, and was even paired so closely with the University of Wisconsin, that professors would help him write bills. Being a farm-boy himself, his main running points were economical government and protection for farmers. LaFollette was a known supporter of higher railroad taxes, breaking up monopolies, preserving state forests, protecting workers' rights and growth of unions, defending small farmers, women's' suffrage, racial equality, and regulation of lobbying. LaFollette pushed for reform in Wisconsin, and achieved great success. Running on his opposition of corporate power, and political corruption, LaFollette was elected Wisconsin senator, dedicated to representation the people, and encouraging progressive political reform nationwide.
May 29th and May 30th, 1908
It's for all these reasons and more, that LaFollette's filibuster came as no surprise. The bill on the floor was the Aldrich-Vreeland currency bill, which permitted the U.S. Treasury to lend currency to banks during fiscal crises. La Follette argued that the nation’s entire economy was dominated by fewer than 100 men who were, in turn, controlled by the J.P. Morgan and Standard Oil investment banking groups. Thereafter, he shifted his concern from the power of railroads to the power of their “owners,” namely the large banks. LaFollette disagreed with Aldrich-Vreeland bill because he opposed the government aiding the wealthiest men in the United States to continue to be wealthy, instead of helping the working class or those in poverty.
LaFollette's 18 hour, 23 minute filibuster, succeeded in stalling the bill's passing, yet the Aldrich-Vreeland Act was eventually passed. One relatively unknown event happened during LaFollette's filibuster: he was poisoned. Whether he was poisoned intentionally, or accidentally, it's still unknown. Midway through his filibuster, LaFollette sent a request to the kitchen for a turkey sandwich and a glass of milk fortified with egg (eggnog). Luckily, LaFollette only drank about half of the glass of eggnog, but if he had drank the whole glass, he would have surely died - there was enough toxic bacteria in the one glass to kill a man. Even though LaFollette drank half the glass, and was feeling nauseous, he still continued his filibuster until 7 am, when his debate partner took over for him on the floor.
Thus concludes the story of the fourth longest filibuster in U.S. History.
LaFollette's 18 hour, 23 minute filibuster, succeeded in stalling the bill's passing, yet the Aldrich-Vreeland Act was eventually passed. One relatively unknown event happened during LaFollette's filibuster: he was poisoned. Whether he was poisoned intentionally, or accidentally, it's still unknown. Midway through his filibuster, LaFollette sent a request to the kitchen for a turkey sandwich and a glass of milk fortified with egg (eggnog). Luckily, LaFollette only drank about half of the glass of eggnog, but if he had drank the whole glass, he would have surely died - there was enough toxic bacteria in the one glass to kill a man. Even though LaFollette drank half the glass, and was feeling nauseous, he still continued his filibuster until 7 am, when his debate partner took over for him on the floor.
Thus concludes the story of the fourth longest filibuster in U.S. History.