A Different President McGovern

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The McGovern I have in mind here is Francis E. McGovern (1866-1946), progressive Republican governor of Wisconsin 1911-15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_E._McGovern

"As La Follette took on duties in the U.S. Senate, progressives' efforts continued in Wisconsin under governors and legislators still convinced of the need for regulation and reform. La Follette had laid the base for such change with his fiery oratory and vilification of machine politicians and greedy corporate bosses, but it was Francis McGovern who, during the 1911 legislative session, put through a record number of progressive acts. In that session, with the help of university experts drafting and polishing the legislation, the lawmakers created the first workers' compensation program, instituted a state income tax, enacted several conservation measures and created. a number of regulatory boards and commissions, among them the Industrial Commission and a highway commission. Progressivism was at high tide in Wisconsin."
http://www.lafollette.wisc.edu/images/publications/otherpublications/LaFollette/LaFLegacy.html

For an appraisal of McGovern by Nils Haugen (a prominent Wisconsin Norwegian-American politician who had served in Congress from 1887 to 1895) see http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/gdc/lhbum/27464/27464.pdf

"Francis E. McGovern succeeded Davidson January, 1911. He had elements of strength not possessed by his predecessor. This can be said without reflecting in the least on Davidson, whose administration was clean and above reproach. But McGovern had the advantage of a classical and legal education followed by years of legal practice at the bar. Add to this a level head, good judgment and clearness of vision, together with absolute independence of political entanglements, and I believe it can fairly be said that he ranks with the very best of our chief magistrates...

"At this time we had Madison what was known as 'The Saturday Lunch Club.' It was an open forum, attended by state officers and employees at the capitol, university professors, and any business men or outsiders who felt interested in the subjects for discussion. Governor McGovern took an active part in these meetings, and was always clear, logical, and to the point. It was said of him that he never split an infinitive. He certainly showed a trained mind, well balanced and logical, a consistent 'progressive' in every respect. He had been a regular supporter of the La Follette program. I know of no criticism of any of his official acts. His record certainly will stand comparison with that of the very best of our governors....

"La Follette was a candidate for senator and McGovern for governor in the campaign of 1910 and the relations between them were mutually friendly and harmonious..."

However, in 1912 there was a La Follette-McGovern rift, because, though a La Follette delegate, McGovern accepted the support of the TR forces for an unsuccessful candidacy for chairmanship of the convention against Elihu Root. Of course it was only through such a cooperative effort of TR and La Follette delegates that there was any chance to block Root's chairmanship, which meant the certain nomination of Taft. But La Follette objected violently to the idea--some of his delegates in fact voted for Root. La Follette bitterly accused McGovern of betrayal, and just when their quarrel seemed to die down, McGovern enraged La Follette some more by supporting TR in the general election. (La Follette did not openly endorse anybody but was obviously more friendly to Wilson than to either Taft or the hated TR.)

"The unfortunate break between La Follette and McGovern resulted in defeating the latter in a subsequent [1914] election for the senatorship, where he would have been an honor and credit to the state; and deprived Wisconsin of his eminent qualifications as a public servant." http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/gdc/lhbum/27464/27464.pdf


It should be noted that even with the La Follette-McGovern split, McGovern only lost very narrowly in 1914:

Paul O. Husting (D) 43.8% 134,925
Francis E. McGovern (R) 43.5% 133,969
Emil Seidel (Social Democrat) 9.7% 29,744
Charles L. Hill (Prohibition) 3.0% 9,276

http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=46930

So let's say that McGovern wins. (In a race that close, even the slightest error by Husting could lead to this.) Provided that McGovern somewhat moderates his earlier progressivism once in the Senate, and that he supports the war (thereby further alienating La Follette) he will be a plausible candidate for the GOP vice-presidential nomination in 1920 for about the same reasons Senator Irvine Lenroot was in OTL--appeal to midwestern and western farmers, etc. (On the subject of the War: In OTL, he entered the U.S. Army as a Major, and served as Judge Advocate of the 18th Division. I doubt that he will do this as an incumbent US Senator, but in any event it seems to indicate an attitude toward the War different from La Follette's..) Also, his having supported TR in 1912--which Lenroot did not--will help the GOP with ex-Bull Moosers. (In this ATL, btw, there is no Senator Lenroot. In OTL Lenroot won election to the Senate in a special election in 1918 following the death of Senator Husting. Of course with McGovern having won the seat in 1914, there will be no special election.) Unlike Lenroot, McGovern really wants the vice-presidential nomination, and insists that Harding make it clear that he is *Harding's* choice, not just a "senatorial clique's." Harding's firm insistence on McGovern quiets an incipient Coolidge-for-vice-president boom among the delegates; the Harding-McGovern ticket is nominated and elected, and three years later McGovern becomes president...

(Incidentally, in OTL, McGovern eventually became an FDR Democrat. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to read what appears to be the only full-length biography, Douglas Arthur Ley, *Francis E. McGovern : Urban Progressive and New Deal Democrat*. It may be said that McGovern was just too far to the Left for the Republicans to nominate even as vice-president in 1920--yet after all, Harding had offered the post to the "radical" Hiram Johnson, who turned it down...)
 
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" . . . but it was Francis McGovern who, during the 1911 legislative session, put through a record number of progressive acts. In that session, with the help of university experts drafting and polishing the legislation, the lawmakers created the first workers' compensation program, instituted a state income tax, enacted several conservation measures and created. a number of regulatory boards and commissions, . . . "
http://www.lafollette.wisc.edu/images/publications/otherpublications/LaFollette/LaFLegacy.html
If he's president, maybe a very different 1920s?
 
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