William Henry Stevenson

William Henry Stevenson (September 23, 1891 – March 19, 1978) was an American lawyer and Republican politician from La Crosse County, Wisconsin. He served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district from 1941 to 1949. Earlier in his career, he served as district attorney of La Crosse County (1935–1941) and Richland County, Wisconsin (1925–1927).

Early life and education

William Stevenson was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in September 1891. As a child, he moved with his family to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he was raised and educated. He graduated from La Crosse Central High School and went on to attend La Crosse Normal School (now University of Wisconsin–La Crosse), where he graduated in 1912.

In 1916, Stevenson returned to school, entering the University of Wisconsin Law School. While attending law school, he taught class at Madison Central High School. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin and earned his LL.B. in 1919. After Bancroft left office, their partnership continued for three years.

After his two-year term, Stevenson formed a new law partnership with his former high school teacher following the death of Schubert's previous partner.

In La Crosse, Stevenson resumed his political and civic activities. In 1932, he sought the Republican nomination for district attorney of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, challenging the incumbent Republican Rudolf M. Schlabach. The Republican primary was extremely close, with Schlabach ultimately prevailing by less than 100 votes. Schlabach went on to lose the general election to Democrat Fred G. Silberschmidt.

Two years later, Stevenson ran again. This time, Stevenson faced attorney Thomas H. Skemp, who was at the same time the head coach of the La Crosse Lagers football team. Despite Skemp's standing as a local celebrity, Stevenson prevailed in the primary by nearly a 2-to-1 margin. Earlier in 1934, the Wisconsin Progressive Party had been established, splitting from the Republican Party of Wisconsin. This resulted in a three-way race in the general election for district attorney, with the Democrats nominating the incumbent, Fred G. Silberschmidt, and the Progressives nominating Frank R. Schneider. All three candidates polled more than 5,000 votes in the general election; Stevenson won the race with 7,146. Stevenson won re-election in 1936 and 1938, defeating Frank Schneider again in both elections.

Congress

On July 4, 1939, U.S. Representative Harry W. Griswold died of a sudden heart attack, creating a vacancy in Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district. Despite being only six months into a two-year term, no special election was called to fill the seat for the remainder of the 76th Congress. In July 1940, Stevenson announced that he would seek the Republican nomination to succeed Griswold in the 3rd congressional district for the 77th Congress. In announcing his campaign, Stevenson came out against the United States joining , and endorsed the idea of a national highway system for employment and national defense purposes. In the Republican Party primary, Stevenson faced three other credible opponents, state senator Edward J. Roethe, La Crosse businessman Raymond C. Bice, and former Union Party gubernatorial candidate Joseph F. Walsh. Stevenson narrowly prevailed in the primary by a margin of just 274 votes over Roethe.

His chief opponent in the general election was the Progressive Party nominee, former U.S. representative Gardner R. Withrow, but a Democratic candidate, George T. Doherty, was also in the race. In the general election, Stevenson attacked the New Deal of the Roosevelt administration and said that Roosevelt's decision to seek a third term as president represented a danger to American democracy. He advocated new tariffs to prop up the price of milk and butter for Wisconsin farm producers. Stevenson won the general election in another relatively close race, taking 46% of the vote to Withrow's 44%. One of his chief achievements in his congressional career occurred in these early months in office, when he secured the creation of the Badger Army Ammunition Plant for his congressional district as part of the defense build-up. The character of his first term changed dramatically with the attack on Pearl Harbor. Stevenson joined other Wisconsin Republicans indicating that they would drop any remaining isolationist positions.

Stevenson faced a primary challenge in 1942 from Joseph F. Walsh, who had also run in 1940. Walsh attacked Stevenson for his previous isolationist positions and indicated he would be a more supportive ally for Roosevelt in the war. Stevenson prevailed in another close primary, receiving 53% of the vote to Walsh's 47%. In the general election, he faced a rematch with Progressive Gardner Withrow, who reiterated criticisms of Stevenson's past isolationist positions and fully endorsed the Roosevelt platform for domestic and foreign policy. Stevenson defeated Withrow again, slightly expanding his margin from 1940. He won a fourth term in 1946, winning another competitive primary, and another landslide general election.

Stevenson ran for a fifth term in 1948. By then, the Wisconsin Progressive Party had disbanded and many of the voters and officials had chosen to return to the Republican Party. In the 1948 Republican primary, Stevenson faced his two-time Progressive rival from 1940 and 1942, Gardner Withrow. A third candidate also ran in the primary, Carl Neprud, who had recently served as a technical advisor at the Bretton Woods Conference. Stevenson faced intense criticism for voting for a deep cut in farm benefits. Withrow also reiterated old criticisms of Stevenson over his pre-Pearl Harbor isolationist positions. Withrow defeated Stevenson in a close election, taking 41% to Stevenson's 38%.

Later years

After leaving office, Stevenson returned to his law practice in La Crosse. In 1952, he attempted to reclaim his seat in Congress, launching a primary challenge against Gardner Withrow. Stevenson's attempted political comeback was fueled by stalwart Republican discontent over their progressive incumbent, Withrow. In the end, Stevenson fell just short of Withrow in his last election, receiving 48.7% to Withrow's 51.3%.

Stevenson resumed his law practice, and moved to neighboring Onalaska, Wisconsin, in the late 1950s. He died at a La Crosse hospital on March 19, 1978, and was buried in Onalaska.

Personal life and family William Stevenson was a son of Major John Stevenson and his wife Minnie. John Stevenson was described as an Indian scout and friend of general Charles King.

William Stevenson married Lulu Bucklin of Onalaska in 1913. They had one daughter, Phyllis Belle, who survived them.

Electoral history U.S. House (1940–1948) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1940 Primary Republican 9,217 26.63% Rep. 8,943 25.83% 34,617 274 Rep. 8,770 25.33% Rep. 7,687 22.21% General Republican 54,457 45.99% Prog. 52,131 44.03% 118,3992,326 Dem. 11,806 9.97% 1942 Primary Republican 16,641 52.86% Rep. 14,840 47.14% 31,481 1,801 General Republican 34,177 46.87% Prog. 31,092 42.64% 72,917 3,085 Dem. 7,385 10.13% Soc. 258 0.35% 1944 Primary Republican 14,687 54.78% Rep. 12,125 45.22% 26,812 2,562 General Republican 74,092 69.86% Dem. 26,978 25.44% 106,051 47,114 Ind. 4,591 4.33% Soc. 371 0.35% 1946 Primary Republican 23,364 57.98% Rep. 16,931 42.02% 40,295 6,433 General Republican 65,177 96.07% Soc. 2,633 3.88% 67,846 62,544 1948 Primary Republican 20,099 41.04% Rep. 18,716 38.22% 48,970 1,383 Rep. 10,155 20.74%

U.S. House (1952) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1952 Primary Republican 32,062 51.33% Rep. 30,404 48.67% 62,466 1,658