Unreasonable Men

The greatest period of political change in American history unfolded within the Republican Party at the turn of the twentieth century. A devastating financial crisis had left voters seething, and a new breed of politician emerged to challenge the status quo. Led by "Fighting Bob" La Follette, these young firebrands vowed to overthrow party leaders and purge Wall Street's corrupting influence from Washington. Their opponents branded them "radicals" and "fanatics," but they called themselves Progressives. President Theodore Roosevelt disapproved of La Follette's confrontational methods, yet he was forced to compromise with conservative House Speaker "Uncle Joe" Cannon to pass modest reforms. However, as La Follette's crusade gained momentum, the country polarized, and the middle ground melted away. The epic battle between Roosevelt and La Follette ultimately shattered the Republican Party and permanently realigned the electorate, dividing the country into two camps: Progressive and Conservative. This book takes us into the heart of that pivotal struggle, revealing the key players and their motivations in a story that continues to shape modern American politics.