An oral history interview with Patrick Lucey

              WISCONSIN
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
An Oral History Interview with
PATRICK LUCEY
Interviewer: .Anita Hecht, Life History Services
Recording Date: January 13, 2009
Place: Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Length: 2.0 hours
Patrick J. Lucey was raised in La Crosse, Wisconsin, served in the U.S. Army during World War Two,
and completed his B.A. degree at the University of Wisconsin in 1946.
In 1948, Lucey was elected to the state legislature and in 1950 he ran unsuccessfully for Congress. He
then became executive director of Wisconsin's Democratic Party and in 1957 chaired Proxmire's
successful campaign for Joseph McCarthy's U.S. Senate seat.
Lucey chaired the Wisconsin Democratic Party from 1957 to 1963. In 1964 he became lieutenant
governor and in 1970 and 1974 was elected Governor. He co-chaired the Wisconsin delegation to the
Democratic National Conventions of 1972 and 1976.
In 1977, Lucey resigned the governorship to accept appointment as U.S. ambassador to Mexico. In 1980,
he ran as the vice presidential candidate on John Anderson's independent ticket for the U.S. presidency.
.After the ticket's defeat by Ronald Reagan, Lucey left public life for the first time in 32 years. During the
1980s he taught political science and worked as a private political consultant.
Pa trick L ucey In terview Transcrip t 1 Proxmire Oral His tory Project