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Forward for the People

The Autobiography of America's Longest Serving Legislator

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By Fred A. Risser and Doug Moe

A legendary senator shares his insider’s view of the people and events that shaped Wisconsin and the nation over the past century

When Fred Risser retired from the Wisconsin Senate in 2021, his sixty-four years in state government made him the longest serving legislator in US history. Now, in this candid and illuminating autobiography, Risser shares his singular perspective on events that transformed the state and the nation over the course of his remarkable career. From his role in the “Joe Must Go” drive to recall US Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s to his position as the senior senator among the “Fab Fourteen” Wisconsin Democrats who opposed Governor Scott Walker’s Act 10 legislation against collective bargaining in 2011, Risser was a leader in state politics for decades, always maintaining an unwavering belief that political action can change people’s lives for the better.

Forward for the People provides a unique peek behind the political curtain from the viewpoint of someone who saw it all. Risser worked with thirteen governors and authored more than 240 bills that became law, championing public health and safety, environmental protection, women’s and reproductive rights, organized labor, civil rights, and social justice, among many other causes. Risser also recounts interactions with prominent national politicians, including Robert La Follette Jr., Hubert Humphrey, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. More than forty photographs from Risser’s personal collection and the Wisconsin Senate paint a vivid picture of his six-decade journey through Wisconsin politics.

Forward for the People details Risser’s experiences out of state, from a stint in the Panama Canal Zone as a navy hospital corpsman to his undergraduate debate-team days at Minnesota’s Carleton College to his years studying law at the University of Oregon and his travels to all seven continents. The book also depicts the quirky habits that made Risser a memorable and beloved politician: biking his age in miles every birthday and never taking the elevator in his sixty-four years at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Enhanced with details sourced from correspondence, personal notes, newspaper accounts, and recollections from friends and former colleagues, Risser and coauthor Doug Moe have crafted an engaging account of an extraordinary life in public service.

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PRAISE

"This is so much more than a story about a prominent public servant's long career. It's an up close and personal look at Wisconsin's rich political history and the people and events that shaped it. Fred Risser has been a major player in the state's progressive causes that set Wisconsin apart as an example for the rest of the nation. The retired senator and Doug Moe have provided us with a book that will help generations to come understand why our state is special."

—Dave Zweifel, editor emeritus, The Capital Times

“Times change, constituencies change, political issues change, yet voters chose Fred Risser to represent them time and time again. I have long admired his honesty, his values, and his advocacy and legislative leadership in the issues we both care about. This book is the story of the political life of Wisconsin for more than sixty years and a remarkable man who helped shape it.”

—Jim Doyle, former Wisconsin Governor

“Since the day Fred Risser walked into my West High School political science class as a special guest my senior year, he has been a luminary in Wisconsin politics and a symbol of public service for me. Fred's unmatched career as the longest serving legislator in US history is a testament to his dedication to our state, and we all have something to learn from his remarkable career and commitment to others.”

—Tammy Baldwin, US Senator

“Fred Risser's story is an important one to tell in today's turbulent political era. Not only did he maintain an exceptional record of service, he also fiercely protected the institution of the Wisconsin Senate and excelled at bipartisan accomplishments and strong friendships with colleagues, regardless of party. This book is a marvelous testimony to his unique life and admirable political leadership.”

—Brian Rude, former Wisconsin State Senator

"Fred Risser's story is also a story of Madison—his political family, his rise to elected office and leadership, his push for new buildings in downtown and on campus, his part in the Capitol restoration and Monona Terrace, his successful drive for a state smoking ban, and as a witness and participant in the drama surrounding the signing of Act 10. Risser and the Wisconsin Senate are two Madison institutions fully explained in this book."

—Jeff Mayers, president of WisPolitics and former political reporter at the Wisconsin State Journal

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Senator Fred A. Risser was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. A veteran of World War II, Risser went to college on the GI Bill and received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Oregon. He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1956 at age twenty-nine—the fourth generation in his family to serve in the state legislature. During his long tenure in office, Risser authored more than 240 bills that became law and was a legendary champion for his constituents. He lives in Madison with his wife, Nancy.

Doug Moe has worked for more than four decades as a magazine editor, newspaper columnist, and freelance writer. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including, most recently, Moments of Happiness: A Wisconsin Band Story, with Mike Leckrone. Moe lives in Madison.

AN INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR FRED RISSER & DOUG MOE

Senator Risser

What made you want to write your autobiography and what surprised and/or inspired you about the process?

Over the years, friends and colleagues had encouraged me to write about my life and legislative career. Then I had a conversation with Madison journalist and author Doug Moe, who had previously done some successful collaborations, and we agreed to try to work together to tell my story. One of the most interesting things about reflecting on my career was realizing how much the Legislature has changed since I was first elected.

As America’s longest serving legislator you saw Wisconsin evolve as a state over the course of many decades. What made you want to continue serving in this role, especially when faced with tough decisions and adversity?

I felt I was not only doing something I enjoyed, but also making a difference, working on legislation that would benefit the citizens of Wisconsin. It wasn’t always easy, but I wanted to continue working hard and serving my constituents.

What life lessons did you learn at the beginning of your legislative career that still resonate with you today?

Early on, I learned that building relationships was just as important in advancing the work of the Legislature as the precise language used in any given bill. I helped pass important legislation with bipartisan support. I’m sorry to say that while it’s still important for legislators to reach across the aisle, it rarely seems to happen today.

Were there parts of your story that were harder for you to tell than others? What do you hope readers learn from your experience?

I hope they see the value in having an optimistic outlook in politics and in life. I always felt government could help make people’s lives better, and much of the legislation I supported reflected that.

Doug Moe

How did you first connect with Senator Risser, and what was the conversation like when this project was first discussed?

I remember we spoke briefly at a Fair Wisconsin luncheon nearly a decade ago and he mentioned he might be interested in doing an autobiography. I was working with former Gov. Tommy Thompson on his book at the time. After it came out, I sent a copy to Sen. Risser, we spoke further and agreed to work together.

Did you learn anything new about Wisconsin’s legislative history based on your conversations with Senator Risser?

I learned a tremendous amount about how some of the most significant legislation of the last 60 years came to pass or didn’t. One specific: Sen. Risser took detailed notes when the “Fab Fourteen” Democratic senators “escaped to Illinois” in 2011, and I believe our account will stand as the definitive record of those wild three weeks.

How did helping Senator Risser share his story inspire you in your own work?

I enjoy telling Wisconsin stories and have had the good fortune to work on both biographies written in my own voice, and autobiographies, in which I collaborate with someone like Sen. Risser and the books are written in my co-author’s voice. It’s all storytelling, abetted by abundant research.

What do you hope readers take away from Forward for the People?

I hope they are both informed and entertained by reading about a long (98 years as I write this!) and exceptional life given largely to public service. Sen. Risser fought against Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Joe McCarthy in the 1950s and against Gov. Scott Walker some six decades later. A remarkable journey.

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