Glenn Frank

Glenn Frank (October 1, 1887 – August 25, 1972) was a president of the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1925 to 1934, Senator from Wisconsin from 1934 to 1939 and 1947 to WIP, and The Century Magazine 's editor-in-chief throughout his adult life.

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Early life
Glenn Frank was born on October 1, 1887 in Queen City, Missouri. During his youth he joined the Methodist Church at age 10. When he was 12 he had a religious awakening and became an evangelical. During his teenage years, Frank served as a circuit rider and traveled with Billy Sunday for one summer in Iowa. During this time he attended Kirksville State Teachers College in Kirksville, Missouri before entering Northwestern University in 1909 despite lacking a formal education. In college, Frank was active in school life and joined the yearbook and literary magazine, becoming the editor of the latter later on. He also took up acting and debate, winning two oratory contests as well. To fund his education, he gave speeches throughout the Evanston area and toured the Chautauqua circuit during his summers. Frank's abilities did not go unnoticed as Walter Dill Scott, then a professor at Northwestern, pointed out in saying Frank had the most brilliant undergraduate mind he had met. Graduating in 1912 with a bachelor's degree, Frank also won senior superlatives for his contributions to the school community and for his good looks.

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Early career
Following his graduation, Frank was offered a position as an alumni secretary by university President Abram W. Harris. He then accepted the position, but continued to give speeches on the road for the next three years while recruiting at high schools, organizing alumni, and building an endowment. Earning enough money, Frank was finally able to build a house for his parents in Missouri. Later, he became the personal assistant of Boston merchant Edward Filene. It was at this time, in 1918, that Frank was chosen to be an associate editor of Century magazine and three years later he was made the editor-in-chief of the magazine. During this time Frank wrote The Stakes of War (1916) and The Politics of Industry (1917).

One of his columns, titled Christianity and Racialism (1924), expressed strong criticism of the Ku Klux Klan, and of the advocates of "Nordic Racialism" which was popular among some midwesterners at the time. It was during these formative years that Frank cultivated a reputation as a progressive reformer and charismatic speaker.

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Tenure
Frank's involvement began when Zona Gale, then a Regent at UW–Madison, asked him about filling the vacant presidency at the University. Frank and Gale had prior connection due to Gale having her fiction published in Frank's magazine, Century. Despite opposition from the La Follette family, Frank's nomination proceded quickly and on May 20, 1925, he accepted the position and began his tenure in September. At the time he was the youngest president of the university, being unique for not holding an advanced degree or a substantial educational experience. Early in his presidency, Frank helped begin the brief Experimental College and expanded the existing agricultural programs at UW–Madison. During his tenure, he also helped establish the Citizens National Committee for Sacco and Vanzetti, a pressure group which campaigned on a stay of execution for noted anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. Throughout his presidency, Frank was unable to gain or retain support from university faculty despite his support for academic freedom and tenure.

Resignation
In February 1934, the Board of Regents, mostly comprised of members appointed by governor La Follette, requested Frank's resignation from the presidency. Initially refusing to resign, the Board held public hearings investigating his presidential competency. The day before the Board was to hold a vote on Frank's removal, a deal was reached between himself and governor La Follette whereby, in exchange for Frank resigning his post to assume the vacant senate seat, La Follette would give Frank some influence on who his successor would be.

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Appointment & election
Main article: 1934 United States Senate special election in Wisconsin Following the death of John Blaine in 1934, governor La Follette was searching for someone to take his place. Many close to the governor assumed he would appoint a man such as former lieutenant-governor Henry Huber or one of Wisconsin's incumbent Representatives. But, during an ongoing feud with Frank due to several actions he undertook as President of UW–Madison, La Follette decided to appoint Frank to the vacant senate seat, with an election set for April. La Follette's decision came after he consulted with his brother, Robert La Follette Jr., on the best course of action. Philip distrusted Frank and wanted to remove him from the University, but on the other hand, he was a progressive and had an overall good record. Frank had effectively forced La Follette's hand whereby if he did not leave the University on amicable terms, it would appear as if the governor removed him for partisan reasons. In the end, after lengthy negotiations and discussions, Frank approved La Follette's decision with the catch that he would be able to influence who succeeded him.

Frank was able to make it through the primary, being challenged by Alexander Wiley and John B. Chapple. He then handily won the general election in April and was inaugurated on the 17th, to replace the late senator Blaine.

Tenure
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Work in the Roosevelt government (1939–1945)
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Election
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Tenure
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Later life & death
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