Hiram Johnson

Weatherson and Bochin provide a comprehensive portrait of Hiram Johnson, a remarkable man who spent 34 years in the service of his country. As governor of California from 1911 to 1916, he oversaw increased regulation of the Southern Pacific Railroad, supported legislation that improved working conditions, and established commissions that regulated government expenditures and strengthened the civil service. Johnson gained a national reputation both as a progressive and a speaker and was elected to the United States Senate in 1916, where he served until his death in 1945. Johnson was so popular in his home state that he often was renominated by both the Republican and Democratic parties. Contents: Early Courtroom Speaking: Preparing for Political Life; The First Crusade: Running Against the Southern Pacific; The Election of 1912: Campaigning with Roosevelt; Second Term as Governor: Returning to the Republican Party; "Follow That Train: " Attacking Wilson and the League; "The Issue is America: " Seeking the Presidential Nomination; Critic of Coolidge and Hoover: Fighting the Conservative Reaction; New Deal and Neutrality: The Final Speeche