Home to the house and senate since 1800. It is their home districts and states that send members to washington, d. C. Over the next 90 minutes, a look at pivotal u. S. Politicians as we travel the nation in search of their stories. Coming up first, former wisconsin governor and 1924 Progressive Party president ial bobdate, robert fighting lafalce. Hes the most important political figure in wisconsins history and one of the most important in the history of the 20th century in the United States. He was a reforming governor. He defined what progressivism is. He was one of the first to use the term to self identify. He was the United States senator. He was recognized by his peers in the 1950s as one of the five greatest senators in American History. He was an opponent of world war i. He stood his ground advocating for free speech. Above all, he was about the people. In the era after the civil war, america changed radically from a nation of small farmers, small producers, small manufacturer