Hiram Warren Johnson (1866–1945) was an American attorney and politician, serving as California’s Governor (1911–17) and U.S. Senator (1917–45.) A leading Progressive Republican, he championed government reform, direct democracy, and isolationist foreign policy.
Born in Sacramento, California, Johnson worked as a stenographer and court reporter before pursuing law. He gained prominence as a San Francisco prosecutor, convicting corrupt political figures. His reputation as a reformer led to his election as governor (1910,) where he enacted progressive policies, including railroad regulation and direct democracy measures like recall elections and ballot initiatives.
In 1912, Johnson joined Theodore Roosevelt’s Progressive Party as his vice-presidential candidate. Though unsuccessful, he remained influential, later winning a U.S. Senate seat (1916.) As a senator, he opposed U.S. involvement in the League of Nations, supported New Deal programs, and advocated neutrality before World War II.
His career is explored in Michael A. Weatherson and Hal Bochin’s Hiram Johnson: Political Revivalist (1995,) examining his progressive reforms and influence.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Hiram Johnson
The first casualty when war comes is truth.
—Hiram Johnson
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