Inspirational Quotes by William Proxmire (American Politician)

William Proxmire (1915–2005) was an American politician. A Democratic senator from Wisconsin, he is remembered for his crusades against governmental waste.

Born in Lake Forest, Illinois, Proxmire joined the Senate in 1957 after winning a special election to fill the seat of Senator Joseph McCarthy. Every year 1975–88, Proxmire granted the Golden Fleece Awards to the year’s most egregious cases of frivolous government spending and bureaucratic misuse in the cause of self-advancement.

Proxmire was legendary for his discipline—a fitness enthusiast he did 100 press-ups every morning followed by a ten-mile run—he wrote two books on the subject: You Can Do It!: Exercise, Diet and Relaxation Plan (1973) and Your Joy Ride to Health (1994.) He also refused campaign donations and did not miss a single Senate roll-call vote in more than 20 years.

Proxmire also wrote three books attacking state extravagance: Report from Wasteland: America’s Military-Industrial Complex (1970,) Can Congress Control Spending (1973,) and The Fleecing of America (1980.)

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Jonathan Kasparek wrote Proxmire: Bulldog of the Senate (2019.)

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