View source for William Proxmire

{{Short description|American politician (1915–2005)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name            = William Proxmire
|image           = SenatorProxmire.jpg
|jr/sr           = United States Senator
|state           = [[Wisconsin]]
|term_start      = August 28, 1957
|term_end        = January 3, 1989
|predecessor     = [[Joseph McCarthy]]
|successor       = [[Herb Kohl]]
|state_assembly2 = Wisconsin
|district2       = [[Dane County, Wisconsin|Dane County]] 2nd 
|term_start2     = January 10, 1951
|term_end2       = January 13, 1953
|predecessor2    = [[John M. Blaska]]
|successor2      = [[Ervin M. Bruner]]
|birth_name      = Edward William Proxmire
|birth_date      = {{birth date|1915|11|11}}
|birth_place     = [[Lake Forest, Illinois]], U.S.
|death_date      = {{death date and age|2005|12|15|1915|11|11}}
|death_place     = [[Sykesville, Maryland]], U.S.
|party           = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse          = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Elsie Stillman Rockefeller|1946|1955|end = divorced}}
* {{marriage|Ellen Hodges Sawall|1956}}
}}
|children        = 4
|education       = [[Yale University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[Harvard University]] ([[Master of Business Administration|MBA]], [[Master of Public Administration|MPA]])
<!-- RELIGION REMOVED PER PROJECT-WIDE CONSENSUS AT THE VILLAGE PUMP. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_(policy)/Archive_126#RfC:_Religion_in_biographical_infoboxes -->
| allegiance     = {{flag|United States}}
| branch         = {{flag|United States Army}}
| unit           = [[Counterintelligence Corps]]
| rank           = [[File:US-O2 insignia.svg|10px]] [[First lieutenant#U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force|First Lieutenant]]
| serviceyears   = 1941–1946
| battles        = [[World War II]]
| signature      = William Proxmire signature.png
| signature_alt  = Cursive signature in ink
| module         = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Sen. William Proxmire on Continuing Television Coverage of the Senate.ogg|title=William Proxmire's voice|type=speech|description=Proxmire on the risk of increased [[demagogue]]ry with televised coverage of the Senate<br/>Recorded July 29, 1986}}
}}

'''Edward William Proxmire''' (November 11, 1915 – December 15, 2005) was an American politician. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he served as a [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Wisconsin]] from 1957 to 1989. He holds the record for being the longest-serving senator from Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/kohl-makes-farewell-address-to-senate-si8173c-183420931.html|title=Kohl makes farewell address to Senate|last=Walker|first=Don|date=12 December 2016|work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|access-date=19 November 2016}}</ref>

Known as a political maverick and an aggressive critic of wasteful government spending, Proxmire invented and awarded the tongue-in-cheek [[Golden Fleece Award]] to appropriations he found particularly egregious. He was a member of the [[Senate Banking Committee]], the [[Senate Appropriations Committee]], and the [[Joint Economic Committee]]. On the Joint Economic Committee, he exposed numerous instances of wasteful spending on military programs such as the [[Lockheed C-5 Galaxy|C-5]] aircraft and the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]] fighter, as well as other government programs such as the development of a [[supersonic transport]] airplane (SST).

==Early life==
The son of Dr. Theodore Stanley Proxmire, a Chicago-area surgeon, and Adele (Flanigan) Proxmire, Edward William Proxmire was born in [[Lake Forest, Illinois]], on November 11, 1915.<ref>{{cite news |last=Herbers |first=John |date=April 4, 1971 |title=What Makes Proxmire Run |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/04/04/archives/what-makes-proxmire-run-as-he-does-literally-every-morning-from.html |work=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |location=New York, NY |page=28 |via=[[The New York Times#TimesMachine|TimesMachine]]}}</ref>  He later used "William" rather than "Edward" out of admiration for actor [[William S. Hart]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Sykes |first=Jay G. |date=1972 |title=Proxmire |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_g13AAAAMAAJ&q=%22After+he+saw+Hart+in+a+silent+western+classic+in+1921%2C+Edward+William+Proxmire%2C+age+6%2C%22 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=R. B. Luce |page=15}}</ref>  He graduated from [[The Hill School]] (in [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania]]) in 1933,<ref name="Severo">Severo, Richard. [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/national/16proxmire.html "William Proxmire, Maverick Democratic Senator From Wisconsin, Is Dead at 90"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', December 16, 2005. Accessed October 31, 2007. "The family was well-to-do, and he was sent to The Hill School in Pottstown, Pa., and then to Yale, where he was an English major."</ref> [[Yale University]] in 1938 ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]]), [[Harvard Business School]] in 1940 ([[master of business administration|M.B.A.]]), and [[Harvard Kennedy School|Harvard Graduate School of Public Administration]] in 1948 ([[master of public administration|M.P.A.]]).<ref name="Severo" />  While at Yale, Proxmire joined the [[Chi Psi]] fraternity.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sykes |first=Jay G. |date=1972 |title=Proxmire |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_g13AAAAMAAJ&q=%22proxmire%22+%22chi+psi%22 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=R. B. Luce |page=23}}</ref>  During 1940 and 1941 Proxmire was a student clerk at [[J.P. Morgan & Co.]]<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Dorfman |first=Dan |date=July 15, 1974 |title=The Bottom Line: Proxmire vs. Banks |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hukCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10 |magazine=New York Magazine |location=New York, NY |publisher=NYM Corporation |page=10}}</ref> and studied public speaking at [[Columbia University]].<ref>{{cite book |date=1958 |title=Current Biography Yearbook |volume=19 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5c3AAAAMAAJ&q=%22studied+public+speaking+at+columbia+university%22 |location=Bronx, NY |publisher=H. W. Wilson Company |page=29}}</ref>

During [[World War II]] he joined the [[United States Army]] as a [[Private (rank)#United States Army|private]], and advanced through the ranks to [[Master sergeant#U.S. Army|master sergeant]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Tucker |first=Spencer C. |date=2011 |title=The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War |volume=I |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qh5lffww-KsC&pg=PA942 |location=Santa Barbara, CA |publisher=ABC-CLIO |page=942 |isbn=978-1-85109-960-3}}</ref> Proxmire later received a commission in the [[Military Intelligence Corps (United States Army)|Military Intelligence]] branch. Most of his service involved [[Counterintelligence Corps|counterintelligence]] work in the Chicago area, where members of his unit investigated individuals suspected of [[Subversion#United States|subversive activity]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Moritz |first=Charles |date=1979 |title=Current Biography Yearbook |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h5IYAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Assigned+to+the+counterintelligence+corps+and+the+military+intelligence+service%2C+he+spent+his+entire+tour+of+duty+in+the+United+States%2C+much+of+it+in+the+Chicago+area.%22 |location=Bronx, NY |publisher=H. W. Wilson Co. |page=333}}</ref> He served from 1941 to 1946,<ref>{{cite book |last=Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |date=1971 |title=State of Wisconsin Blue Book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9mAkAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA12 |location=Madison, WI |publisher=Document Sales |page=12}}</ref> and was discharged as a [[First lieutenant#U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force|first lieutenant]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Bartrop |first=Paul Robert |date=2012 |title=A Biographical Encyclopedia of Contemporary Genocide: Portraits of Evil and Good |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BleF7tl_rbUC&pg=PA265 |location=Santa Barbara, CA |publisher=ABC-CLIO |page=265 |isbn=978-0-313-38678-7}}</ref>  While in the Army, Proxmire also continued to study public speaking at [[Northwestern University]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Sykes |first=Jay G. |date=1972 |title=Proxmire |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_g13AAAAMAAJ&q=%22northwestern+university%22 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=R. B. Luce |page=26}}</ref>  After discharge, he was an executive trainee at J. P. Morgan before returning to Harvard.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sykes |first=Jay G. |date=1972 |title=Proxmire |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_g13AAAAMAAJ&q=%22proxmire%22+%22j.+p.+morgan%22+%22executive%22 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=R. B. Luce |page=23}}</ref>

After getting his second master's degree while working as a teaching fellow at Harvard, Proxmire moved to [[Wisconsin]] to be a reporter for ''[[The Capital Times]]'' in [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]] and to advance his political career in a favorable state. "They fired me after I'd been there seven months, for labor activities and impertinence," he once said.<ref name = Severo/>  When he ran successfully for the state legislature in 1950, Proxmire was working as the business manager of the ''Union Labor News'', a publication of the Madison Federation of Labor.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=May 11, 1950 |title=Wisconsin News Notes: Madison - William Proxmire |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/334309791/ |work=Racine Journal-Times |location=Racine, WI |url-access=subscription |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |page=13}}</ref>

==Wisconsin State Assembly==
[[File:MAGNIFICENT OLD TOURING CAR CARRIES U.S. SENATOR WILLIAM PROXMIRE AND OTHER OFFICIALS ALONG THE ROUTE OF THE ANNUAL... - NARA - 549570.jpg|thumb|William Proxmire taking part in "Old Milwaukee Days" annual parade, photo from September, 1973]]
[[File:Senator William Proxmire, Alan Greenspan, President Gerald R. Ford, Representative John Rhodes, and Representative Wright Patman at a Conference on Inflation at the White House - NARA - 12082617.jpg|thumb|right|Proxmire, [[Alan Greenspan]], President [[Gerald Ford]], [[John Jacob Rhodes|John Rhodes]], and [[Wright Patman]] at a conference on inflation at the White House, September 1974]]
Proxmire served as a member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]] from 1951 to 1953.<ref>Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. ''[http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/WI/WI-idx?type=goto&id=WI.WIBlueBk1952&page=43&isize=L The Wisconsin Blue Book 1952]''. Madison, State of Wisconsin, 1952, p. 43.</ref> During his Assembly service, Proxmire was one of few members who maintained a perfect attendance record, a trait that he later continued in the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 19, 1952 |title=Candidate for Governor Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77627460/candidate-governor/ |work=[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]] |location=Green Bay, WI |page=24 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> While in the Assembly, he was employed as president of Artcraft Press of [[Waterloo, Wisconsin|Waterloo]].<ref>{{cite news |agency=United Press International |date=March 24, 1954 |title=Democrat Proxmire to Run for Governor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/240357488/ |work=Sheboygan Press |location=Sheboygan, WI |url-access=subscription |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |page=1}}</ref> Proxmire was an unsuccessful candidate for [[Governor of Wisconsin]] in [[1952 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|1952]], [[1954 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|1954]] and [[1956 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|1956]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Kaufman |first=Burton Ira |date=2006 |title=The Carter Years |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jIzooiFd6IoC&pg=PA384 |location=New York, NY |publisher=Facts on File, Inc. |page=384 |isbn=978-0-8160-5369-8}}</ref>

==U.S. Senator==
In August 1957, Proxmire won the special election to fill the remainder of the U.S. Senate term vacated by the May 2, 1957 death of [[Joseph McCarthy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,862682,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902153700/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,862682,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 2, 2010 |title=Wisconsin: Running Scared |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=August 26, 1957 |access-date=May 30, 2017}}</ref> After assuming his seat, Proxmire did not pay the customary tribute to his predecessor and stated instead that McCarthy was a "disgrace to Wisconsin, to the Senate, and to America."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/this-day-in-politics-april-20-1966-117125 |title=Sen. William Proxmire starts vote streak, April 20, 1966 |access-date=2025-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702111849/https://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/this-day-in-politics-april-20-1966-117125 |archive-date=2024-07-02}}</ref>

Proxmire was reelected in 1958,<ref>{{cite web |author1=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]] |date=1959 |title=STATISTICS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 4, 1958 |url=https://history.house.gov/Institution/Election-Statistics/1958election/ |access-date=17 June 2021 |publisher=United States House of Representatives |page=39 |format=PDF}}</ref> 1964, 1970, 1976 and 1982; all but his 1964 win<ref>{{cite web |author1=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]] |date=1965-05-01 |title=STATISTICS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 3, 1964 |url=https://history.house.gov/Institution/Election-Statistics/1964election/ |access-date=17 June 2021 |publisher=United States House of Representatives |page=39 |format=PDF}}</ref> were by wide margins, including 71 percent of the vote in 1970,<ref>{{cite web |author1=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]] |date=1971-05-01 |title=STATISTICS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 3, 1970 |url=https://history.house.gov/Institution/Election-Statistics/1970election/ |access-date=17 June 2021 |publisher=United States House of Representatives |page=39 |format=PDF}}</ref> 73 percent in 1976<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Rhodes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HYKzDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA402 |title=America Votes 31: 2013-2014, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook |date=17 November 2015 |publisher=CQ Press |isbn=9781483383026 |access-date=2019-05-05}}</ref> and 65 percent in 1982.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Rhodes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HYKzDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA402 |title=America Votes 31: 2013-2014, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook |date=17 November 2015 |publisher=CQ Press |isbn=9781483383026 |access-date=2018-11-14}}</ref> In both of his last two campaigns, Proxmire refused contributions and spent less than $200 out of his own pocket, which covered the expenses related to filing re-election paperwork, and he mailed back unsolicited contributions. He was an early advocate of [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform]].<ref name="Gershman"/>  Throughout his Senate career, Proxmire also refused to accept reimbursements for travel expenses related to his official duties.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Severo|first1=Richard|title=William Proxmire, Maverick Democratic Senator From Wisconsin, Is Dead at 90|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/national/16proxmire.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=6 October 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=16 December 2005}}</ref>

[[File:William Proxmire, RIT NandE Vol20Num10 1989 Feb2 Complete.jpg|thumb|Proxmire in his later years]]
[[File:Barasch Proxmire.png|thumb|George Barasch, Congressman Herbert Tenzer, State Senator Simon Leibowitz, and Senator William Proxmire (left to right), 1966]]
[[File:CAC CC 001 18 33 0000 3260.jpg|thumb|Proxmire at the Democratic leadership conference, date unknown]]

===Consecutive roll call votes===
Proxmire holds the U.S. Senate record for consecutive roll call votes cast: 10,252 between April 20, 1966, and October 18, 1988.<ref name="Gershman">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NTDS1QbFRzkC&pg=PA262 |title=The Legislative Branch of Federal Government: People, Process, and Politics |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |author=Gershman, Gary P. |year=2008 |page=262 |isbn=9781851097128}}</ref> In doing so, he surpassed the previous record of 2,941, which was held by Senator [[Margaret Chase Smith]] of Maine.<ref name="Franklin">{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19881013&id=83whAAAAIBAJ&pg=5173,3480514 |title=Sen. Proxmire Retiring After 31 Years |publisher=[[UPI]] |work=[[Schenectady Gazette]] |date=October 13, 1988 |access-date=September 24, 2014 |author=Franklin, Mary Beth}}</ref> In January 2016, [[Chuck Grassley]] broke Proxmire's record for longest amount of time between missed votes, but during his time without missing a roll call, Grassley had cast about 3,000 fewer votes than Proxmire.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hawkings |first=David |date=January 20, 2016 |title=Unnoticed, Grassley Sets Record for Most Time Without a Missed Senate Vote |url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/unnoticed-grassley-sets-record-time-without-missed-senate-vote |work=The Hill |location=Washington, DC}}</ref>

===Committee memberships===
Proxmire served as the chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs|Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs]] from 1975 to 1981 and again from 1987 to 1989. During his first tenure in this position, Proxmire was instrumental in devising the financial plan that saved New York City from bankruptcy in 1976–77.<ref name = Severo/>  Proxmire's subcommittee memberships included [[United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection|Financial Institutions]], [[United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development|Housing and Urban Affairs]], and [[United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance|International Finance and Monetary Policy]].<ref>{{cite news |date=1981 |title=Senate Committees, 97th Congress, First Session |url=http://library.cqpress.com/cqalmanac/document.php?id=cqal81-1171176 |work=Congressional Quarterly |location=Washington, DC |access-date=July 30, 2018 |ref={{sfnRef|"Senate Committees, 97th Congress, First Session"}}}}</ref>

In addition to his work on the Banking Committee, Proxmire rose through seniority to become a high-ranking member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Appropriations Committee]] and was active on several subcommittees, including [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense|Defense]], [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies|Housing and Urban Development]], [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies|Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies]], and Postal Service and Related Agencies.{{sfn|"Senate Committees, 97th Congress, First Session"}}

===Issues and legislation===
In October 1961, Proxmire issued a statement opposing a planned $22 million renovation of the [[U.S. Capitol]] by arguing that a "large part of the space created by the extension" would be used "to house private hideaway offices" for 23 senators.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1928&dat=19611030&id=apk0AAAAIBAJ&pg=936,5760528|title=Proxmire Assails Capitol Project|date=October 30, 1961|publisher=The Lewiston Daily Sun}}</ref> Proxmire continued to oppose the renovation, and the debate continued until the project was completed in the early 1970s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hunter |first=Marjorie |date=March 9, 1972 |title=Capitol's Front to be Extended |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/03/09/archives/capitols-front-to-be-extended-congressional-panel-rejects-plan-for.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York, NY |page=13}}</ref>

In March 1964, Proxmire charged that political concerns, not national defense needs, were keeping too many naval shipyards open, which resulted in a waste of federal funds: "On the basis of every statistical study, both by the Navy and independent groups, private shipyards can build, repair or modernize five ships for the same number of dollars needed to turn out four ships in navy shipyards." Proxmire unsuccessfully favored proposals that awarded contracts to the lowest bidder to save money and close unneeded facilities, and he pointed out that "the advantages of this free enterprise approach" had been recognized by [[Robert McNamara]], the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] and a former corporate chief executive officer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/04/01/proxmire-assails-naval-shipyards.html|title=Proxmire Assails Naval Shipyards|date=April 1, 1964|newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York, NY |page=77}}</ref>

From 1967 to 1986, Proxmire gave daily speeches noting the necessity of ratifying the [[Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide]]. He gave that speech every day that the Senate was in session for 20 years, for a total of 3,211 times. On February 11, 1986 the U.S. Senate ratified the convention.<ref name = Severo/>

In March 1969, Proxmire introduced legislation that would have regulated the credit life and disability insurance industries. He declared that Americans were being overcharged $220 million a year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1969/03/29/archives/bill-would-curb-credit-insurers-proxmire-asks-that-reserve-fix.html|title=Bill Would Curb Credit Insurers; Proxmire Asks That Reserve Fix Maximum Premiums|date=March 28, 1969|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

Proxmire was an early and outspoken critic of the [[Vietnam War]] and frequently criticized Presidents [[Lyndon Johnson]] and [[Richard Nixon]].<ref name="Gershman" /> On the Senate Armed Services Committee, he exposed wasteful military spending and was instrumental in blocking military [[pork barrel]] projects.<ref name="Gershman" /> Despite his support of budgetary restraint, he regularly sided with dairy interests and supported dairy [[price supports]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081215145145/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,841136,00.html "Backward March"], ''Time'', October 27, 1967.</ref>

Proxmire was head of the campaign to cancel the American [[supersonic transport]] and particularly opposed to [[space exploration]] and ultimately to eliminate spending on such research from [[NASA]]'s budget.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Proxmire|first=William|title=Letters to L-5|journal=L-5 News|volume=3|issue=3|date=March 1978|page=5|url=http://www.nss.org/settlement/L5news/L5news/L5news7803.pdf|access-date=2008-08-28|archive-date=September 27, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927075643/http://www.nss.org/settlement/L5news/L5news/L5news7803.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> In response to a segment about space colonies run by the [[CBS]] program ''[[60 Minutes]]'', Proxmire stated that; "it's the best argument yet for chopping NASA's funding to the bone.... I say not a penny for this nutty fantasy."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lovell|first=Robert|title=Letters to L-5|journal=L-5 News|volume=2|issue=11|date=November 1977|page=1|url=http://www.nss.org/settlement/L5news/L5news/L5news7711.pdf|access-date=2008-08-26|quote=It's the best argument yet for chopping NASA's funding to the bone. As Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee responsible for NASA's appropriations, I say not a penny for this nutty fantasy...|archive-date=October 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024020356/http://www.nss.org/settlement/L5news/L5news/L5news7711.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Proxmire introduced an amendment into the 1982 NASA budget that effectively terminated NASA's nascent SETI efforts before a similar amendment to the 1994 budget, by Senator [[Richard Bryan]], terminated NASA's SETI efforts for good.<ref name="Shuch">{{cite book|editor=H. Paul Shuch|title=Searching for extraterrestrial intelligence : SETI past, present, and future|date=2011|publisher=Springer|location=Berlin|isbn=978-3-642-13195-0}}</ref> With those positions, Proxmire drew the enmity of many [[space advocacy|space advocates]] and [[science fiction fandom]]. [[Arthur C. Clarke]] attacked Proxmire in his short story "[[Death and the Senator]]" (1960) {{Citation needed|date=July 2024|reason=All possible sources I can find are blogs and forum posts}}. Later, the short story "[[The Return of William Proxmire]]" (1989) by [[Larry Niven]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lord |first=M. G. |date=2005-10-02 |title=Heinlein's Female Troubles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/02/books/review/heinleins-female-troubles.html |access-date=2024-07-16 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and the novel  ''[[Fallen Angels (science fiction novel)|Fallen Angels]]'' (1991){{Citation needed|date=July 2024|reason=All possible sources I can find are blogs and forum posts}}, written by Niven, [[Jerry Pournelle]], and [[Michael F. Flynn]], were directed against the senator.

In May 1971, Proxmire charged the [[Food and Drug Administration]] with violating federal law by authorizing residues of a cancer‐inducing hormone to come into contact with consumers, asserted the move to be in violation of the Delaney amendment in the [[Food Additives Amendment of 1958]], and called for an immediate ban on [[Diethylstilbestrol]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/26/archives/proxmire-urges-ban-on-cattle-hormone.html|title=Proxmire Urges Ban On Cattle Hormone|date=May 26, 1971|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In September 1971, Proxmire asserted the safety margin of the C‐5A cargo plane was threatened in spite of doubling costs and charged the [[US Air Force]] with not disclosing information on the costs to Congress.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/09/21/archives/proxmire-calls-for-recall-of-c5a-planes-as-unsafe.html|title=Proxmire Calls for Recall Of C-5A Planes as Unsafe|date=September 21, 1971|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In 1972, Proxmire urged the Air Force to recall [[General (United States)|General]] [[John D. Lavelle]] to active duty for the purpose of [[court-martial]].<ref name="Time">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,906068-1,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105100335/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,906068-1,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |title=Lavelle's Private War |date=June 26, 1972 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|accessdate=2010-05-07}}</ref> Lavelle had been forced to retire as a [[Major general (United States)|major general]] due to alleged misconduct concerning [[Vietnam War]] bombing missions while he served as commander of Seventh Air Force.<ref name="AFmil">{{cite web |url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/106469/major-general-john-daniel-lavelle/ |title=Biography, Major General John Daniel Lavelle |date=August 4, 2010 |website=AF.mil |publisher=U.S. Air Force |location=Arlington, VA |access-date=March 31, 2022}}</ref> Lavelle was not recalled or court-martialed, and in 2007, newly-declassified and released information exonerated Lavelle by showing that President [[Richard M. Nixon]] had authorized the bombing missions.<ref name="AFmil"/>

In November 1973, after Attorney General [[Elliot Richardson]] resigned, and [[Robert Bork]] took over as Acting Attorney General,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/11/15/archives/coxs-ouster-ruled-illegal-no-reinstatement-ordered-dismissal-of-cox.html|title=Cox's Ouster Ruled Illegal, No Reinstatement Ordered|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 15, 1973}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://stanforddailyarchive.com/cgi-bin/stanford?a=d&d=stanford19731115-01.2.2&e=-------en-20--21--txt-txIN-student+army+training+corps------#|title=Cox Firing Ruled Illegal By U.S. District Judge|publisher=The Stanford Daily|date=November 15, 1973}}</ref> Proxmire wrote in a letter that Bork was serving illegally as Acting Attorney General since 30 days had passed with him being in office and not having a confirmation by the Senate. He said that any actions taken by Bork in the period after the 39 had passed could be met by challenge, and he called on President Nixon to rectify the situation. Assistant Attorney General Robert G. Dixon Jr. disputed Proxmire's claim by saying that similar occurrences of Acting Attorneys General that went over 30 days without Senate confirmations had happened six times earlier.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/11/24/archives/proxmire-tells-nixon-that-bork-is-serving-illegally-2-other.html|title=Proxmire Tells Nixon That Bork Is Serving Illegally|date=November 24, 1973|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In January 1977, Proxmire was one of five Democrats to vote against [[Griffin Bell]], President [[Jimmy Carter]]'s nominee for [[United States Attorney General]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/26/archives/senate-rollcall-vote-approving-bell-7521.html|title=Senate Roll-Call Vote Approving Bell, 75-21|newspaper=The New York Times|date=26 January 1977}}</ref>

In January 1978, Carter wrote Proxmire on the responsibilities of New York City denizens in his plan to have the city avoid bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/01/19/archives/carter-calls-for-help-to-new-york-by-local-parties-hearings-held-in.html|title=Carter Calls for Help to New York by 'Local Parties'|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 19, 1978}}</ref> In April, after New York Senators [[Daniel Patrick Moynihan]] and [[Jacob Javits]] introduced a [[Carter administration]] bill that would provide New York City with $2 billion in loan guarantees, Javits stated that he did not believe Proxmire would try killing the measure by bottling it up in committee.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/13/archives/two-new-york-senators-introduce-cityaid-bill.html|title=Two New York Senators Introduce City-Aid Bill|date=April 13, 1978|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In May, Proxmire announced his willingness to hold hearings on continued federal aid to New York City prior to municipal labor unions having their contracts negotiated and that the Senate Banking Committee would wait as long as possible to secure information on the labor settlement's impact. Proxmire stated it was not aware of when the labor contracts would reach a settlement, and the potentially-years-long process could prevent the Senate Banking Committee from taking any action.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/05/10/archives/proxmire-is-ready-for-loan-hearings-chairman-of-banking-committee.html|title=Proxmire Is Ready For Loan Hearings|date=May 10, 1978|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> June 1978 had four days of scheduled hearings by the Senate Banking Committee on continued federal aid to New York City. After the June 6 hearing, Proxmire stated he had maintained an open mind in spite of leaning toward opposition, a shift from his prior position of unwavering disagreement with continued aid and that he was not against a favorable vote on the legislation by the Banking Committee that would authorize the remainder of the Senate to consider the subject. He admitted that the committee was split in the opinions of its members.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1978/06/07/proxmire-softens-anti-new-york-stance/2116667d-6667-4c3e-bc22-373c90721bd2/|title=Proxmire Softens Anti-New York Stance|date=June 7, 1978|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref> Days afterward, Proxmire told reporters that the labor bill's continued filibuster made the chances of the Senate acting on the legislation by the end of the month unlikely since unanimous consent was required to end the filibuster.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/06/13/archives/new-york-city-banks-and-unions-decline-to-pledge-further-loans-new.html|date=June 13, 1978|title=New York City Banks and Unions Decline to Pledge Further Loans|first=Lee|last=Dembart|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Later that month, along with Texas Republican [[John Tower]] and Utah Republican [[Jake Garn]], Proxmire was one of the three senators voting against reporting out the bill authorizing $1.5 billion of long‐term loan guarantees for New York City. Proxmire added that he believed that the measure would pass through the Senate in a similar manner to the panel vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/06/16/archives/senate-panel-votes-123-to-back-guarantees-for-new-york-bonds.html|title=Senate Panel Votes 12-3 TO Back Guarantees For New York Bonds: Assistance Limited to $1.5 Billion|first=Lee|last=Dembart|date=June 16, 1978|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In February 1978, after President Carter nominated [[G. William Miller]] for [[Chair of the Federal Reserve]], Proxmire was noted to be a reliable source of contention but predicted from the start of his confirmation process that Miller would meet little opposition.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/02/24/archives/iranian-payment-is-minimized-miller-expresses-optimism-on-senate.html|title=Iranian Payment Is Minimized|date=February 24, 1978|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> At the end of the month, eleven members of the Senate Banking Committee pressed for a confirmation of Miller as Federal Reserve Chair, a motion that Proxmire rejected while he was scheduling the vote for another day, and he admitted that the nomination would be easily confirmed by the panel and the full chamber.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/01/archives/approval-of-miller-supported-by-most-on-key-senate-unit-proxmire.html|title=Approval Of Miller Supported By Most On Key Senate Unit|first=Judith|last=Miller|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 1978}}</ref> On March 2, Proxmire cast the sole dissenting vote against the Miller nomination and called him unqualified for the office since he was without experience in economic or monetary affairs.
Proxmire acknowledged Miller's business success and was joined by ranking Republican, [[Edward W. Brooke]], in indicating that the Carter administration had influenced members of the panel to hasten the confirmation process.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/03/archives/senate-unit-votes-for-miller-141-to-head-reserve-confirmation.html|title=Senate Unit Votes For Miller, 1 4-1, To Head Reserve|date=March 3, 1978|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> When Miller was later nominated as [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]] in August 1979, Proxmire was once again the only senator to oppose confirmation. He claimed to base his vote on Miller's "unwillingness to open a full-scale investigation of allegations that [[Textron]], the company he once headed, paid bribes to numerous foreign officials while Mr. Miller was in charge." Proxmire acknowledged a lack of evidence to show that Miller had been personally involved in bribes.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 3, 1979 |title=Senate Confirms Miller and Volcker |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/08/03/archives/senate-confirms-miller-and-volcker.html |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In February 1978, Proxmire said that the Navy and the Air Force had spent "at least $42,000 in the last year transporting 3,500 local community leaders to 31 military bases to lobby for military programs" and labeled the trips an example of local citizens being lobbied for military programs. Proxmire added that the trips had included the Air Force favoring production of the B‐1 bomber and gave an estimate cost of 42,000, as the Air Force had turned down on specifying the price.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/02/20/archives/military-lobbying-trips-criticized-by-proxmire.html|title=Military Lobbying trips Criticized By Proxmire|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 20, 1978}}</ref>

In February 1979, Proxmire sent a letter to [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Secretary of the Treasury]] [[W. Michael Blumenthal]] to call on the Treasury Department to withhold federal loan guarantees from New York City until incumbent [[Mayor of New York|Mayor]] [[Ed Koch]] agreed to larger cuts in the budget for the following year. He charged the budgetary assumptions of the city as being too reliant on federal aid increases.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/02/14/archives/proxmire-criticizes-koch-on-cutbacks-calls-for-provisional-denial.html|title=Proxmire Criticizes Koch On Cutbacks|first=Steven R.|last=Weisman|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 14, 1979}}</ref>
In March, Proxmire sent a letter to Federal Reserve Chair Miller on his reservations on the establishment of a free trade zone to allow international banking activity in New York City and advocated for the proposal to be first submitted to Congress, as opposed to unilateral regulatory action.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/24/archives/proxmire-cautions-on-bank-proposal.html|title=Proxmire Cautions On Bank Proposal|date=March 24, 1979|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In October 1979, Proxmire wrote head of the General Accounting Office Elmer B. Staats to request the GAO to investigate claims that the Department of Housing and Urban Development had authorized the P.I. Properties to steal funds from the federal government and low income tenants. The same day, Proxmire delivered a speech on the Senate floor that condemned the failure of the Housing and Urban Development Department to act on recommendation from staff members to terminate funding for the P.I. Properties' 285-unit project at 14th and Clifton Streets in Washington, DC.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1979/11/01/proxmire-urges-probe-of-hud-at-clifton-terrace/110cec19-d952-4fcf-b9da-c5f941c6eb52/|title=Proxmire Urges Probe of HUD at Clifton Terrace|date=November 1, 1979|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>

Proxmire was the only senator to vote against [[Ronald Reagan]]'s [[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]] nominee of [[Donald P. Hodel]] in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Voteview {{!}} Plot Vote: 99th Congress > Senate > 4 |url=https://voteview.com/rollcall/RS0990004 |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=voteview.com}}</ref>

===Golden Fleece Award===
{{Main|Golden Fleece Award}}
Proxmire was noted for issuing his [[Golden Fleece Award]],<ref name="Gershman"/> which was presented monthly between 1975 and 1988 to focus media attention on projects that he viewed as self-serving and wasteful of taxpayer dollars.<ref name = Severo/>  Winners of the Golden Fleece Award included governmental organizations like the [[United States Department of Defense]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qqNRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6780,5250360&dq=proxmire+department-of-defense&hl=en|title=Proxmire takes aim at Defense|newspaper=The Milwaukee Sentinel|page=4|date=December 21, 1988|access-date=September 18, 2012}}</ref> [[Bureau of Land Management]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p_cLAAAAIBAJ&pg=5736,1555466&dq=proxmire+bureau-of-land-management&hl=en|title=And You Have Cash Trouble?|first=Robert|last=Stiff|newspaper=The Evening Independent|page=1|date=November 22, 1975|access-date=September 10, 2012}}</ref> and [[National Park Service]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CE4aAAAAIBAJ&pg=4278,3854507&dq=proxmire+national-park-service&hl=e|title=Slush Fund of US Parks Wins Fleece|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=9|date=June 26, 1979|access-date=September 10, 2012}}</ref>

The first Golden Fleece Award was awarded in 1975 to the [[National Science Foundation]] for funding an $84,000 study on why people fall in love.<ref name = Severo/> Other Golden Fleece awards over the years were awarded to the Justice Department for conducting a study on why prisoners wanted to get out of jail, the [[National Institute of Mental Health]] to study a [[Peru]]vian brothel ("The researchers said they made repeated visits in the interests of accuracy," reported ''The New York Times''), and the [[Federal Aviation Administration]] for studying "the physical measurements of 432 airline stewardesses, paying special attention to the 'length of the buttocks.'"<ref name = Severo/>

Proxmire's critics said that some of his Golden Fleece awards went to basic science projects that led to important breakthroughs. In some circles, his name has become a verb for unfairly obstructing scientific research for political gain, as in "the project has been proxmired."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stockton |first=Nick |title=The Science Bill With the Bit That's Very Bad for Science |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/04/science-bill-bit-thats-bad-science/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> In 1987, [[Stewart Brand]] accused Proxmire of recklessly attacking legitimate research for the crass purpose of furthering his own political career, with gross indifference as to whether his assertions were true or false as well as the long-term effects on American science and technology policy.<ref>{{cite book |first=Stewart |last=Brand |title=The Media Lab: Inventing the Future at MIT |location=New York |publisher=Viking |year=1987 |page=141 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qUqMoAEACAAJ&pg=PA141 |isbn=9780140097016}}</ref> Proxmire later apologized for several canceled projects, including [[SETI]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Hannan |first=Caryn |date=2008 |title=Wisconsin Biographical Dictionary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V08bjkJeXkAC&pg=PA326 |location=Hamburg, MI |publisher=State History Publications |page=326 |isbn=978-1-8785-9263-7 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

It is widely but incorrectly believed that Proxmire gave the award to Edward F. Knipling for his study of the sex life of the [[Cochliomyia|screwworm fly]], the results of which were used to create sterile screwworms that were released into the wild and eliminated this major cattle parasite from North and Central America, which reduced the cost of beef and dairy products across the globe.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yager |first1=M.
|last2=Emmett |first2=M. |title=How worms' sex behavior can have a major impact on understanding human disease |journal=Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=395–396 |year=2012 |pmid=23077397 |pmc=3448588 |doi=10.1080/08998280.2012.11928890}}</ref> In fact, there is no evidence for this claim in the Proxmire papers held by the Wisconsin Historical Society.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1742 |title="Golden Fleece Awards, 1975–1987 {{!}} Turning Points in Wisconsin History |website=Wisconsinhistory.org|access-date=October 3, 2016}}</ref> In addition, the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] funded research on the sex life of the screwworm fly took place in the 1930s to the 1950s,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nal.usda.gov/exhibits/speccoll/exhibits/show/stop-screwworms--selections-fr/1930s|title=1930s · STOP Screwworms: Selections from the Screwworm Eradication Collection · Special Collections Exhibits|website=Nal.usda.gov|access-date=October 3, 2016}}</ref> long before the Golden Fleece era of the 1970s and 1980s, when Proxmire largely targeted contemporary research.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shiode |first=Josh |date=June 22, 2016 |title=Golden Goose Award to 'sex life of the screwworm' researchers |url=https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-06/gga-gga062116.php |work=EurekAlert |publisher=American Association for the Advancement of Science |location=Washington, DC}}</ref>

One winner of the Golden Fleece Award, Ronald Hutchinson, sued Proxmire for [[defamation]] in 1976. Proxmire claimed that his statements about Hutchinson's research were protected by the [[Speech or Debate Clause]] of the [[U.S. Constitution]]. The [[U.S. Supreme Court]] ruled that that clause does not immunize members of Congress from liability for defamatory statements made outside of formal congressional proceedings (''[[Hutchinson v. Proxmire]]'', {{ussc|443|111|1979}}). The case was eventually settled out of court.<ref>''The New York Times'', August 28, 1987.</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Grave of Edward William Proxmire (1915–2005) at Lake Forest Cemetery, Illinois.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Proxmire's grave at Lake Forest Cemetery]]

In 1946, Proxmire married Elsie Stillman Rockefeller, a great-granddaughter of [[William Rockefeller]], brother and partner of oil magnate [[John D. Rockefeller]].<ref name = Severo/> They had two children, a son, Theodore, and a daughter, Elsie Stillman (Proxmire) Zwerner.<ref name = Severo/> Elsie Proxmire received an uncontested divorce in 1955.<ref name = Severo/>

In 1956, Proxmire married Ellen Imogene Hodges Sawall, who brought two children of her own to the marriage.<ref name="Weil">{{cite news |last=Weil |first=Martin |date=August 4, 2015 |title=Ellen Proxmire, a senator's wife and event planner in D.C., dies at 90 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ellen-proxmire-a-senators-wife-and-event-planner-in-dc-dies-at-90/2015/08/04/8699da94-3a4f-11e5-8e98-115a3cf7d7ae_story.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |location=Washington, DC |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Together, the couple had two sons, one of whom died in infancy.<ref name="Weil"/>

Proxmire was the first United States Senator to get [[Hair transplantation|hair transplants]] for his [[pattern hair loss]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1978/05/28/archives/the-perplexing-mr-proxmire-with-new-york-facing-bankruptcy-by-hands.html Tolchin, Martin. "The Perplexing Mr. Proxmire," ''The New York Times'', Sunday, May 28, 1978.] Retrieved January 23, 2023.</ref> The treatment he was receiving for a couple of months began on February 22, 1972.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/24/archives/the-latest-flap-over-proxmire.html Krebs, Albin. "Notes on People," ''The New York Times'', Thursday, February 24, 1972.] Retrieved January 23, 2023.</ref> His 1972 [[Tax return (United States)|tax return]] which was published in the ''[[Congressional Record]]'' revealed that he paid $2,758 for his hair transplant and claimed the operation as a medical expense.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1973/03/23/archives/proxmire-bares-his-tax-data-notes-on-people.html Van Gelder, Lawrence. "Notes on People," ''The New York Times'', Friday, March 23, 1973.] Retrieved January 23, 2023.</ref>

Known for his devotion to personal fitness, which included [[jogging]] and [[push-up]]s, Proxmire earned the moniker "Push Up".<ref name = Severo/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.accfsl.org/docs/Lawrence-A-Young.pdf |title=Tribute to Larry Young, Recipient of William Proxmire Lifetime Achievement Award |date=May 10, 2018 |website=Accfsl.org |publisher=American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers |location=Hanover, MD |page=3}}</ref> In 1973, he published a book about staying in shape, entitled ''You Can Do It: Senator Proxmire's Exercise, Diet and Relaxation Plan''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Proxmire |first=William |date=1975 |title=You Can Do It: Senator Proxmire's Exercise, Diet and Relaxation Plan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=txAGfeme8rIC&q=senator+proxmire+you+can+do+it |location=New York, NY |publisher=Touchstone |page=Title |isbn=978-0-6712-1991-8}}</ref> After leaving Congress, Proxmire had an office in the [[Library of Congress]].<ref name = Severo/>

In 1998, Proxmire announced that he had been diagnosed with [[Alzheimer's disease]].<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/16/us/alzheimer-s-disease-strikes-ex-senator.html|title = Alzheimer's Disease Strikes Ex-Senator|newspaper = [[The New York Times]]|date = March 16, 1998|accessdate = June 7, 2023|page = A17|agency = [[Associated Press]]|url-access = limited}}</ref> He died on December 15, 2005, aged 90, at a nursing home in [[Sykesville, Maryland]], where he had lived for more than four years.<ref name = Severo/> He is buried at [[Lake Forest Cemetery]] in [[Lake Forest, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Scott |year=2016 |title=Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FOHgDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA605 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |publisher=McFarland & Company |page=605 |isbn=978-0-7864-7992-4}}</ref>

==Written works==
*  ''Can Small Business Survive?'' [[Regnery Publishing|H. Regnery Co.]], 1964; {{ISBN|0-405-11477-X}}
* (with Paul H. Douglas) ''Report from Wasteland; America's Military-Industrial Complex''. [[Praeger Publishing]], 1970
*  ''Uncle Sam – The Last of the Bigtime Spenders''. Simon & Schuster, 1972; {{ISBN|0-671-21432-2}}
*  ''You Can Do It!: Senator Proxmire's Exercise, Diet and Relaxation Plan''. [[Simon & Schuster]], 1973; {{ISBN|0-671-21576-0}}
*  ''Can Congress Control Spending?'' [[American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research]], Washington DC, 1973; {{ISBN|0-8447-2039-9}}
*  ''The Fleecing of America''. [[Houghton Mifflin Company]], 1980; {{ISBN|0-395-29133-X}}
*  ''Your Joy Ride to Health''. Proxmire Publishing Co. 1994; {{ISBN|0-9637988-2-0}}

==See also==
* [[Advocacy group]]
* [[Agricultural policy of the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{CongBio|P000553}}
* [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Content.aspx?dsNav=N:1168 Senator William Proxmire Collections | Wisconsin Historical Society]
* {{C-SPAN|907}}
* {{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/national/16proxmire.html?ex=1292389200&en=375fa02ed1dfde2f&ei=5090|title=William Proxmire, Maverick Democratic Senator From Wisconsin, Is Dead at 90|date=December 16, 2005|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Richard|last=Severo}}
* [https://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/12/17/as_senator_a_tenacious_proxmire_had_a_good_run/ "As senator, a tenacious Proxmire had a good run"], ''[[The Boston Globe]]''

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Carl W. Thompson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of Wisconsin]]|years=[[1952 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|1952]], [[1954 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|1954]], [[1956 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|1956]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Gaylord Nelson]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Thomas E. Fairchild]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] from [[Wisconsin]]<br />([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 1]])|years=[[1957 United States Senate special election in Wisconsin|1957]], [[1958 United States Senate election in Wisconsin|1958]], [[1964 United States Senate election in Wisconsin|1964]], [[1970 United States Senate election in Wisconsin|1970]], [[1976 United States Senate election in Wisconsin|1976]], [[1982 United States Senate election in Wisconsin|1982]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Herb Kohl]]}}
|-
{{s-vac|last=[[Howard Baker]], [[George H. W. Bush]], [[Peter H. Dominick|Peter Dominick]], [[Gerald Ford]], [[Robert P. Griffin|Robert Griffin]], [[Thomas Kuchel]], [[Melvin Laird|Mel Laird]], [[Bob Mathias]], [[George Murphy]], [[Richard Harding Poff|Dick Poff]], [[Charles H. Percy|Chuck Percy]], [[Al Quie]], [[Charlotte Thompson Reid|Charlotte Reid]], [[Hugh Scott]], [[William A. Steiger|Bill Steiger]], [[John Tower]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Response to the State of the Union address]]|years=1970|alongside=[[Donald M. Fraser|Donald Fraser]], [[Henry M. Jackson|Scoop Jackson]], [[Mike Mansfield]], [[John William McCormack|John McCormack]], [[Patsy Mink]], [[Edmund Muskie|Ed Muskie]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mike Mansfield]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Mike Mansfield]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Response to the State of the Union address]]|years=1972|alongside=[[Carl Albert]], [[Lloyd Bentsen]], [[Hale Boggs]], [[John Brademas]], [[Frank Church]], [[Thomas Eagleton]], [[Martha Griffiths]], [[John Melcher]], [[Ralph Metcalfe]], [[Leonor Sullivan]]}}
{{s-vac|next=[[Mike Mansfield]]}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Joseph McCarthy]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States Senators from Wisconsin|U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Wisconsin]]|years=1957–1989|alongside=[[Alexander Wiley]], [[Gaylord Nelson]], [[Bob Kasten]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Herb Kohl]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[John Sparkman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs|Senate Banking Committee]]|years=1975–1981}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jake Garn]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Milton Young]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]]|years=1981–1983}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John C. Stennis]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Donald Riegle]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs|Senate Banking Committee]]|years=1983–1987}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jake Garn]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Jake Garn]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs|Senate Banking Committee]]|years=1987–1989}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Donald Riegle]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{USSenWI}}
{{SenBankingCommitteeChairmen}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses=85th–100th [[United States Congress]]es|state=[[Wisconsin]]}}
{{USCongRep/WI/85}}
{{USCongRep/WI/86}}
{{USCongRep/WI/87}}
{{USCongRep/WI/88}}
{{USCongRep/WI/89}}
{{USCongRep/WI/90}}
{{USCongRep/WI/91}}
{{USCongRep/WI/92}}
{{USCongRep/WI/93}}
{{USCongRep/WI/94}}
{{USCongRep/WI/95}}
{{USCongRep/WI/96}}
{{USCongRep/WI/97}}
{{USCongRep/WI/98}}
{{USCongRep/WI/99}}
{{USCongRep/WI/100}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Proxmire, William}}
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American exercise and fitness writers]]
[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American political writers]]
[[Category:Burials at Lake Forest Cemetery]]
[[Category:Chi Psi]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in Maryland]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in Maryland]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly]]
[[Category:Harvard Business School alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:People from Lake Forest, Illinois]]
[[Category:People from Sykesville, Maryland]]
[[Category:Rockefeller family]]
[[Category:The Hill School alumni]]
[[Category:United Church of Christ members]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Wisconsin Democrats]]
[[Category:Writers from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Yale College alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature]]
[[Category:20th-century United States senators]]