FALLS HISTORY PROJECT 2006

"If American politics requires many sides, arguments, and multiple viewpoints, then it is necessary to attack the year of 1968 through the perspectives of (in my case) four completely different personalities.  And that is ultimately the underlying theme of this project: perspective."  (Cory Schultz) 

Our research during the 2005-06 school year was prompted by the 2004 Presidential elections results in Jackson County.  Senior intern Cory Schultz wanted to explore how the county had voted in Presidential elections throughout its history.  In turn, his research led him to want to explore more fully the Election of 1968 from a variety of perspectives.  Though the political history of any county is complex, Cory was able to uncover some interesting perspectives, thereby broadening our understanding of Jackson County politics.

FULL TRANSCRIPTS OF THE 2006 INTERVIEWS HERE

Bill Wilcox Bill Wilcox has lived in BRF since the early 1950s and has been active in the Republican Party over the years.  His insights into Jackson County politics added a great deal to our project in 2006.	Cory Schultz Senior intern Cory Schultz will be attending UW-Madison in the fall of 2006.  His motivation for this project stemmed from his abiding interest in both history and politics.	Dr. Al Lahmayer Dr. Lahmayer has lived in BRF since the early 1950s.  A lifelong Democrat, he shared his memories of the period of the late 60s and early 70s and how national events were impacting the County.
Judge Gerald Laabs Judge Laabs has been around the Black River scene for over 30 years.  He was in law school at UW-Madison during the stormy period of the prelude to the 1968 election, including the student protests recounted in David Maraniss' book.	" . . . all historical experience must be imagined before it can be understood."                     Historian David Blight	Chris Goldsmith Chris Goldsmith has lived in BRF all of his life.  When he was a junior in high school his older brother was killed in Vietnam.  He was able to help us see the world of 1968 from the eyes of a younger student.
Maraniss' best-seller recounts the devastating experience of the First Infantry Division in October of 1967 and the turmoil of the Madison Campus of the same period.

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