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| Affiliation | Republican |
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| Name | Lee S. Dreyfus, Sr. |
| Address |
Stevens Point, Wisconsin , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
June 20, 1926
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| Died | January 02, 2008
(81 years)
|
| Contributor | User 490 |
| Last Modifed | David
Jun 18, 2021 09:32am |
| Tags |
Married - Navy - Episcopalian -
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| Info | Lee Sherman Dreyfus, Sr. (born June 20, 1926) is an American politician and member of the Republican Party who served as the 40th governor of Wisconsin from January 4, 1979 to January 3, 1983. Prior to his election, he also served as a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Dreyfus was known for wearing a trademark red vest as university chancellor in order to be recognized and be accessible to students on campus. He continued the tradition during an unconventional, populist campaign for governor, and traveled the state in a painted bus (affectionately dubbed "The Red Vest Whistle Stop Special").
The gimmicks worked. Dreyfus caught the attention of Wisconsin media and he began connecting with voters throughout the state. (He maintained a closet full of red vests and, after he became governor, the closet was sometimes included in tours of the Governor's Mansion.)
Dreyfus focused on the benefits of tax cuts and reduced size of government (echoing the Reagan conservative movement at the time). He capitalized on voters' dissatisfaction with the state's higher-than-average income tax rates, as well as general unhappiness with high inflation, high interest rates, and increasing unemployment during the Carter Administration. Yet, he was a moderate on social issues, which sat well with Wisconsin voters.
Dreyfus excelled at skilled oratory. In televised debates prior to the election, he overcame the problem of name recognition with the electorate, as well as doubts about his experience and competency for the position. He easily coasted to a primary victory over Bob Kasten, the endorsed Republican candidate (who was later elected to the U.S. Senate) and beat Governor Martin J. Schreiber in the general election, 54% to 44%.
His focus on tax cuts was a questionable strategy, however. After the Legislature passed the revenue cuts, the State of Wisconsin was soon plagued by budget deficits, the first in many years. The deficits were caused by higher costs of government due to high inflation and interest rates. Unemployment was also on the rise, further reducing revenue sources to government.
The resultant cuts in services and programs, such as transportation, were at odds with Wisconsin's progressive tradition. At one point, the state did not have enough money to mow down the weeds along Wisconsin highways, which became a concern to the state's tourism industry. Dreyfus decided not to seek a second term. Upon leaving office in 1982, the state had a budget deficit of nearly $1 billion and a 12% unemployment rate.
From 1983 to 1984, Dreyfus served as Chief Operating Officer of Sentry Insurance, Stevens Point. In 1985, he started a consulting firm, making speeches and advising the state on higher education policy; he later served as Interim State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Mr. Dreyfus continues to be popular on the lecture circuit.
In recent years, Dreyfus has publicly taken several moderate positions. In 2006, Dreyfus spoke out against an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution that would ban gay marriage and civil unions. Later, in 2007, he endorsed Linda Clifford, the Democratic candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, over Republican-backed Annette Ziegler.
Dreyfus is a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy. In 1949 he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master’s degree in 1952 and a doctorate in communication in 1957. From 1967 to 1972, Dreyfus was the ninth president of Wisconsin State University-Stevens Point. In 1972 he was named the first chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, following the UW System merger between University of Wisconsin-Madison and the outlying state university system. He was chancellor until 1978 when he ran for governor of Wisconsin.
In 1986, Dreyfus moved to Waukesha, where his son, Lee S. Dreyfus, Jr., is a state circuit court judge.
Dreyfus has been married to his wife, Joyce, for 60 years (2007).
In February 2005, Dreyfus experienced complications from a knee replacement surgery and began to show signs of heart distress. Doctors performed a quintuple bypass surgery.
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