Sons of the Wild Jackass by Terry Shoptaugh

Retired professor and MN Historian, Terry Shoptaugh shares from his research and recent book, ?Sons of the Wild Jackass?. Book description: Napoleon Bonaparte once told his courtiers that true leadership requires the ability to inspire those who would follow. A leader is a dealer in hope, he insisted. This kind of leadership inspired farmers of North Dakota to form the Nonpartisan League in 1915. Inspired by charismatic leaders including a stem-winding speaker who told his lieutenants to lie to the farmers when it helped the cause, a future governor who would survive a series of scandals, and a talented lawyer who was perpetually threatened by debt the League sparked similar actions in neighboring states. The League's best times were brief, but what they achieved influenced national legislation and programs that aid American farmers to this day.?Drawing on newspapers, interviews and collections of private papers,?"Sons?of the?Wild?Jackass"?uses ground-level perspectives to tell the story of the League.
As a part of the presentations, Terry will also relate how this movement shaped politics then and now in rural Minnesota. This event took place on Facebook Live June 24, 2020, and is available as a recording to view. The live event was viewed for at least 1 minute by 42 people. 52 total people have watched the live or recorded program. This program was originally scheduled to an in person event, due to COVID-19 the event was rescheduled as a virtual event.