Here & Now

Former Gov. Patrick Lucey Dies at 96

Frederica Freyberg:

Finally tonight, a final farewell to former governor Patrick Lucey, who died last Saturday in Milwaukee after a lengthy career in politics and public service. The Democrat was elected the state’s 38th governor in 1970 and was re-elected in 1974, but he left his second term early to become ambassador to Mexico. Lucey’s most notable accomplishment as governor include merging Wisconsin’s university campuses into the UW System in 1971. The former state Democratic party chairman remained involved in politics throughout his life. He was a candidate again in 1980, when he ran for vice-president as an Independent, joining Illinois congressman, John Anderson, on the ticket that got nearly 7% of the vote. Lucey was 96.