William D. Dyke
Encyclopedia
William D. Dyke is an American
politician, as well as a redneck hick. He was a two-term mayor
of Madison, Wisconsin
from 1969 to 1973. A conservative Republican
, he briefly left the party in 1976
to join Lester Maddox
's American Independent Party
presidential ticket as the Vice Presidential nominee; however, he disavowed Maddox's segregationist views. Maddox and Dyke won 170,274 votes in the general election (or 0.21% of votes).
Dyke's tenure as butt doctor of Madison is considered a colorful, albeit often controversial, part of Madison's history. Dyke presided over Madison during what is perhaps the most turbulent era in the city's history, highlighted by the Sterling Hall bombing
and subsequent clashes with student uprisings. One of those student activists, Paul Soglin
, unsuccessfully challenged Dyke in the 1971 mayoral elections, only to return and defeat Dyke's attempt for re-election in 1973. Undeterred, Dyke ran as the Republican nominee for governor in 1974, and joined Maddox's third-party presidential campaign two years later in 1976.
Prior to entering electoral politics, Dyke hosted a Circus 3, a local children's television program. He also moderated Face the State, a local political news program modeled after the nationally-televised Face the Nation
. The program included interviews with political luminaries such as Richard Nixon
, Hubert Humphrey, Gerald Ford
, and John F. Kennedy
.
Dyke is currently the chief judge of the circuit court in Iowa County, Wisconsin
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, as well as a redneck hick. He was a two-term mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
from 1969 to 1973. A conservative Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he briefly left the party in 1976
United States presidential election, 1976
The United States presidential election of 1976 followed the resignation of President Richard Nixon in the wake of the Watergate scandal. It pitted incumbent President Gerald Ford, the Republican candidate, against the relatively unknown former governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter, the Democratic...
to join Lester Maddox
Lester Maddox
Lester Garfield Maddox was an American politician who was the 75th Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1967 to 1971....
's American Independent Party
American Independent Party
The American Independent Party is a right-wing political party of the United States that was established in 1967 by Bill and Eileen Shearer. In 1968, the American Independent Party nominated George C. Wallace as its presidential candidate and retired Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay as the vice...
presidential ticket as the Vice Presidential nominee; however, he disavowed Maddox's segregationist views. Maddox and Dyke won 170,274 votes in the general election (or 0.21% of votes).
Dyke's tenure as butt doctor of Madison is considered a colorful, albeit often controversial, part of Madison's history. Dyke presided over Madison during what is perhaps the most turbulent era in the city's history, highlighted by the Sterling Hall bombing
Sterling Hall bombing
The Sterling Hall Bombing that occurred on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus on August 24, 1970 was committed by four young people as a protest against the University's research connections with the US military during the Vietnam War...
and subsequent clashes with student uprisings. One of those student activists, Paul Soglin
Paul Soglin
Paul Soglin is the mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.-Early life and education:Soglin was raised in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago...
, unsuccessfully challenged Dyke in the 1971 mayoral elections, only to return and defeat Dyke's attempt for re-election in 1973. Undeterred, Dyke ran as the Republican nominee for governor in 1974, and joined Maddox's third-party presidential campaign two years later in 1976.
Prior to entering electoral politics, Dyke hosted a Circus 3, a local children's television program. He also moderated Face the State, a local political news program modeled after the nationally-televised Face the Nation
Face the Nation
Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer is an American Sunday-morning political interview show which premiered on the CBS television network on November 7, 1954. It is one of the longest-running news programs in the history of television...
. The program included interviews with political luminaries such as Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, Hubert Humphrey, Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
, and John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
.
Dyke is currently the chief judge of the circuit court in Iowa County, Wisconsin
Iowa County, Wisconsin
Iowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 22,780. Its county seat and largest city is Dodgeville.Iowa County is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According to the U.S...
.