Former Wisconsin Gov. Patrick Lucey is dead at 96

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Former Wisconsin Gov. Patrick Lucey, a hard-nosed Democratic politician who later became ambassador to Mexico, has died. He was 96.

His son, Paul Lucey, says Patrick Lucey died Saturday night at the Milwaukee Catholic Home after a brief illness.

Lucey's success in public life came from his persistence -- not his personality.

"He wasn't a lovable, hug-able teddy bear kind of politician. He was a little stiff when he was in public, but he really knew state government, and state government was better for what he accomplished," UW-Milwaukee Professor of Governmental Affairs Mordecai Lee said.

Lucey was the first Wisconsin governor to serve a four-year term. Prior to his election in 1970, the office of governor was a two-year position.

"He lived an incredible life," Mayor Tom Barrett said.

Mayor Barrett says Lucey influenced a generation of Wisconsin progressives.

"He was very, very practical and pragmatic and joked that he wasn't charismatic, but he got things done and was able to work with people," Mayor Barrett said.

Lucey was re-elected in 1974, and served as governor until 1977.

That year, President Jimmy Carter tapped him to become the Ambassador to Mexico -- as a sort of reward for Lucey's support in the 1976 presidential campaign.

As malaise crept into Carter's presidency, Lucey was growing increasingly disillusioned.

He resigned the ambassadorship and threw his support behind Ted Kennedy in the 1980 election.

At the Democratic National Convention that year, when it became clear Kennedy wouldn't prevail, Lucey left the Wisconsin delegation -- saying he couldn't support the Carter-Mondale ticket.

Two days later, Lucey met with independent candidate John Anderson.

"We shook hands on the agreement that I would be his running mate," Lucey said at the time.

The move infuriated the state Democratic Party, but Lucey said the defection was temporary.

"I really think the Democratic Party is in a pretty bad way.  I think Jimmy Carter in the last four years has damaged the Democratic Party a lot more than I would by being involved in independent politics for two months," Lucey said at the time.

"For him to run against the president who named him to be an ambassador was an indication of how disillusioned he was," Mordecai Lee said.

Lucey's biggest accomplishment in Wisconsin was pushing to merge the University of Wisconsin in Madison with the state college system -- a tense battle with the Legislature that proved Lucey could play hardball.

"There was this sort of eyeball to eyeball contest with the state Legislature, which at the time was Republican, and they blinked first," Lee said.

Lucey died after a brief illness. He was 96.

Gov. Scott Walker issued the following statement on Lucey's passing:

"Tonette and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the family of Governor Patrick Lucey.  It was a particular joy to be with him last summer for the 40th anniversary of Kikkoman in Fontana.  Governor Lucey was a dedicated public servant who loved Wisconsin."