C. A. Sorensen's Fight for American Neutrality, Civil Liberty, and Social Justice in Nebraska, 1912–1924

What is it about?

Abstract: This article seeks to remedy a neglected portion of Christian Abraham Sorensen’s biography by focusing on his younger years during and after World War I. In doing so, this work will also add to the history of progressivism in Nebraska. As a lifelong progressive Republican—an oxymoron in today’s political idiom—Sorensen, father of Ted Sorensen of the Kennedy administra- tion, was the oldest of ten children in a family of strict Danish religious pacifists. After his expulsion from Grand Island Baptist College for not amending his speech in an oratory contest, he transferred to the University of Nebraska where he was editor of the Daily Nebraskan and fought to keep the US out of World War I. He was a member of Henry Ford’s peace ship, friends with peace advocates Rebecca Shelley (or Shelly) and Lella Faye Secor, as well as a member of the last national pacifist organization, the People’s Council of America. Although he amended his pacifist views near the end of the war, he continued to fight against the repression of civil liberties carried out by the Nebraska State Council of Defense and acted as attorney for the persecuted agrarian Nonpartisan League in Nebraska. After organizing the farmer-labor convention in 1920 and the Progressive Party of Nebraska in 1921, he was instrumental in electing two progressive Republicans to the US Senate: Robert B. Howell and George W. Norris. Later, he served as attorney general of Nebraska (1928–1932) for two terms. Key Words: civil liberty, Nonpartisan League, pacifism, People’s Council of America, progressivism, Red Scare, World War I

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Why is it important?

It is important to recognize the strong independent voice of progressivism in Nebraska represented by C. A. Sorensen before and after World War I, especially in terms of defending the civil liberties of Nebraskans during the war.