View source for Gardner R. Withrow

{{Short description|American politician (1892–1964)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = 
| name                = Gardner R. Withrow
| image               = GardnerRWithrow.jpg
| alt                 = 
| office              = Member of the<br>[[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Wisconsin]]
| term_start          = January 3, 1949
| term_end            = January 3, 1961
| predecessor         = [[William H. Stevenson]]
| successor           = [[Vernon Wallace Thomson]]
| constituency        = {{ushr|WI|3|3rd district}}
| term_start1         = March 4, 1933
| term_end1           = January 3, 1939
| predecessor1        = [[John M. Nelson]]
| successor1          = [[Harry W. Griswold]]
| constituency1       = {{ushr|WI|3|3rd district}}
| term_start2         = March 4, 1931
| term_end2           = March 3, 1933
| predecessor2        = [[Merlin Hull]]
| successor2          = [[Gerald J. Boileau]]
| constituency2       = {{ushr|WI|7|7th district}}
| state_assembly3     = Wisconsin
| district3           = [[La Crosse County, Wisconsin|La Crosse]] 1st district
| term_start3         = January 3, 1927
| term_end3           = January 7, 1929
| predecessor3        = [[James D. H. Peterson]]
| successor3          = [[John Mulder]]
| party               = {{unbulleted list
 | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
 | [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]] (1934–1946)
}}
| birth_date          = October 5, 1892
| birth_place         = [[La Crosse, Wisconsin]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1964|9|23|1892|10|5}}
| death_place         = La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.
| restingplace        = Oak Grove Cemetery, {{nowrap|La Crosse}}
| spouse              = {{unbulleted list
 | {{marriage|Martha Amelia Riehl||1944|end=died}}
 | {{marriage|Anne L. Gilligan|1946|1964}}
}}
| children            = 
| occupation          = [[Conductor (rail)|Railroad conductor]], union&nbsp;representative, politician
| allegiance          = United States
| branch              = [[Wisconsin National Guard]]
| unit                = 3rd Reg. Wis. Infantry
| serviceyears        = 1916
| battles             = [[Pancho Villa Expedition]]
}}
'''Gardner Robert Withrow''' (October 5, 1892{{spnd}}September 23, 1964) was an American union representative and [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]] [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] politician from [[La&nbsp;Crosse, Wisconsin]].  He served ten terms in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]], representing western Wisconsin from 1931 to 1939, then again from 1949 to 1961.  During his first term, he represented [[Wisconsin's 7th congressional district]], for the other nine terms he represented [[Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district]].  Before being elected to congress, he served one term in the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]] ([[58th Wisconsin Legislature|1927]]).  He was a fourth cousin of [[Abraham Lincoln]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1938-05-09 |title=Business: Apparent Beliefs |language=en-US |magazine=Time |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,759653,00.html |access-date=2023-12-17 |issn=0040-781X}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Gardner Withrow was born, raised, and lived most of his life in [[La&nbsp;Crosse, Wisconsin]].  After graduating from high school, he briefly studied law under his brother, Frank&nbsp;E. Withrow, but ultimately went to work for the [[Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad]] as a fireman and [[Conductor (rail)|conductor]].<ref name="wihist">{{cite web|url= https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS14557  |title= Withrow, Gardner R. 1892 |website= [[Wisconsin Historical Society]] |date= 8 August 2017 |accessdate= June 16, 2024 }}</ref>  Through his employment, he became a member of the [[Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen]] labor union.  During [[World War I]], he served eight months on active duty with the [[Wisconsin National Guard]] in the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, and supported the [[Pancho Villa Expedition]] on the Mexico border.<ref name="lac-obit">{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-withrow-obit/149645709/  |title= Gardner R. Withrow, Ex-Congressman, Dies |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= September 23, 1964 |page= 1 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>

In early 1926, Withrow was charged with assault for allegedly punching the operator of a streetcar which collided with his car.  His brother, Frank, served as his defense attorney and the jury acquitted him after 12 minutes of deliberation.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-withrow-assault-ch/149467579/  |title= Gardner Withrow Acquitted of Assault Charge |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= April 20, 1926 |accessdate= June 16, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>

==Political career==
By 1925, Withrow was selected by his union to serve as one of their lobbyists to the state legislature.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-new-lobbyists/149445685/ |title= New Lobbyists Registered |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= March 11, 1925 |page= 4 |accessdate= June 16, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  Through his political activities, he also became a member of the La&nbsp;Follette Progressive Republican Committee of La&nbsp;Crosse County. In 1926, he won the Republican nomination for [[Wisconsin State Assembly]] in [[La Crosse County, Wisconsin|La&nbsp;Crosse County]]'s 1st district (comprising most of the city of La&nbsp;Crosse).<ref name="1927bio">{{cite report|url=https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/UD5FWPOZSCOKV84 |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1927 |year= 1927 |publisher= Wisconsin State Printing Board |editor-last= Holmes |editor-first= Fred L. |chapter= Biographical |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AUD5FWPOZSCOKV84/full/AFBW2ELO6LHBPE8O 704] |accessdate= June 16, 2024 }}</ref>  Withrow easily prevailed in the general election with 68% of the vote.<ref name="1927elex">{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/UD5FWPOZSCOKV84 |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1927 |year= 1927 |publisher= Wisconsin State Printing Board |editor-last= Holmes |editor-first= Fred L. |chapter= Election Statistics |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AUD5FWPOZSCOKV84/full/AS25XPDXERUJO382 587] |accessdate= June 16, 2024 }}</ref>  During the [[58th Wisconsin Legislature|1927 legislative term]], Governor [[Fred R. Zimmerman]], a stalwart Republican, sought to lower the income tax and offset the revenue by raising the [[property tax]].  Withrow was a leader of the progressive resistance to those measures, describing it as an attempt to raise taxes on farmers to reduce taxes on wealthy business owners.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reedsburg-times-press-withrow-campai/149474836/  |title= Gardner R. Withrow, La&nbsp;Follette Progressive Republican, Candidate for Congress |newspaper= The Reedsburg Times-Press |date= August 28, 1930 |page= 4 |accessdate= June 16, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>

===First election to congress===
[[File:1912_WI_Cong_07.svg|thumb|right|Wisconsin's 7th congressional district 1912&ndash;1931]]
In 1928, U.S. representative [[Joseph D. Beck]] announced he would run for [[Governor of Wisconsin]] rather than seeking another term in Congress.  Withrow chose to abandon his Assembly re-election to enter the Republican primary to succeed Beck as representative of [[Wisconsin's 7th congressional district]].  The progressive Republicans of the district quickly rallied around Withrow, but several other prominent politicians joined the race anyway, including [[Merlin Hull]], a former secretary of state who ran in the primary two previous times, and [[Otto Bosshard]] and [[Alexander Frederick]], who had both served several terms in the Assembly.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-wi-07-primary/149472583/ |title= Candidates for Beck's Vacant Post |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= June 21, 1928 |page= 12 |accessdate= June 16, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  Withrow ultimately fell 2,300 votes short of Merlin Hull, who won the primary with 35% of the vote.<ref name="1928pri">{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-republican-congress-pr/149474215/ |title= Nominees for Representatives in Congress, September Primary 1928 |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= September 21, 1928 |page= 25 |accessdate= June 16, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>

Withrow ran again in 1930, launching a primary challenge against Hull.  Withrow sought to emphasize his campaign as supporting farmers' interests against the business interests which he alleged were represented by his stalwart Republican opponent.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-withrow-congress/149475182/  |title= Gardner Withrow Enters Race for Congress Office |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= July 10, 1930 |page= 1 |accessdate= June 16, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  This time there were no other candidates in the race; Withrow won the head-to-head primary against Hull with 52% of the vote.<ref name="1930pri">{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-republican-congression/149534127/ |title= Representative in Congress, Republican Ticket |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= October 4, 1930 |page= 11 |accessdate= June 17, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  He faced only a Prohibition Party opponent in the general election, but Hull received a large number of write-in votes.  Withrow prevailed with 82% of the vote.<ref name="1930gen">{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-congressional-election/149537498/ |title= Representatives in Congress |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= December 2, 1930 |page= 13 |accessdate= June 17, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>

The [[72nd United States Congress|72nd&nbsp;Congress]] was one of the most closely divided in American history.  Withrow and seven other Wisconsin progressive Republicans led a faction of holdouts which refused to help organize the House until Republican leadership agreed to several of their policy prescriptions for the [[Great Depression]].  Their demands included support for unemployment and agricultural relief programs.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-herald-progressive-revolt/149556597/ |title= G.O.P. Planning to Run House |newspaper= [[Washington Times-Herald]] |date= October 28, 1931 |page= 3 |accessdate =Jun 18, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  However, the issue became moot as Democrats took the majority before Republicans could pass an organizing resolution.

[[File:1931_WI_Cong_03.svg|thumb|right|Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district 1932&ndash;1963]]
Due to the [[Reapportionment Act of 1929]], Wisconsin lost a congressional seat in reapportionment following the [[1930 United&nbsp;States census]].  This resulted in a significant redrawing of Wisconsin's congressional districts.  Under the new plan, passed during a special session of the [[60th Wisconsin Legislature|1931 legislature]], Withrow resided in [[Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district]]&mdash;roughly the southwest quadrant of the state.  In the new district, Withrow faced another difficult primary against a stalwart Republican opponent, Charles A. Dittman.  Withrow prevailed with 58% of the vote.<ref name="1932pri">{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-congressional-primary/149604857/ |title= Republican Ticket - Representative in Congress |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= October 10, 1932 |page= 13 |accessdate= June 18, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  In the 1932 general election, a Democratic wave saw Republicans lose 101 seats, but Withrow easily defeated his Democratic opponent, attorney [[John J. Boyle (attorney)|John&nbsp;J. Boyle]].<ref name="umn-elex">{{Cite web |title=Wisconsin U.S. House Election Results |url=http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/cspg/research/election_data_archive/pdf/WI_US_House_Election_Results.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405132933/http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/cspg/research/election_data_archive/pdf/WI_US_House_Election_Results.pdf |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |publisher=Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs |access-date= June 18, 2024  |via= [[Wayback Machine]] }}</ref>

During the [[73rd Congress]], Withrow supported several of the new initiatives of Democratic president [[Franklin&nbsp;D. Roosevelt]].<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-withrow-cwa/149606597/  |title= Withrow Active in Effort to Continue CWA |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= January 23, 1934 |page= 1 |accessdate= June 18, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kickapoo-scout-withrow-washington-ne/149606800/ |title= Washington News Letter |first= G. R. |last= Withrow |newspaper= The Kickapoo Scout |date= June 1, 1933 |page= 1 |accessdate= June 18, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  In the midst of the [[1934 West Coast waterfront strike]], Withrow led a successful bipartisan effort to bring a vote on a 30-hour work week for railroad employees, gathering enough signatures on a [[discharge petition]] to force a vote on his bill.  But the House Committee with jurisdiction then voted to report the bill without their recommendation, which effectively killed it.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-withrow-6hour-workday/149608752/ |title= Badger Wins in Fight to Force Vote on Measure |newspaper= [[The Post-Crescent]] |date= May 15, 1934 |page= 13 |accessdate= June 18, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>

===Progressive party===
In May 1934, the [[Wisconsin Progressive Party]] officially split from the [[Republican Party of Wisconsin]] after three decades of bitter primary battles and intra-party feuding.  Withrow did not attend the Progressive Party's organizing convention, but said he would poll his constituents and abide by their sentiment as to the split.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-withrow-progressiv/149609304/ |title= Withrow May Join Progressive Party |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= May 30, 1934 |page= 6 |accessdate= June 18, 2024 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  Withrow formally announced in July 1934 that he would run for re-election on the Progressive Party ticket.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-withrow-progressive/149609891/ |title= Withrow Out for Congress On the Progressive Ticket |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= July 2, 1934 |page= 6 |accessdate= June 18, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  In the 1934 election, Withrow easily won his third term in Congress, defeating Republican [[Levi&nbsp;H. Bancroft]] and Democrat Bart E. McGonigle.<ref name="umn-elex"/>  During the [[74th Congress]], Withrow continued to vote in support of [[New Deal]] programs, and also supported the Democratic attempts to curb the power of the Supreme Court in response to their striking down several New Deal programs.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-scotus-reform/149638785/  |title= Withrow Joins Drive to Curb Court's Powers |newspaper= [[Wisconsin State Journal]] |date= January 13, 1936 |page= 7 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  He won re-election again in 1936 with 51% of the vote.<ref name="umn-elex"/>  He also pushed for benefits and compensation for the [[Bonus Army]].  The [[Recession of 1937–1938]] and backlash against Roosevelt led to a Republican resurgence in 1938; Withrow lost re-election, along with five of the seven other progressives in Congress.<ref name="umn-elex"/>

He was succeeded by Republican [[Harry W. Griswold]], who died of a heart attack less than a year later.  Despite the vacancy, there was no special election called by Governor [[Julius&nbsp;P. Heil]] and the seat remained empty for three quarters of the [[76th Congress]].<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-withrow-congress/149641673/  |title= Withrow to Run for Congress in Third District |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= July 19, 1940 |page= 8 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  Withrow chose to run again for the seat in 1940, but lost a close election to Republican [[William&nbsp;H. Stevenson]].<ref name="umn-elex"/>  In 1940, Withrow was opposed to the United States entering [[World War II]], but in announcing his campaign in 1942, he made it clear that he then supported prosecuting the war to victory.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-withrow-congress/149642802/ |title= Gardner Withrow Seeing Election as Progressive |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= July 3, 1942 |page= 8 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  Throughout the 1942 campaign, he made significant efforts to distance himself from past [[United States non-interventionism|isolationist]] positions and criticized his Republican rival for his votes against pre-war preparedness policies.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-withrow-ww2/149643087/ |title= U.S. Must Shun Isolation During and After War, Withrow Tells Voters |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= October 15, 1942 |page= 12 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  Withrow fell short again in another close election; Stevenson winning the election with 47% of the vote.<ref name="umn-elex"/>

While out of office, Withrow returned to lobbying on behalf of the railroad brotherhood in Madison, Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-railroad-union-lobby/149642569/  |title= Railroad Brotherhoods Name Legislative Representatives |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= January 5, 1941 |page= 7 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  He also served as a mediator in labor disputes.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-withrow-labor/149642898/  |title= Withrow Named as Mediator in Wright Co. Case |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= August 5, 1942 |page= 3 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  In 1946, the Progressive Party disbanded with the majority of delegates voting to return to the Republican Party.  Withrow followed that move and rejoined the Republican Party.  He ran for [[sheriff]] of La&nbsp;Crosse County that fall,<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-withrow-sheriff/149646789/  |title= Withrow Asks for Sheriff's Post |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= April 17, 1946 |page= 12 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref> but lost the primary to Vernon&nbsp;H. Lamp.

===Return to congress===
Undeterred by four straight election losses, Withrow announced in 1948 that he would launch a [[primary challenge]] against William&nbsp;H. Stevenson to reclaim the 3rd congressional district seat he had previously represented.  His campaign announcement listed a number of political grievances against Stevenson, saying he had been silent on the economic pain of his constituents and the problems faced by organized labor, and again criticized Stevenson for isolationist votes and their potential economic impact in Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-withrow-congress/149647743/  |title= G. R. Withrow Seeks Office |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= July 22, 1948 |page=1 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  Withrow prevailed by about 1400 votes in the Republican primary, and went on to an easy victory in the general election.<ref name="umn-elex"/><ref name="1950elex">{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/CKSBXV5IMWXXJ8I |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1950 |year= 1950 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau|Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library]] |editor-last1= Ohm |editor-first1= Howard F. |editor-last2= Kuehn |editor-first2= Hazel L. |chapter= Parties and Elections |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ACKSBXV5IMWXXJ8I/full/ASMI5LZ3EET5OC8P 652], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ACKSBXV5IMWXXJ8I/full/APGYIT4P4Y5K3S8K 754] |accessdate= June 19, 2024 }}</ref>

He faced another difficult primary in 1950, against state senator [[Foster&nbsp;B. Porter]] and businessman Joseph&nbsp;F. Walsh.  Withrow survived by just 879 votes, receiving 36% in the primary.  Nevertheless, Withrow still won a substantial victory in the general election over Democratic nominee [[Patrick Lucey]].<ref name="umn-elex"/><ref name="1952elex">{{cite report|url=https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/7UFC4I5EZMQLN8H |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1952 |year= 1952 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau|Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library]] |editor-last1= Toepel |editor-first1= M. G. |editor-last2= Kuehn |editor-first2= Hazel L.  |chapter= Parties and Elections |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A7UFC4I5EZMQLN8H/full/APBOPDVJGICJSJ8H 675], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A7UFC4I5EZMQLN8H/full/AIZMYR5BSTL3NC84 745] |accessdate= May 19, 2024 }}</ref>  William&nbsp;H. Stevenson returned for a rematch in the 1952 Republican primary, but Withrow prevailed again in another close election.<ref name="1954elex">{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/N6Q3X3SXGLMTH8Z |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1954 |year= 1954 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau|Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library]] |editor-last1= Toepel |editor-first1= M. G. |editor-last2= Kuehn |editor-first2= Hazel L.  |chapter= Parties and Elections |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AN6Q3X3SXGLMTH8Z/full/AUTYC6NKFXJ5DC8H 657], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AN6Q3X3SXGLMTH8Z/full/ARYP52B5UOYTZR8I 758] |accessdate= June 19, 2024 }}</ref>

In 1958, Withrow was involved in a controversy due to his association with Dominican dictator [[Rafael Trujillo]].  Withrow was counted among Trujillo's defenders in Congress at a time when he was receiving American aide and his political enemies were dying mysterious deaths in the United&nbsp;States, but no illicit relationship was ever alleged or proved.<ref name="lac-obit"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://time.com/6981957/foreign-interference-lobbying-history/ |title= The Long, Sordid History of Foreign Governments Courting Members of Congress |first= Aaron |last= Coy Moulton |date= May 28, 2024 |magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]] |accessdate= June 19, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-withrow-trujillo/149661516/ |title= Nash Says Withrow Defends Trujillo |newspaper= [[Wisconsin State Journal]] |date= July 6, 1958 |page= 31 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>

Throughout his career, he remained a progressive Republican; he voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of [[Civil Rights Act of 1957|1957]] and [[Civil Rights Act of 1960|1960]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/h42|title=HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.|work=GovTrack.us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h102|title=HR 8601. PASSAGE.}}</ref>

In October 1959, Withrow announced that he would retire at the end of the [[81st Congress]].<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-withrow-retiring/149659155/ |title= Byrnes Flays Failures of Demos; Withrow to Retire |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= October 16, 1959 |page= 1 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>

==Personal life and family==

Gardner Withrow was the third son of Thomas C. Withrow and his wife Helen E. (''{{nee}}'' Baxter).  Gardner's elder brother, Frank Edwin Withrow, was a prominent lawyer in La&nbsp;Crosse for 59 years; at the time of his death he was described as the dean of the La&nbsp;Crosse bar.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-frank-withrow-obit/149451356/  |title= F. E. Withrow, Attorney, Dies |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= January 20, 1952 |page= 1 |accessdate= June 16, 2024 }}</ref>  Withrow was a fourth cousin of [[Abraham Lincoln]]; his paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Hanks, was a descendant of Lincoln's great-great-great-grandfather, William Hanks&nbsp;Sr.

Gardner Withrow married twice.  His first wife was Martha Amelia Riehl, who died in 1944.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-martha-withrow-obi/149644730/ |title= Mrs. Gardner R. Withrow |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= December 26, 1944 |page= 12 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  Two years later, he remarried with Anne L. Gilligan.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-obituary-for-anne/149644991/  |title= Anne L. Withrow |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= November 17, 1982 |page= 17 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>  He had no children from either marriage.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune/100949614/ |title= Services Set Saturday for G. R. Withrow |newspaper= [[La Crosse Tribune]] |date= September 24, 1964 |page= 1 |accessdate= June 19, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>

Gardner Withrow died at a La&nbsp;Crosse hospital after a long illness.  He was interred at La&nbsp;Crosse's Oak Grove Cemetery.<ref name="lac-obit"/>

==Electoral history==
===Wisconsin Assembly (1926)===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Year 
! Election
! Date
!! colspan="4"| Elected
!! colspan="4"| Defeated
! Total
! Plurality
|-
! rowspan="2" valign="top" | 1926
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | General<ref name="1927elex"/>
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 2}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow'''}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 4,149
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 68.61%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|E. J. Kneen}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 1,701
| valign="top" align="right" | 28.13%
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 6,047
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 2,448
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|D. C. Chappel}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Prohibition}} | [[Prohibition Party (United States)|Proh.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 197
| valign="top" align="right" | 3.26%
|}

===U.S. House, Wisconsin 7th district (1928, 1930)===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Year 
! Election
! Date
!! colspan="4"| Elected
!! colspan="4"| Defeated
! Total
! Plurality
|-
! rowspan="4" valign="top" | [[1928 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1928]]
| rowspan="4" valign="top" | Primary<ref name="1928pri"/>
| rowspan="4" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 4}}
| rowspan="4" valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Merlin Hull]]}}
| rowspan="4" valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| rowspan="4" valign="top" align="right" | 15,821
| rowspan="4" valign="top" align="right" | 34.99%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow'''}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 13,508
| valign="top" align="right" | 29.87%
| rowspan="4" valign="top" align="right" | 45,219
| rowspan="4" valign="top" align="right" | 2,313
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Otto Bosshard]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 6,686
| valign="top" align="right" | 14.79%
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Lyall Wright}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 5,059
| valign="top" align="right" | 11.19%
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Alexander Frederick|A. E. Frederick]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 4,145
| valign="top" align="right" | 9.17%
|-
! rowspan="3" valign="top" | [[1930 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1930]]
| valign="top" | Primary<ref name="1930pri"/>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 16}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow'''}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 28,602
| valign="top" align="right" | 52.02%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Merlin Hull]] (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 26,370
| valign="top" align="right" | 47.96%
| valign="top" align="right" | 54,979
| valign="top" align="right" | 2,232
|-
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | General<ref name="1930gen"/>
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 16}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow'''}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 31,530
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 82.28%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Merlin Hull]] (inc-write in)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 5,606
| valign="top" align="right" | 14.63%
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 38,322
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 25,924
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Oliver Needham}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Prohibition}} | [[Prohibition Party (United States)|Proh.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 1,178
| valign="top" align="right" | 3.07%
|}

===U.S. House, Wisconsin 3rd district (1932&ndash;1942)===

{| class=wikitable
|-
! Year 
! Election
! Date
!! colspan="4"| Elected
!! colspan="4"| Defeated
! Total
! Plurality
|-
! rowspan="2" valign="top" | [[1932 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1932]]
| valign="top" | Primary<ref name="1932pri"/>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 20}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow'''}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 42,453
| valign="top" align="right" | 57.61%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Charles A. Dittman}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 31,230
| valign="top" align="right" | 42.38%
| valign="top" align="right" | 73,688
| valign="top" align="right" | 11,223
|-
| valign="top" | General<ref name="umn-elex"/>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 8}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow'''}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 59,535
| valign="top" align="right" | 60.64%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[John J. Boyle (attorney)|John&nbsp;J. Boyle]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 38,646
| valign="top" align="right" | 39.36%
| valign="top" align="right" | 98,181
| valign="top" align="right" | 20,889
|-
! rowspan="4" valign="top" | [[1934 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1934]]
| valign="top" | Primary<ref name="1934pri">{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-progressive-congressio/149611715/ |title= Representative in Congress - Progressive Ticket |newspaper= [[The Capital Times]] |date= October 6, 1934 |page= 6 |accessdate= June 18, 2024 |via= [[Newspapers.com]] }}</ref>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 18}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow''' (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}} | [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 17,100
| valign="top" align="right" | 81.44%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Otto F. Christenson}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}} | [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Prog.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 3,892
| valign="top" align="right" | 18.54%
| valign="top" align="right" | 20,996
| valign="top" align="right" | 13,208
|-
| rowspan="3" valign="top" | General<ref name="umn-elex"/>
| rowspan="3" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 8}}
| rowspan="3" valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow''' (inc)}}
| rowspan="3" valign="top" {{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}} | [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]]
| rowspan="3" valign="top" align="right" | 47,311
| rowspan="3" valign="top" align="right" | 52.08%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Levi H. Bancroft]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 25,851
| valign="top" align="right" | 28.46%
| rowspan="3" valign="top" align="right" | 90,841
| rowspan="3" valign="top" align="right" | 21,460
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Bart E. McGonigle}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 17,222
| valign="top" align="right" | 39.36%
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Frank Driefke}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Socialist}} | [[Socialist Party of America|Soc.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 452
| valign="top" align="right" | 0.50%
|-
! rowspan="2" valign="top" | [[1936 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1936]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | General<ref name="umn-elex"/>
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 3}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow''' (inc)}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" {{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}} | [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 56,141
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 51.15%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|J. Charles Pile}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 38,698
| valign="top" align="right" | 35.26%
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 109,762
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 17,443
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Bart E. McGonigle}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 14,920
| valign="top" align="right" | 13.59%
|-
! rowspan="2" valign="top" | [[1938 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1938]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | General<ref name="umn-elex"/>
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 8}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Harry W. Griswold]]}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 43,495
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 50.06%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow''' (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}} | [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Prog.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 36,509
| valign="top" align="right" | 42.02%
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 86,891
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 6,986
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Bart E. McGonigle}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 6,887
| valign="top" align="right" | 7.93%
|-
! rowspan="3" valign="top" | [[1940 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1940]]
| valign="top" | Primary<ref name="1942elex">{{Cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/GPUOJWPI5SXM38W |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1942 |year= 1942 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau|Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library]] |editor-last1= Ohm |editor-first1= Howard F. |editor-last2= Bryham |editor-first2= Leone G. |chapter= Parties and Elections |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AGPUOJWPI5SXM38W/full/A6H7PXSP5NZRCV8R 584], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AGPUOJWPI5SXM38W/full/A4VUNVCH5XDU5K9D 662] |accessdate= June 19, 2024 }}</ref>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 17}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow'''}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}} | [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 11,810
| valign="top" align="right" | 87.75%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Charles D. Rosa]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}} | [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Prog.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 1,649
| valign="top" align="right" | 12.25%
| valign="top" align="right" | 13,459
| valign="top" align="right" | 10,161
|-
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | General<ref name="umn-elex"/>
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 5}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[William H. Stevenson]]}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 54,457
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 45.99%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow'''}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}} | [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Prog.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 52,131
| valign="top" align="right" | 44.03%
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 118,399
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 2,326
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|George T. Doherty}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 11,806
| valign="top" align="right" | 9.97%
|-
! rowspan="3" valign="top" | [[1942 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1942]]
| rowspan="3" valign="top" | General<ref name="umn-elex"/>
| rowspan="3" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 3}}
| rowspan="3" valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[William H. Stevenson]] (inc)}}
| rowspan="3" valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| rowspan="3" valign="top" align="right" | 34,177
| rowspan="3" valign="top" align="right" | 46.87%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow'''}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Progressive (Wisconsin)}} | [[Wisconsin Progressive Party|Prog.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 31,092
| valign="top" align="right" | 42.64%
| rowspan="3" valign="top" align="right" | 72,917
| rowspan="3" valign="top" align="right" | 3,085
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[William D. Carroll]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 7,385
| valign="top" align="right" | 10.13%
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Henry A. Ochsner}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Socialist}} | [[Socialist Party of America|Soc.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 258
| valign="top" align="right" | 0.35%
|}

===U.S. House, Wisconsin 3rd district (1948&ndash;1958)===

{| class=wikitable
|-
! Year 
! Election
! Date
!! colspan="4"| Elected
!! colspan="4"| Defeated
! Total
! Plurality
|-
! rowspan="4" valign="top" | [[1948 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1948]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | Primary<ref name="1950elex"/>
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 21}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow'''}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 20,099
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 41.04%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[William H. Stevenson]] (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 18,716
| valign="top" align="right" | 38.22%
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 48,970
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 1,383
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Carl Neprud}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 10,155
| valign="top" align="right" | 20.74%
|-
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | General<ref name="umn-elex"/>
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 2}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow'''}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 69,727
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 69.17%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Frank J. Antoine}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 30,650
| valign="top" align="right" | 30.40%
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 100,809
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 39,077
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Clarence J. Habelman}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Socialist}} | [[Socialist Party of America|Soc.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 411
| valign="top" align="right" | 0.41%
|-
! rowspan="4" valign="top" | [[1950 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1950]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | Primary<ref name="1952elex"/>
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 19}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow''' (inc)}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 15,847
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 35.72%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Foster B. Porter]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 14,968
| valign="top" align="right" | 33.74%
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 44,365
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 879
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Joseph F. Walsh}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 13,550
| valign="top" align="right" | 30.54%
|-
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | General<ref name="umn-elex"/>
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 7}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow''' (inc)}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 54,783
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 58.76%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Patrick Lucey]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 38,265
| valign="top" align="right" | 41.04%
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 93,237
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 16,518
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Walter Alexander}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Socialist}} | [[Socialist Party of America|Soc.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 180
| valign="top" align="right" | 0.19%
|-
! rowspan="2" valign="top" | [[1952 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1952]]
| valign="top" | Primary<ref name="1954elex"/>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 9}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow''' (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 32,062
| valign="top" align="right" | 51.33%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[William H. Stevenson]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 30,404
| valign="top" align="right" | 48.67%
| valign="top" align="right" | 62,466
| valign="top" align="right" | 1,658
|-
| valign="top" | General<ref name="umn-elex"/>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 4}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow''' (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 96,908
| valign="top" align="right" | 75.07%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Edna Brown}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 32,165
| valign="top" align="right" | 24.92%
| valign="top" align="right" | 129,085
| valign="top" align="right" | 64,743
|-
! rowspan="3" valign="top" | [[1954 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1954]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | Primary<ref name="1956elex">{{Cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/TT2C657GYH2FO85 |title= The Wisconsin Blue Book 1956 |year= 1956 |publisher= [[Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau|Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library]] |editor-last1= Toepel |editor-first1= M. G. |editor-last2= Kuehn |editor-first2= Hazel L.  |chapter= Parties and Elections |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ATT2C657GYH2FO85/full/AXSFDAB5GULM3P82 704], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ATT2C657GYH2FO85/full/ASIBNBOUS3T7QW8M 747] |accessdate= June 19, 2024 }}</ref>
| rowspan="2" valign="top" |{{nobreak|Sep. 14}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow''' (inc)}}
| rowspan="2" valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 20,108
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 47.28%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|John Bosshard}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 15,466
| valign="top" align="right" | 36.36%
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 42,532
| rowspan="2" valign="top" align="right" | 4,642
|-
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Arthur O. Mockrud]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Rep.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 6,958
| valign="top" align="right" | 16.36%
|-
| valign="top" | General<ref name="umn-elex"/>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 2}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow''' (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 56,228
| valign="top" align="right" | 62.05%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|Joseph A. Seep}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 34,375
| valign="top" align="right" | 37.94%
| valign="top" align="right" | 90,615
| valign="top" align="right" | 21,853
|-
! valign="top" | [[1956 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1956]]
| valign="top" | General<ref name="umn-elex"/>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 6}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow''' (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 74,000
| valign="top" align="right" | 61.20%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Norman Clapp]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 46,911
| valign="top" align="right" | 38.80%
| valign="top" align="right" | 120,914
| valign="top" align="right" | 27,089
|-
! valign="top" | [[1958 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin|1958]]
| valign="top" | General<ref name="umn-elex"/>
| valign="top" |{{nobreak|Nov. 4}}
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|'''Gardner R. Withrow''' (inc)}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Republican}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 47,858
| valign="top" align="right" | 51.20%
| valign="top" | {{nowrap|[[Norman Clapp]]}}
| valign="top" {{Party shading/Democratic}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Dem.]]
| valign="top" align="right" | 45,608
| valign="top" align="right" | 48.80%
| valign="top" align="right" | 93,467
| valign="top" align="right" | 2,250
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{CongBio|W000663}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-wi-hs}}
{{s-bef|before = [[James D. H. Peterson]] }}
{{s-ttl|title  = {{nowrap|Member of the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]]}} {{nowrap|from the [[La Crosse County, Wisconsin|La Crosse]] 1st district}} |years= January 3, 1927{{spnd}}January 7, 1929 }}
{{s-aft|after  = [[John Mulder]] }}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{US House succession box
| state=Wisconsin| district=7| before=[[Merlin Hull]]| years=1931-1933| after=[[Gerald J. Boileau]]
}}
{{US House succession box
| state=Wisconsin| district=3| before=[[John M. Nelson]]| years=1933-1939| after=[[Harry W. Griswold]]
}}
{{US House succession box
| state=Wisconsin| district=3| before=[[William H. Stevenson]]| years=1949-1961| after=[[Vernon Wallace Thomson]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses=72nd–75th & 81st–86th [[United States Congress]]es|state=[[Wisconsin]]}}
{{USCongRep/WI/72}}
{{USCongRep/WI/73}}
{{USCongRep/WI/74}}
{{USCongRep/WI/75}}
{{USCongRep/Line}}
{{USCongRep/WI/81}}
{{USCongRep/WI/82}}
{{USCongRep/WI/83}}
{{USCongRep/WI/84}}
{{USCongRep/WI/85}}
{{USCongRep/WI/86}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{United States representatives from Wisconsin}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Withrow, Gardner R.}}
[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen people]]
[[Category:Politicians from La Crosse, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Progressive Party (1924) members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Wisconsin Progressives (1924)]]
[[Category:Wisconsin National Guard personnel]]
[[Category:Members of Congress who became lobbyists]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]