Brother William Jennings Bryan
Nebraska '08
One of America's Greatest Leaders & Orators

Brother Bryan — a three-time Democratic nominee for President — was initiated into Acacia Fraternity on February 27, 1908. Later that same year he lost his third and final bid for the presidency to a future Acacian, William Howard Taft (Yale '13).

Bryan's contributions to American political and social history far exceed most presidents. For example, Bryan is credited with early championing of the following: graduated income tax (16th Amendment), direct election of U.S. senators (17th Amendment), women's suffrage (19th Amendment), workmen's compensation, minimum wage, eight-hour workday, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Farm Loan Act, government regulation of telephone/telegraph and food safety, Department of Health, Department of Labor, and Department of Education.