His father was a U.S. Congressman
When Charles Lindbergh was four years old, his father, Charles August Lindbergh was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives by Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District. He would hold office in Congress for five terms, where he established a reputation for taking independent positions and vehemently opposing the Federal Reserve System.
In 1914, when World War I broke out in Europe, Lindbergh opposed strongly American involvement. He was defeated in his bid for the United States Senate in 1916 by a rival who openly supported American participation in Europe. Lindbergh was one of just 14 lawmakers to vote against arming American commerce ships in March 1917.
Against incumbent Joseph A. A. Burnquist, a Republican, Lindbergh ran for governor of Minnesota in 1918. He was supported by the Farmers Nonpartisan League, which advocated for government ownership of some agricultural businesses such as mills, plants, and grain elevators, supported Lindbergh. Thousands of supporters attended many of his campaign addresses. However, because of his opposition to American involvement in World War I and his affiliation with the Socialistic Farmers Nonpartisan League, Lindbergh came under fire from the press, and protesters frequently threw rocks and eggs at him. Charles Lindbergh served as his father's driver, and "never forgot the hostile crowds that harassed his father, or the way the press derided him."
