beveridge entered politics in 1884 by speaking on behalf of presidential candidate james g. blaine and was prominent in later campaigns, particularly in that of 1896, when his speeches attracted general attention. in 1899, beveridge was appointed to the u.s. senate as a republican and served until 1911. he supported theodore roosevelt's progressive views and was the keynote speaker at the new progressive party convention which nominated roosevelt for u.s. president in 1912.