A Rage for Justice by John Jacobs

A Rage for Justice by John Jacobs

This political biography of Phillip Burton (1926-1983) is the story of one of the most driven, and productive legislators of his era of American politics. A ruthless and unabashed progressive, Burton terrified his opponents, ran over his friends, forged improbable coalitions, and from 1964 to 1983 became one of the most influential Representatives in the House. He also acquired more raw power than almost any liberal politician ever had. Moving from grassroots campaigns to epic battles in the California state capital, and finally to the very pinnacle of power on Capitol Hill, John Jacobs's inside account of Burton's life shows how politics really work. He demonstrates the exercise of power in the hands of a superb strategist and shows an unheralded master going about his life's work during the glory years of post-war American liberalism. Burton was an unforgettable, uncontrollable figure whose relentless day-and-night politicking distilled the raw essence of American politics. Jacobs brings to life Burton's seething, perpetual sense of outrage, gargantuan appetites, and dedication to the disenfranchised. Animated by a sometimes frightening drive for power - his only modern counterpart is Lyndon Johnson - Burton played a pivotal role in California and US politics, championing welfare and civil rights, landmark labour legislation, environmentalism and congressional reform. His achievements included the groundbreaking black lung bill for miners and their families; Supplemental Social Security for the aged, blind, and disabled; and helping to secure America's extensive national park system. Burton's failures were equally dramatic: in 1976, at the height of his power, he lost, by one vote, the chance to become House Majority Leader. Had he won this critical political fight, he no doubt would have become Speaker of the House.

John Jacobs is Political Editor and columnist for the McClatchy newspapers based at the Sacramento Bee. He spent a year reporting for the Washington Post and fifteen years reporting for the San Francisco Examiner, his last seven years as Chief Political Writer. He is the coauthor, with Tim Reiterman, of Raven: The Untold Story of Rev. Jim Jones and His People (1982).

SKU	Nicht verfügbar
ISBN 13	9780520200760
ISBN 10	0520200764
Titel	A Rage for Justice
Autor	John Jacobs
Buchzustand	Nicht verfügbar
Verlag	University of California Press
Erscheinungsjahr	1995-10-12
Seitenanzahl	624
Hinweis auf dem Einband	Die Abbildung des Buches dient nur Illustrationszwecken, die tatsächliche Bindung, das Cover und die Auflage können sich davon unterscheiden.
Hinweis	Nicht verfügbar