Eckhardt: There Once Was a Congressman from Texas (Focus on American History Series,Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin)

Runner-up, Violet Crown Award, Writer's League of Texas, 2008 Renowned for his "brilliant legislative mind" and political oratoryas well as for bicycling to Congress in a rumpled white linen suit and bow tieU.S. Congressman Bob Eckhardt was a force to reckon with in Texas and national politics from the 1940s until 1980. A liberal Democrat who successfully championed progressive causes, from workers' rights to consumer protection to environmental preservation and energy conservation, Eckhardt won the respect of opponents as well as allies. Columnist Jack Anderson praised him as one of the most effective members of Congress, where Eckhardt was a national leader and mentor to younger congressmen such as Al Gore. In this biography of Robert Christian Eckhardt (1913-2001), Gary A. Keith tells the story of Eckhardt's colorful life and career within the context of the changing political landscape of Texas and the rise of the New Right and the two-party state. He begins with Eckhardt's German-American family heritage and then traces his progression from labor lawyer, political organizer, and cofounder of the progressive Texas Observer magazine to Texas state legislator and U.S. congressman. Keith describes many of Eckhardt's legislative battles and victories, including the passage of the Open Beaches Act and the creation of the Big Thicket National Preserve, the struggle to limit presidential war-making ability through the War Powers Act, and the hard fight to shape President Carter's energy policy, as well as Eckhardt's work in Texas to tax the oil and gas industry. The only thorough recounting of the life of a memorable, important, and flamboyant man, Eckhardt also recalls the last great era of progressive politics in the twentieth century and the key players who strove to make Texas and the United States a more just, inclusive society. Contents......Page 8 Foreword by Al Gore......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 14 Introduction......Page 18 PART I. The Eckhardts of Texas......Page 22 One. The German Texas Pioneers......Page 24 Two. Bobby Eckhardt in Austin......Page 35 Three. Student Eckhardt on the Forty Acres......Page 48 PART II. Lawyer Eckhardt......Page 68 Four. Eckhardt’s Shingle and Pen......Page 70 Five. Civil Rights and Labor......Page 88 Six. Eckhardt in 1940s Texas Politics......Page 105 Seven. Brother Eckhardt Goes to Houston......Page 120 Eight. Eckhardt, the Texas Observer, and Yarborough Come of Age......Page 139 PART III. Pygmies, Giants, and Knights at the State Capitol......Page 160 Nine. Freshman Legislator of the Year, 1959......Page 162 Ten. The Veteran Legislator......Page 180 Eleven. Readying for Congress......Page 203 PART IV. Bob Eckhardt: America’s Second Congressman......Page 218 Twelve. Inside Congress, Inside Washington......Page 220 Thirteen. The Veteran Congressman......Page 243 Fourteen. Public v. Special Interest: Environmental and Consumer Policymaking......Page 266 Fifteen. The Oil and Gas Wars......Page 287 Sixteen. The 1980 Election......Page 310 Seventeen. Congressman Emeritus......Page 331 Afterword......Page 341 Robert Christian Eckhardt: A Chronology......Page 344 1. The German Texas Pioneers......Page 346 2. Bobby Eckhardt in Austin......Page 348 3. Student Eckhardt on the Forty Acres......Page 349 4. Eckhardt’s Shingle and Pen......Page 352 5. Civil Rights and Labor......Page 353 6. Eckhardt in 1940s Texas Politics......Page 357 7. Brother Eckhardt Goes to Houston......Page 359 8. Eckhardt, the Texas Observer, and Yarborough Come of Age......Page 363 9. Freshman Legislator of the Year, 1959......Page 366 10. The Veteran Legislator......Page 369 11. Readying for Congress......Page 372 12. Inside Congress, Inside Washingt......Page 374 13. The Veteran Congressman......Page 377 14. Public v. Special Interest......Page 381 15. The Oil and Gas Wars......Page 385 16. The 1980 Election......Page 388 17. Congressman Emeritus......Page 391 Afterword......Page 393 Sources......Page 394 Index......Page 410 Renowned for his "brilliant legislative mind" and political oratory--as well as for bicycling to Congress in a rumpled white linen suit and bow tie--U.S. Congressman Bob Eckhardt was a force to reckon with in Texas and national politics from the 1940s until 1980. A liberal Democrat who successfully championed progressive causes, from workers' rights to consumer protection to environmental preservation and energy conservation, Eckhardt won the respect of opponents as well as allies. Columnist Jack Anderson praised him as one of the most effective members of Congress, where Eckhardt was a national leader and mentor to younger congressmen such as Al Gore.
In this biography of Robert Christian Eckhardt (1913-2001), Gary A. Keith tells the story of Eckhardt's colorful life and career within the context of the changing political landscape of Texas and the rise of the New Right and the two-party state. He begins with Eckhardt's German-American family heritage and then traces his progression from labor lawyer, political organizer, and cofounder of the progressive Texas Observer magazine to Texas state legislator and U.S. congressman. Keith describes many of Eckhardt's legislative battles and victories, including the passage of the Open Beaches Act and the creation of the Big Thicket National Preserve, the struggle to limit presidential war-making ability through the War Powers Act, and the hard fight to shape President Carter's energy policy, as well as Eckhardt's work in Texas to tax the oil and gas industry.
The only thorough recounting of the life of a memorable, important, and flamboyant man, Eckhardt also recalls the last great era of progressive politics in the twentieth century and the key players who strove to make Texas and the United States a more just, inclusive society.