The Cause : The Fight for American Liberalism From Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama

The definitive history of American postwar liberalism, told through the lens of those who brought it to life. Liberalism stands proudly at the center of American politics and culture. Driven by passion for social justice, tempered by respect for the difficulty of change, liberals have struggled to end economic inequality, racial discrimination, and political repression. Liberals have fueled their cause with the promise of American life and visions of national greatness, seeking to transform the White House; the halls of Congress, the courts, the worlds of entertainment, law, media, and the course of public opinion. Bestselling author, journalist, and historian Eric Alterman, together with historian Kevin Mattson, traces the history of liberal ideals through the lives and struggles of fascinating personalities. The Cause tells the remarkable story of politicians, intellectuals, visionaries, activists, and public personalities battling for the heart and soul of the nation. The first full-scale treatment of postwar liberalism, The Cause offers an epic saga driven by stories of grand aspirations, principled ambitions, tragic flaws, and the ironies of history of the people who fought for America to live up to the highest ideals of its history. **The definitive history of American postwar liberalism, told through the lens of those who brought it to life.** Liberalism stands proudly at the center of American politics and culture. Driven by passion for social justice, tempered by respect for the difficulty of change, liberals have struggled to end economic inequality, racial discrimination, and political repression. Liberals have fueled their cause with the promise of American life and visions of national greatness, seeking to transform the White House; the halls of Congress, the courts, the worlds of entertainment, law, media, and the course of public opinion. Bestselling author, journalist, and historian Eric Alterman, together with historian Kevin Mattson, traces the history of liberal ideals through the lives and struggles of fascinating personalities. __The Cause__ tells the remarkable story of politicians, intellectuals, visionaries, activists, and public personalities battling for the heart and soul of the nation. The first full-scale treatment of postwar liberalism, __The Cause__ offers an epic saga driven by stories of grand aspirations, principled ambitions, tragic flaws, and the ironies of history of the people who fought for America to live up to the highest ideals of its history. Introduction: the inheritance Henry, Harry, and Eleanor: three faces of liberalism The breaking point Is there anything we can do for you, Harry? The key to the destiny of tomorrow: toward a philosophy and practice of liberal foreign policy Culture warriors before their time, 1944-50 The first culture war: McCarthyism and the limits of liberalism Eggheads in the wilderness Civil rights wins, communism wanes, and liberalism is reborn The thousand days Master of disaster Paranoia strikes deep in the heartland In the darkness at the edge of town Malaise The Carter interregnum The even bleaker years, 1980-88 Reentering the world of ideas, rethinking the vital center, and the rise, fall, and rise of Bill Clinton, 1988-99 Beautiful losers "Hope and change?". A history of American liberalism since the Great Depression traces the pivotal roles of leading contributors, describing how their ambitions, flaws, and successes have shaped the nation's government, media, and culture