The meanest man in Congress : Jack Brooks and the making of an American century

Jack Brooks' Career In The U.s. House Of Representatives Embodied The Extraordinary Times Of The Latter Half Of The 20th Century In America, And Today Serves As An Example Of How Politics And Compromise Can Be Effective In Governing A Nation. A Child Of The Great Depression And A Young Marine In The Jungles Of The South Pacific In World War Ii, Brooks Turned First To The Law And Then Texas State Politics Before Setting Off On An Idealistic Run For Congress. During The Next 42 Years Brooks Became One Of The Longest-serving Members Of The House And A Master Of Moving Legislation Into Law. A Far Different Atmosphere Exists In Washington Today, A Zero-sum Game Where One Party Must Lose In Order For The Other To Win. But In Brooks' Day, Compromise Was The Governing Ethos, Republicans And Democrats Ate And Drank With Each Other, Families Shared Celebrations And Children Attended The Same Schools. Partisanship Was Ever-present And Hard Fought But It Didn't Prevent Legislation From Moving Forward. Brooks Was Fiscally Conservative And A Lifelong Member Of The Nra, And He Was Also A Liberal Advocate For The Poor And Those Seeking Justice From The Government-- Dallas 1963 -- The Early Years -- War! -- Legislature And Lamar -- First Race For Congress -- First Term -- The Late 1950s -- Rising Texas Tide -- Legislation : 1961-1965 -- Power In The Presidency -- Legislation : 1965-1968 -- All The Way With Lbj -- Legislation : 1969-1972 -- Congressional Operations -- Waste -- Procurement -- Family Life -- The Executioner -- Snake Killer -- Iran-contra -- Reaganomics And Runaway Spending -- Mindless Cannibalism -- House Judiciary -- Crime Bill -- 1994 Election. Brendan And Tim Mcnulty ; Foreword By Jim Wright. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Publication Date : May 10, 2019 Print Length : 573 pages Publisher : NewSouth Books ISBN 9781603064118 (Ebook) ISBN 9781588383211 (hardcover) Request # (/tor/viewRequest.php/1593722913.77068) 1593722913.77068 A native of Beaumont, Texas, and a World War II veteran, Jack Brooks represented Texas's Ninth District for forty-two years in the U.S. Congress. One of the most influential congressmen you've never heard of, the irascible Brooks is finally getting his due in this first full biography. The Meanest Man in Congress chronicles in fascinating detail not only a remarkable lawmaker's career—spanning the tenures of ten U.S. presidents—but also the epic sweep of American history in the latter half of the twentieth century, from the Kennedy assassination to the Iran-Contra affair. Packed with anecdotes based on Brooks's personal correspondence, interviews with his peers and family members, and more, this meticulously researched biography traces the incredible life and times of a true public servant, a man who applied his tenacious will to practical, across-the-aisle governance for the good of his constituents and his country. At a time when Brooks's brand of selfless service is in short supply and American politics has become a zero-sum game, distinguished authors Timothy McNulty and Brendan McNulty bring into high relief the character of a man who knew how to compromise and bargain, negotiate and cooperate to get things done. I can't think of any member of Congress who did more for America's space program than Jack Brooks. As the book points out, Brooks strengthened NASA during its formative years and later saved the International Space Station (ISS) in the post-Cold War era when Congress sought to cancel Big Science programs in favor of producing a budgetary peace dividend for America. Today, a quarter of a century later, the ISS still circles high above the Earth as a symbol of America's ability to bring the nations of the world together in peaceful exploration of space. ― Daniel S. Goldin, 9th NASA Administrator, 1992–2001 An important historical account of one of the most remarkable men from Texas to serve this country . . . The detail is fascinating, the narrative captivating . . . A worthwhile read. ― Lone Star Literary Review From his youth in a rough corner of Texas to his service in the Marines in World War II and on to Congress to help build Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society, Jack Brooks’s story is full of lessons for lawmakers, for voters, for Americans searching for meaning in confusing times. The McNultys have created a highly readable account of a fascinating, important man’s life and times. ― Charles Madigan, author, reporter, former professor When I came to the Congress, Jack Brooks proved a guide and a friend. He was a master legislator, canny operator, and giant of the House, who brought a formidable mix of charm and intellect to the fight for liberty, equality, and justice for the American people. Jack had no fear of unpopular opinions or of reaching across the aisle to pursue the common good, and his principled leadership and political courage, richly chronicled in this first-ever biography on his life, leave an extraordinary legacy. ― Nancy Pelosi, U.S. House Democratic Leader Jack Brooks is a Texas original. In a legislative world of “workhorses” and “showhorses,” the “meanest man in Congress” was a workhorse from his earliest days in the Texas Legislature to his storied career serving in the U.S. Congress. This book is a fascinating window into the political history of the post-World War II era and a must-read for anyone interested in Texas politics. This is a book you want on your shelf. But more than anything it is a darn fun read. I lost track of the number of terrific stories, new historical details, and laugh out loud anecdotes. ― Brandon Rottinghaus, Professor of Political Science, University of Houston Over the course of five-hundred-plus engrossing pages, Timothy and Brendan McNulty make a compelling case for [Texas Congressman] Jack Brooks’s importance. Given the McNultys’ exhaustive and thorough-going treatment of their subject, it is difficult to imagine another biographer soon tackling Jack Brooks. ― Texas Monthly A native of Beaumont, Texas, and a World War II veteran, Jack Brooks served for forty-two years in the U.S. Congress, representing Texas's 9th district. One of the most influential congressmen nobody ever heard of, Brooks is finally getting his due in this new biography, the first ever written about his life. The Meanest Man in Congress: Jack Brooks and the Making of an American Century chronicles in fascinating detail not only the career of a remarkable lawmaker, which spanned the tenures of ten U.S. presidents, but also the epic sweep of American history in the latter half of the 20th century, from the Kennedy assassination to the Iran-Contra affair. Packed with anecdotes about the irascible Brooks based on his personal correspondence, interviews with his peers and family members, and more, this meticulous biography traces the incredible life and times of a true public servant, a man who applied his tenacious will to practical, across-the-aisle governance for the good of his constituents and his country. At a time when Brooks's brand of selfless service is in short supply and American politics has become a zero-sum game, distinguished authors Timothy McNulty and Brendan McNulty bring into high relief the character of a man who knew how to compromise and bargain, negotiate and cooperate to get things done. "Jack Brooks' career in the U.S. House of Representatives embodied the extraordinary times of the latter half of the 20th century in America, and today serves as an example of how politics and compromise can be effective in governing a nation. A child of the Great Depression and a young Marine in the jungles of the South Pacific in World War II, Brooks turned first to the law and then Texas state politics before setting off on an idealistic run for Congress. During the next 42 years Brooks became one of the longest-serving members of the House and a master of moving legislation into law. A far different atmosphere exists in Washington today, a zero-sum game where one party must lose in order for the other to win. But in Brooks' day, compromise was the governing ethos, Republicans and Democrats ate and drank with each other, families shared celebrations and children attended the same schools. Partisanship was ever-present and hard fought but it didn't prevent legislation from moving forward. Brooks was fiscally conservative and a lifelong member of the NRA, and he was also a liberal advocate for the poor and those seeking justice from the government"-- Provided by publisher