Wounded Warrior : The Rise and Fall of Michigan Governor John Swainson

Few people today remember John Swainson. As a teenage soldier he lost both legs in a WWII landmine explosion. Back in the United States, following a meteoric political rise in the Michigan State Senate, Swainson was elected as Michigan's youngest governor since Stevens T. Mason. In 1970 Swainson was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court, becoming one of the few public officials to have served in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of state government. Then, in 1957, he was indicted on federal charges of bribery and perjury, and convicted of lying to a federal grand jury. Forced to leave the state Supreme Court and disbarred from practicing law, he became a pariah, sinking into depression and alcoholism. He virtually disappeared from public view. Lawrence M. Glazer re-examines the FBI's investigation of Swainson and delves into his 1975 trial in detail. He reveals new information from eye-witnesses who never testified and, in a poignant coda, relates the little-known story of Swainson's rehabilitation and return to public life as a historian. Few people today remember Michigan Governor John Swainson. As a teenage soldier he lost both legs in a WWII landmine explosion. Back in the United States, following a meteoric political rise in the Michigan State Senate, Swainson was elected as Michigan's youngest governor since Stevens T. Mason. In 1970, Swainson was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court, becoming one of the few public officials to have served in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of state government. Then, in 1975, he was indicted on federal charges of bribery and perjury, and convicted of lying to a federal grand jury. Forced to leave the state Supreme Court and disbarred from practicing law, he became a pariah, sinking into depression and alcoholism. He virtually disappeared from public view. Lawrence Glazer re-examines the FBI investigation of Swainson and delves into his 1975 trial in detail. He reveals new information from eyewitnesses who never testified and, in a poignant coda, relates the little-known story of Swainson's rehabilitation and return to public life as a historian. B&W photos, notes, bibliography, index. "Wounded Warrior" has been awarded the Independent Publisher Gold Medal as the best American biography of 2011. The Independent Publisher awards, known as "IPPYs", are chosen annually from thousands of entries submitted by independent publishers and university presses. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded to the top three choices in over 50 categories. "Wounded Warrior" also was named as a "Michigan Notable Book" of 2011 by the Library of Michigan. Few people today remember John Swainson. As a teenage soldier he lost both legs in a WWII landmine explosion. Back in the United States, following a meteoric political rise in the Michigan State Senate, Swainson was elected as Michigan’s youngest governor since Stevens T. Mason. In 1970 Swainson was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court, becoming one of the few public officials to have served in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of state government. Then, in 1975, he was indicted on federal charges of bribery and perjury, and convicted of lying to a federal grand jury. Forced to leave the state Supreme Court and disbarred from practicing law, he became a pariah, sinking into depression and alcoholism. He virtually disappeared from public view. Lawrence Glazer re-examines the FBI’s investigation of Swainson and delves into his 1975 trial in detail. He reveals new information from eyewitnesses who never testified and, in a poignant coda, relates the little-known story of Swainson’s rehabilitation and return to public life as a historian. Lawrence M. Glazer has served as an assistant Michigan Attorney General, as chief legal adviser to Michigan governor James Blanchard, and as a State Circuit Judge. isbn Oct. 2010 $39.95 978-0-87013-971-0 cloth, 316 pages, 6×9 b&w photos, notes, bibliography, index world rights Overview: New evidence in the bribery trial of Michigan's once-loved but now forgotten governor and politician, John Swainson. As a teenage soldier he lost both legs in a WWII landmine explosion. Back in the United States, following a meteoric political rise in the Michigan State Senate, Swainson was elected as Michigan's youngest governor since Stevens T. Mason. In 1970, Swainson was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court, becoming one of the few public officials to have served in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of state government. Then, in 1975, he was indicted on federal charges of bribery and perjury, and convicted of lying to a federal grand jury. Forced to leave the state Supreme Court and disbarred from practicing law, he became a pariah, sinking into depression and alcoholism. He virtually disappeared from public view. Lawrence Glazer re-examines the FBI's investigation of Swainson and delves into his 1975 trial in detail. He reveals new information from eyewitnesses who never testified and, in a poignant coda, relates the little-known story of Swainson's rehabilitation and return to public life as a historian Intro -- Contents -- Preface -- Part 1: The Rise -- Goad -- Amputee -- The Best-Adjusted Veteran -- A Party Reborn -- Legislator -- The Primary: A Major Upset -- The General Election: A Squeaker -- Governor, Year One: Stumbles -- Governor, Year Two: Almost -- You Know You're No Longer Governor When . . -- The Supreme Court -- Part 2: The Fall -- The Burglary -- The Strike Force -- The Grand Jury -- The Trial: Defense -- The Trial: Verdict -- The Trial Reconsidered -- Governor, Convicted and Died -- The Snitch -- Pariah -- A More Difficult Recovery -- Reflections -- Afterword -- Acknowledgments -- Appendix 1: The 1960 Election: The Numbers -- Appendix 2:The 1962 Election: The Numbers -- Appendix 3:The Grand Jury in History -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index Re-examines the FBI's investigation of John Swainson, Michigan's youngest governor since Stevens T. Mason, and delves into his 1975 trial in detail. It reveals new information from eyewitnesses who never testified and, in a poignant coda, relates the little-known story of Swainson's rehabilitation and return to public life as a historian.