
A Rage for Justice
The Passion and Politics of Phillip Burton
John Jacobs(Author)
University of California Press
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 11. November 1997
Book
Paperback/Softback
624 pages
978-0-520-20411-9 (ISBN)
Description
This political biography of Phillip Burton (1926-1983) is the riveting story of one of the most brilliant, driven, and productive legislators of his--or indeed any--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 left-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 works. 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 postwar 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 disenfranchized.
Animated by a sometimes frightening drive for power--his only modern counterpart is Lyndon Johnson--Burton played a pivotal role in California and U.S. politics, championing welfare and civil rights, landmark labor 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. Jacobs's account is based on Burton's personal papers and hundreds of interviews with people at every stage of his life, including four Democratic Speakers of the House. The result is a book that brilliantly demonstrates how one person can make a difference in public life.
Animated by a sometimes frightening drive for power--his only modern counterpart is Lyndon Johnson--Burton played a pivotal role in California and U.S. politics, championing welfare and civil rights, landmark labor 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. Jacobs's account is based on Burton's personal papers and hundreds of interviews with people at every stage of his life, including four Democratic Speakers of the House. The result is a book that brilliantly demonstrates how one person can make a difference in public life.
More details
Edition
First Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Berkerley
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 38 mm
Weight
907 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-520-20411-9 (9780520204119)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
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).
Content
PLATES
AUTHOR'S NOTE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PROLOGUE
ONE
BEGINNINGS
TWO
BEATEN BY A DEAD MAN
THREE
CHINATOWN AND THE BATTLE FOR POTRERO HILL
FOUR
FIRECRACKERS AND FARM WORKERS
FIVE
AB 59
SIX
THE COCKATOO'S HEAD
Looking East
SEVEN
CAPITOL HILL AT LAST
EIGHT
THE "BURTON MACHINE"
NINE
"EATING ITALIAN" AND
THE POLITICS OF BLACK LUNG
TEN
THE LEGISLATOR
ELEVEN
THE PATH TO POWER
TWELVE
REVOLUTION IN THE HOUSE
THIRTEEN
TRIUMPH AT HOME
FOURTEEN
ONE VOTE
FIFTEEN
COMEBACKS AND TALL TREES
SIXTEEN
PARK BARREL
SEVENTEEN
PROXY FIGHTS AND MORE PARKS
EIGHTEEN
YOUR MOTHER'S ARMS
NINETEEN
AIN'T THAT A BITCH!
TWENTY
THE MAN WHO WOULD BE SPEAKER
EPILOGUE
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
AUTHOR'S NOTE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
PROLOGUE
ONE
BEGINNINGS
TWO
BEATEN BY A DEAD MAN
THREE
CHINATOWN AND THE BATTLE FOR POTRERO HILL
FOUR
FIRECRACKERS AND FARM WORKERS
FIVE
AB 59
SIX
THE COCKATOO'S HEAD
Looking East
SEVEN
CAPITOL HILL AT LAST
EIGHT
THE "BURTON MACHINE"
NINE
"EATING ITALIAN" AND
THE POLITICS OF BLACK LUNG
TEN
THE LEGISLATOR
ELEVEN
THE PATH TO POWER
TWELVE
REVOLUTION IN THE HOUSE
THIRTEEN
TRIUMPH AT HOME
FOURTEEN
ONE VOTE
FIFTEEN
COMEBACKS AND TALL TREES
SIXTEEN
PARK BARREL
SEVENTEEN
PROXY FIGHTS AND MORE PARKS
EIGHTEEN
YOUR MOTHER'S ARMS
NINETEEN
AIN'T THAT A BITCH!
TWENTY
THE MAN WHO WOULD BE SPEAKER
EPILOGUE
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX