Ebook: The Meanest Man in Congress: Jack Brooks and the Making of an American Century

Publication Date : May 10, 2019
Print Length : 573 pages
Publisher : NewSouth Books
ISBN 9781603064118 (Ebook)
ISBN 9781588383211 (hardcover)

Request #1593722913.77068

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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