Profiles in character : hubris and heroism in the U.S. Senate, 1789-1990 / Joseph Martin Hernon.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hernon, Joseph M.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Congress. Senate.

Legislators.

History.

United States--Politics and government.

United States.

Politics and government.

United States. Congress. Senate--History.

Legislators--United States--History.

Physical Description:

ix, 249 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Armonk, N.Y. : M.E. Sharpe, [1997]

Summary:

Hernon's title is a deliberate take-off of Kennedy's Profiles in Courage. Unlike Kennedy's patriotic portrayal of various Senators, Hernon takes the position that the best-known U.S. Senators throughout history don't deserve their renown as much as some lesser-known (or completely unknown) ones who served at the same time. Each chapter of his book pairs a famous Senator with his lesser-known counterpart.

Contents:

Part I The Patrician Age (1789-1820)

1 Last of the Romans: Rufus King vs James Monroe (1789-1820)

Part II The National Forum (1820-1870)

2 Samson and the Temple of Slavery: Thomas Hart Benton vs John C. Calhoun (1820-1850)

3 Lincoln's Prime Minister: William Pitt Fessenden vs Charles Sumner (1850-1865)

4 Worthy of Plutarch: Fessenden vs Sumner (1865-1870)

Part III The rise and Fall of The Senate Oligarchy (1870-1940)

5 Try Justice: George Frisbie Hoar vs John Sherman (1870-1900)

6 The Lamp of Experience and Bungalow Minds: Henry Cabot Lodge vs Thomas J. Walsh (1900-1920)

7 Senator At Large of the Whole American People: William E. Borah vs George W. Norris (1920-1940)

Part IV The Imperial Presidency and the Supine Senate (1940-1990)

8 Shaping Pax Americana: Robert A. Taft vs Arthur H. Vandenberg (1940-1950)

9 The Politics of Joy and Uncle Strom's Cabin: Hubert H. Humphrey vs Strom Thurmond (1950-1990).

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 221-238) and index.

ISBN:

1563249375

OCLC:

34745909