John William Mccormack : a political biography / Garrison Nelson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nelson, Garrison, 1942- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

McCormack, John W., 1891-1980.

McCormack, John W.

United States. Congress. House--Speakers--Biography.

United States.

United States. Congress. House--Biography.

Legislators--United States--Biography.

Legislators.

United States--Politics and government--1961-1963.

United States--Politics and government--1963-1969.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (929 pages) : illustrations, photographs

Place of Publication:

New York, New York ; London, England : Bloomsbury Academic, 2017.

Summary:

"Before the house had Tip O'Neill, there was John McCormack. How did this man, with an eighth grade education and a false family history, become Speaker of the House of Representatives, and later next in line to be President of the United States? In this exhaustive political biography, Garrison Nelson lays out every detail of the life and work of an incredibly forceful and important American politician. The book details the roles McCormack played in the creation of Social Security and the passage of Lend-Lease, Medicare and Medicaid as well as the secret funding of the atomic bomb. The book ties together relationships, showing how this suave and secretive politician contributed to the selection of his "poker pal" Harry Truman as vice president in 1944 and in 1960, as JFK's named "floor manager," helped orchestrate Lyndon Johnson acceptance of JFK's vice presidential invitation. This groundbreaking research examines the machinations of congress, and also takes a close look at a critical time in US history, as American erupted with conflicts over civil rights and the Vietnam War. The lessons learned in McCormack's life in office still resonate with today's political leadership, and have an impact on the legacy of the JFK Presidency, the role of congress, the shape of the Democratic party, and a powerful generation of politicians"-- Provided by publisher.

"The first-ever full-scale political biography of John W. McCormack for those interested in JFK era history"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note:

Introduction November 25, 1963: The Troubling Introduction Irish Emigration and the Cauldron of Yankee Boston The Reinvention of John McCormack Entering Political Life: Models, Mentors, and Harriet The Crash, the Depression and the New Deal FDR's Second Term: Congressional Resistance and Foreign Policy Anxieties The AustinBoston Connection Created to Preserve FDR's Agenda Preparedness, World War II and the Atomic Bomb Harry Truman: A Poker Pal in the White House The Unhealed Early Wounds: McCormack and Kennedy in the US House The Eisenhower Interlude and the McCormack-Kennedy Rivalry The Kennedy Nomination and Election and Speaker Rayburn's Last Year Speaker McCormack and President Kennedy The Kennedy Assassination: Next in Line to LBJ The Great Society Congress: The Liberal Apex and Its Demise The Unraveling Begins as the Democratic Edifice Cracks John McCormack's Last Congress It's Time Mr. Speaker as the AustinBoston Connection Survives for a While Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-62892-517-5