Anatomy of an upset and the birth of a two-party state : the election of John Tower to the U.S. Senate in 1961 / James H. Broussard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Broussard, James H., 1941- Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Tower, John G. (John Goodwin), 1925-1991.

Tower, John G.

Republican Party (Tex.)--History.

Republican Party (Tex.).

Democratic Party (Tex.)--History.

Democratic Party (Tex.).

United States. Congress. Senate--Elections, 1961.

United States.

Two-party systems--Texas--History.

Two-party systems.

Special elections--United States.

Special elections.

Political campaigns--Texas.

Political campaigns.

Texas--Politics and government--1951-.

Texas.

Physical Description:

xxi, 366 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Other Title:

Birth of a two-party state

Election of John Tower to the U.S. Senate in 1961

Place of Publication:

Fort Worth, Texas : TCU Press, [2025]

Summary:

This book details how Texas largely dismissed Republicans as a nonfactor in politics for nearly a century after the Civil War. However, social and economic shifts in the mid-twentieth century, coupled with key political moments--such as the election of Eisenhower in 1952 and Kennedy-Johnson in 1960--set the stage for a major realignment with the election of Senator John Tower in 1961. The narrative also delves into the broader societal changes that fueled this shift, including the growing influence of the middle class, increased industrialization with growth in cities and declining rural populations, changing racial dynamics, and the evolving priorities of Texas voters. It explains how national issues--such as civil rights, economic policies, and ideological divides--interacted with local politics to push many Texans towards the Republican party. The author alos provides detailed, and at times amusing, descriptions of the six candidates and precinct-by-precinct analysis of the special election and the subsequent run-off election to replace Lyndon Johnson, who had run for and won re-election as both U.S. senator and vice president in 1960. By weaving together historical events, political strategy, and social transformation, this book provides a comprehensive look at how Texas steadily became a Republican stronghold. It is a story of persistence, adaptation, and the gradual reshaping of a political landscape that once seemed unchangeable but has now been completely upended--back cover.

Contents:

Texas Republicans, 1860-1960: The Search for Leadership

The Political Impact of Social Change, 1940-60

Division in the Democratic Party, 1940-60

Tower versus Johnson, 1960

Maneuvering for Position, November-December 1960

The Mad Scramble: January-March, 1961

The Liberals: Maverick and Gonzalez

The Moderates: Wilson and Wright

The Conservative: Bill Blakley

The Republican: John Tower

The Senate Election as a Mirror of Postwar Texas: April 4, 1961

Tower versus Blakley: The Runoff Election: April-May, 1961

The World Turned Upside Down: May 27, 1961

The False Dawn? Two-Party Politics Deferred, 1961-64

Epilogue. A Two-Party Texas at Last: 1964-2000.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [379]-343) and index.

Other Format:

Online version Broussard, James H., 1941- Anatomy of an upset

ISBN:

9780875659183

0875659187

OCLC:

1515074968