Rage for Justice : The Passion and Politics of Phillip Burton / John Jacobs; ed. by John Jacobs.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jacobs, John, Author.

Contributor:

Jacobs, John, Editor.

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource (624 p.)

Place of Publication:

Berkeley, CA : University of California Press, [1996]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

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.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

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

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

Notes:

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 30. Jan 2024)

ISBN:

0-520-35377-3

OCLC:

1419789071