Balance of Power: Presidents and Congress from the Era of McCarthy to the Age of Gingrich [Hardcover]

Jim Wright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996

On June 7, 1989, Jim Wright became the first Speaker of the House in American history to resign because of scandal. An ethics investigation orchestrated by then up-and-coming Representative Newt Gingrich brought about the ouster of a man who had entered Congress in 1954. Wright now presents an eloquent, inside account of 35 years of Washington power politics. 8 pp photo insert.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An intimate of nine presidents from Eisenhower to Clinton, former Congressman Wright (D.-Texas) resigned from his post as Speaker of the House in 1989, a move he blames on character assassination by Newt Gingrich and other conservative Republicans whose "predatory," elitist agenda would have this result: "The rich will get richer; the poor will get poorer; there'll be fewer of us in the middle." In this brisk, outspoken, sometimes bland political memoir, Wright recalls that he rode in the Dallas motorcade close behind President Kennedy and heard three distinct rifle shots fired. A crusader for Johnson's Great Society programs, Wright has held unpredictable views, including his unpopular support for Nixon's deepening involvement in Vietnam and his fierce opposition to Reagan's interventionist policy in Nicaragua. He writes affectingly of the difficulty of balancing his career with being a father to four children, and of his divorce in 1970 followed by remarriage two years later. Defending Clinton's overall record, Wright calls for a new social compact emphasizing investment in education, infrastructure and full employment.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Former Texas Representative and House Speaker Wright has written an account of his 34 years of service in that body. Despite the length of the volume, it provides only cursory discussions of some of the most important measures considered by Congress during Wright's service there. For example, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (1964) and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 receive scant attention. Wright also discusses only briefly his very close and crucial victory over Phillip Burton in 1976 to become Majority Leader-the stepping stone to the office of Speaker. This contest is examined more fully in John Jacobs's A Rage for Justice: The Passion and Politics of Phillip Burton (LJ 8/95). In spite of these deficiencies, general readers may find interesting Wright's observations about the personalities and leadership styles of the nine presidents and numerous congressional leaders he has known. (Index not seen..
--Thomas H. Ferrell, Univ. of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Turner Pub; 1st edition (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570362785
• ISBN-13: 978-1570362781
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #298,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Analysis of American Government/Politics, January 28, 2008

By 

N. Coudsy "nrc" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Balance of Power: Presidents and Congress from the Era of McCarthy to the Age of Gingrich (Hardcover)

Surprisingly one of the most intriguing analysis of recent American Politics that I've read, from a major insider. Still works as a great read in 2008... This is the first review that I've written on Amazon - and there's a reason...

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rare discussion of the actions of government., February 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Balance of Power: Presidents and Congress from the Era of McCarthy to the Age of Gingrich (Hardcover)

One of the most interesting commentaries on the actions of the government I have ever read. What was revealing to me was the pinpointing of when and how the "hate campaigns" started in politics. Should be brought to the attention of anyone concerned about the way Government is headed today.