Customer Reviews

Warren G. Magnuson and the Shaping of Twentieth-Century America (Emil and Kathleen Sick Lecture-Book Series in Western History and Biography)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For years, Washington was well served in the U.S. Senate by "Scoop and Maggie," that is, Henry "Scoop" Jackson and Warren Magnuson. However, while Jackson twice sought the presidency and has been the subject of at least two biographies, Magnuson has been largely forgotten. In fact, he was never a household word nationwide. Fortunately, journalist Shelby Scates has given Maggie the kind of work his memory deserves and his admirers have wanted. This very well researched and documented biography goes back to Magnuson's roots in North Dakota, to his activism in the leftist Washington Commonwealth Federation in the 30's, to his long and distinguished congressional career, and, finally, to his narrow defeat in the Reagan revoluntion of 1980. The lover of liquor and beautiful women always managed to remain a dedicated senator who was respected, even loved, by his colleagues. Maggie looked like a good ol' boy, but was a diehard liberal who advocated civil rights, consumer rights, and worker rights. America is a better place because of Warren Magnuson. Our knowledge of him would have been remiss, were in not for this book.

This is an accurate and entertaining book about the life and deeds of Warren Magnuson. It tells of the remarkable things he accomplished for Washington State. Everyone should be aware of his great contributions. The author, Shelby Scates did a remarkable and accurate job in portraying Magnusons accomplishments and colorful personality.

I lived through the Warren Magnuson era. What that man did for the State of Washington was absolutely remarkable. The book should be part of every history class. It was factual, and people in the North West, for generations, should know what he did and how he accomplished his deeds. I compliment Mr. Scates on his terrific detail, fairness, and accurateness Bravo! 5 stars!

A fascinating biography written by a superb writer.

Should be mandatory reading for today's history students.

I believe that any freshman legislator and all students studying the history of Washington State should read this historical novel. It should be part of the corriculum of all schools in Washington State and be availabe in all of the state libraries.

Scates, a longtime political reporter for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, has written what will undoubtedly stand as the definitive political biography of one of this century's key movers and shakers. Magnuson is a curiously overlooked figure -- perhaps because he never ran for president, was never majority leader, etc., and tended to let his record speak for him -- yet he arguably wielded as much power as many presidents ever did, especially late in his career. He was a curious, complex mix of pork-barrel, backroom dealmaker and old-line Democratic idealist. As Scates reports, Walter Mondale once said of Magnuson, "He is scrupulously fair with federal funds; one half for Washington state, one half for the rest of the country." Yet his leadership on pro-consumer legislation is probably the finest of any senator, ever. Scates has done his homework, with the result that the book is girded by research and generously peppered with first-hand comments by those who knew, worked for, and worked against Maggie. He also does a good job connecting Magnuson's activities and accomplishments with the larger political and social scene. And while Scates's prose rarely soars, the book is highly readable and admirably thorough. All in all, a very worthy piece of work.

Those of us lucky enough to know Magnuson never really had the full range of his accomplishments laid before us as Scates has done . . Perhaps the most noteworthy contribution of the book is to connect the early Magnuson accomplishments in the 1930s with his later and more celebrated deals in the l960s and 1970s . . none (if which) stands taller than the public accomodations section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 . . . a law that changed the face of America!" Tom Keefe Jr. (former Magnuson aide) " The Washington Teamster".

"For those interested in the state of today's nation, this book is an education and a reminder of the powerhouse reign of Magnuson and his compatriot, Henry Jackson" Gene Woodwick. The North Coast News.

Warren Magnuson was one of the greatest parliamentarians in the twentieth century. He also had a charmingly rogusih personal life. What more could a biographer want? Unfortunatley, Shelby Scates squanders his opportunity to explain and illuminate a complex and important political giant. This disappointing book reveals far more about Scates's limits as a writer and a historian than about Maggie.

Scates is at his best, and in his element, when recounting Maggie's campaigns. Yet, his narrative and analytical powers are quickly depleted as he attempts to advance beyond political reporting. In describing any figure of consequence, Scates falls into a rut of three adjective descriptions. Thus, Harry Truman is "smart, earthy and decisive." The common Scandinavian roots of Maggie and Henry Jackson are repeated ad nauseum without any explanation of how this ethnic bond influenced the carrers of either Senator. Did anyone proofread? (See, for example, p. 233 where Robert Byrd reminds LBJ of services rendered in the 1980(!) West Virgina primary)

More disappointing is Scates's inability to set the historical context of Maggie's career. The background information on World War II, the genesis of the Cold War, Eisenhower's role in Vietnam (no mention of Dien Bien Phu), the Kennedy presidency (JFK was a "liberal intellecutal"), and the civil rights struggle is presented in a stitled fashion and is more often than not inaccurate. Scates sees no distinction between McCarthyism and anti-communism--a notion that would have surprised Truman, JFK, LBJ, Hubert Humphrey and Scoop Jackson.

Scates is at his worst in dealing with Scoop. According to Scates, Jackson's entire career as a foreign policy hawk can be explained rather simply: Scoop feared McCarthy and Scoop's hawkishness was designed to insulate him from charges of being soft on communism. What's more Scoop was a square, saw the world in black and white, believed that war with the Soviets was inevitable and his colleague!s didn't love him like Maggie. Scoop's legacy will survive Scates's catty, inaccuarate portrait. What Scates misses or ignores is that Jackson, rather than Maggie, was the real man of the people. Jackson not Maggie reflected the post-war consensus of liberal domestic policy coupled with a strong anti-communist foregin policy. Jackson was always first with Washington voters--84% in 1970 compared to Maggie's 68% in '68 and 60% in '74. Maggie's bumblebees always resented Scoop's popularity. Apparently Scates as well.

Scates fails to illuminate the secret of Magnuson's legislative abilities. The book is chock full of familiar one liners, including JFK's remark about Maggie and Grand Coulee Dam. What's missing is what Maggie did to win friends and influence senators. A much better insight into Maggie's legislative prowess remains Eric Redman's "Dance of Legislation."

Scates cannot bring himself to criticize Maggie. This is unfortunate because a thorough examination of Maggie's flaws does not diminish his talents or his significance. Scates acknowledges that Maggie had many conflicts of interest including serving as a paid attorney for Northwest Airlines while a Senator. Scates lacks the courage to call this what it is unethical. Instead, he gets defenesive--Maggie broke no law and LBJ took more money. So what? When did LBJ become the moral barometer for politicians? Scates also examines Maggie's bizzare claim that his 1973 visit to China was his second. There is no evidence of this, Maggie never previously mentioned it to anyone. Yet, Scates says the only plausible conclusion is that FDR or Truman sent Maggie on a covert mission to China in the 40s! (No evidence of this of course and no prior history of either president relying on Maggie for foreign policy advice.) There is another plausible conclusion--Maggie lied. Scates refuses to consider the possibility whining that Maggie was not like Ronald Reagan who frequently confused reality with his old movie roles.

This la!st passage is quintessential Scates: turning his hero's flaws into another opportunity to beat up one of Scates's political villains--Reagan, LBJ, Scoop. Maggie was no saint, but he was never petty and seldom spoke ill of anyone--including his political opponents. It is a pity that Maggie's first biographer didn't learn anything from his subject. Maggie deserves better.