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A Rage for Justice: The Passion and Politics of Phillip Burton

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John Jacobs has done a spectacular job of capturing and relating the career of Congressman Phil Burton, a swaggering, ruthless liberal from San Francisco who came within one vote of serving as House majority leader in 1976. For anyone who wants to understand the history of the contemporary Congress, they need only read "A Rage For Justice," and "The Ambition and the Power," by John Barry, which tells the story of Congressman Jim Wright, the man who beat Burton by that one vote. Both books are chock with candid interviews and revealing anecdotes, and written with style. Each serves as a model of congressional biography.

The best background piece on California politics. Similarly, a fantastic insight into a legislative master whose personal vices cut short a meteoric rise to power and influence.

As a San Franciscan who grew up hearing about the exploits of Burton and other more-or-less mythical characters, I feel I owe Jacobs a serious "thank you" for providing this view of what went on inside. The man who nearly became Speaker, who wielded and exercised his power lustily and well, who was known for both creating environmental protections and shunning nature, is now a lot more real.

It's pretty tragic that Phil Burton has fallen through the cracks of general political knowledge. Burton was a legislative genius and politics wizard the likes of which has not been seen since his untimely passing in the early 1980s. Because Burton never attained his life's goal -- the Speakership of the House of Representatives -- and was never a full committee chairman either, his life has played out in memory like most other politicos: as the years since his death have passed, he has faded from memory as his contemporaries have come and gone.

Even though John Jacobs' book is 15 years old and has never received much high acclaim outside of small circles, it's our luck that Jacobs put together this fine book, both to properly chronicle the life of one the biggest political giants of the second half of the 20th Century, and also because this is one of the best political books you'll ever lay your hands on.

Burton represented San Francisco in Congress for nearly twenty years from 1964 until his death in 1983, leaving a trail of legislative achievements, talented protegees, partisan vendettas, and thousands of fascinating stories and anecdotes. Nancy Pelosi, George Miller, Howard Berman, Henry Waxman, Bob Matsui, Tom Foley, and many other power players studied at Burton's knee. Given his 1981 gerrymander -- the most effective reapportionment scheme in history -- Burton was, essentially, the Godfather of modern California liberalism.

But whether or not you agree with Burton's radical politics, you won't come away questioning his heart and that in the end, he made a difference. Ultimately, his life plays out like a Shakespearean tragedy, as Burton was blessed with almost unfathomable talent, but he was also plagued by inner demons which manifested themselves in alcohol abuse, scorn from many of his colleagues, and emotional estrangement from his brother. When Burton seemed poised to finally claim his prize, the House Majority Leader job -- a sure stepping stone to the Speakership -- he was defeated by a single vote, as all of his combined enemies came out against him. But even in defeat, he managed to pick himself up and remain one of Congress's most productive and wily members. Burton's life, and the enemies he made in his own party bear sharp parallels for politics today: Burton exemplified a good-doer, while many pols -- particularly limousine liberals -- are do-gooders who are happy to stick to process and come away with no results.

Personally, Burton's views were probably far more left-leaning than my own, and likely more so than most. If you're a student of history, politics, or rich biography, that should not matter a hair. This is a superb gem that has fallen through the cracks, but I would stack it up with the best political bios out there, and that includes T. Harry Williams' Huey Long, Robert Caro's LBJ series, and Edmund Morris's TR triology, to name a few. Pick it up.

Burton was out there. Great book though despite the author being overly enamoured with the subject. Good info and California politics.

Phil burton was a giant of a politician and a visionary leader who did his best work behind the kleig lights. The author captures the essence of the man and the role that he played in American poltiics in the West.

This is probably the best political biography I have ever read. Phil Burton was a fascinating man, and Jacobs does a terrific job of profiling him. Whether the reader is liberal or conservative, he will enjoy this book.