Customer Reviews

Wayne Morse: A Political Biography

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I was a student and the University of Oregon in the 60's and had many opportunities to see Wayne Morse on campus and around town.

He was truly one of the twentieth century's great politicians.

It is sad to look back to the Vietnam era and realize he was (nearly) the lone voice of descent in the Government. All of those lost friends who died for no good reason.

Wayne Morse is the perfect example of the politican who approached issues from a common sense point of view instead of a partisan point of view. He was such a good labor negotiator because he approached each negotiation from a reasoned point of view. He knew when either labor or management was full of B.S. and he told them so.

This is also why he changed parties. Didn't have time for partisan politics when his party was not doing the right thing. The other great politician of the twentieth century who changed parties was Winston Churchill, who shared a balanced vision of the political world.

Hopefully we'll see another Wayne Morse one of these days, but not likley in the current enviornment

Senator Morse is one of our country's great historical figures. Mr. Drukman conveys the fascinating history of a man who was at the center of the cold war and foresaw a great many of the tragedies that unfolded in american foreign policy during the 1960's- most notably Vietnam. He was an outstanding politician- they just don't make em like this anymore.

Drukman explores nearly every facet of this incredible leader. Further, he does so with clear, thoughtful writing which illuminates the fascinating figures in every chapter. After researching Wayne Morse for three years myself (for a documentary film), I can honestly say that he is the only politician I know of who never once strayed from principle or betrayed the public trust. Indeed he sought to save America from those who did.

I was fortunate enough to know the late great State Senator Monroe Sweetland, considered by many the father of the modern day Democratic Party of Oregon, for the last ten years of his life. In the late 1990s, he invited me to join the Wayne Morse Historical Park Board of Directors in Eugene, OR. The group was thrilled to see this bio completed, although at least a couple of partisans thought that the book didn't paint Morse favorably enough and focused too much on his feud with Senator Neuberger. With that, and my own assessment of the book, I conclude that Mason Drukman succeeded in giving us an objective bio. of Senator Morse.

Wayne Morse was a great man, and like many great people, possessed great flaws along with considerable talent and convictions. As Morse's 1968 and 1972 primary opponent, Congressman Bob Duncan, said, "The tragedy of Wayne Morse was that he had no humility." This side of Morse comes through loud and clear, along with his brilliance and courage. As with other great leaders, Lyndon Johnson for example, even if one could have removed their obvious flaws would the greatness have remained?

Morse wasn't quite the legislative giant that LBJ was (was anyone?), buthis contributions to labor, civil rights, education and rural development, among other areas, were considerable, and Drukman enumerates his accomplishments. His lonely fight against American imperialism, especially in Vietnam, was a losing battle, but Morse spoke out as forcefully as anyone.

Morse's' presidential candidacy in 1960 has been largely forgotten, but Drukman revives it. Most historians seem to think that JFK was home free after defeating Hubert Humphrey in West Virginia, but he still had to face Morse in Maryland and Oregon.

Anyone interested in mid 20th century American history should read this book