![]() ![]() A powerful debater whose rapier wit intimidated many an unprepared adversary who at the same time respected those with sincere opposing views, welcomed bargaining with Republicans, and defended the much-maligned Congress. A whip-smart Harvard educated man (BA, ABD in political science, and law degree) with a stronger affinity for the little guys in Fall River and New Bedford than the Boston elites. A man whose gruff manner and disheveled appearance could not disguise his uproarious sense of humor. An unabashed liberal adept at the give and take of party politics and the nuances of the legislative craft. Their residue today defines in large part the warring political camps that hinder effective public policy and administration.įrank himself is a bundle of seeming contradictions. These changes in public opinion were neither gradual nor without intense conflict but a reflection of powerful economic and social forces, pitched battles within and between the political parties, and growing generational differences. Frank’s life in politics spanned a period in which most Americans lost their faith in government’s capacity (or willingness) to improve the lot of working and middle-class citizens but also became more accepting of personal differences, particularly on matters of sexuality. The short answer is more than you might think. But what can it possibly offer as a guide to fixing government during an era of polarization, dysfunction, and public disaffection? And Barney Frank’s Frank: A Life in Politics From the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage is an enlightening and entertaining romp through a half-century of American politics and policymaking. Vivid narrative, compelling personal stories, passionate advocacy, and lacerating wit may make for a great read. House of Representatives is a promising candidate for a series reviewing books on government reform. It is not obvious that the memoir of a recently-retired, sixteen-term member of the U.S. ![]()
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