The Last Great Senate draws from historical documents, first-hand recollections, and interviews with dozens of former senators, staffers, and Carter administration officials. What emerges is a portrait of a Senate that, for a short period of time, came as close to fulfilling the vision of the Founding Fathers as it ever has in our history.
Throughout the book, author Ira Shapiro brings to life the main characters on the Senate’s stage—Robert Byrd, Howard Baker, Ted Kennedy, Jacob Javits, Henry Jackson, Ted Stevens, Ed Muskie, Richard Lugar, George McGovern, Bob Dole, and Russell Long. These men—whatever their human foibles—were all passionate and serious about their work and service to the country. Shapiro captures their conversations, debates, beliefs, and machinations, offering a fascinating and illuminating look into how work is really done on Capitol Hill.
Please join the Center for American Progress for a discussion on this new book.
Copies of The Last Great Senate will be available for purchase at the event.
Featured author:
Ira Shapiro, author, The Last Great Senate
Moderated by:
John Podesta, Chair, Center for American Progress