Kansas Books

I enjoyed The Liberals' Moment tremendously. The book is well-organized, clear, and most importantly, relevant to today's politics. It is relevant because it lays clear the central dilemma of the modern Democratic Party today: How do national Democratic candidates connect with the ideological passion of the party grassroots while still winning a majority in a general election?

Miroff's first part of the book describes the actual 1972 campaign. The earlier 1968 Democratic presidential nomination campaign is briefly described. That contest situated George McGovern alongside Bobby Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Gene McCarthy and others as the party tries to pick up the pieces after LBJ declines to seek re-election. The book moves into the jockeying in the years before the 1972 campaign and describes the strategy and tactics of the campaign. In this, Miroff introduces us to McGovern's biography and the issues he cares most about.

Two chapters are titled "The Left-Center Strategy" and "A Downward Arc." These describe the blueprints behind his 1972 campaign strategy and the successes and failures of it for both the primary and general election campaigns. The chapters also describe the chaotic Miami Beach Convention, the Eagleton affair and the principal architects and practitioners of the strategy and tactics of the campaign.

A critical theme that is described is the intense campaign against McGovern by fellow Democrats that lasted into the convention itself. The attempt by Humphrey to reclaim his throne and the hostility of labor leaders all forced the campaign to fight a prolonged two-front war. The campaign was distracted from focusing on in Nixon until very late. In one sense, this made victory almost impossible in November 1972.

However on the positive side, the joy of grass-roots politics comes across well. The strong showing in New Hampshire and his win in Wisconsin remind readers about the importance, and power, of idealism in American politics.

The second part of the book is about the campaign's meaning. Among other topics, Miroff delves into how "radical" the campaign was. In one sense, it was radical because McGovern directly criticized the Vietnam War. The war was immoral (at least to McGovern). This kind of truth is radical.

However there was also an image of radicalism that was painted by his opponents. Feminists, gays and lesbians and African-Americans found a visible place in the campaign. Their inclusion as a core, and noticeable, component of his campaign were an easy target in the culture war that was developing.

The complicated relationships between important interest groups and the McGovern campaign are also described. The tension between electoral campaigns and identity politics is analyzed well: McGovern's campaign staff wanted to win while some interest groups seemed like they were more interested in representation and recognition. There is also description of the attack politics of the Nixon campaign. As Miroff states, "The master's campaign against McGovern became a seminal text for attack politics. It taught his Republican successors how to neutralize or co-opt issues normally belonging to liberals. It instructed them on how to play the cards of race, religion and class to divide the Democrats and pull together a Republican electoral majority." (p. 244)

The last section of the book is over the party's identity. The post-mortems of the campaign are described. Why did McGovern lose so badly? Conservative Democrats viewed the loss as resulting primarily from ideology. Or was the loss caused by McGovern's personality or his handling of the Eagleton affair? It is here where Miroff has identified the ghost that keeps haunting the Democratic Party. It seems that the national media, pundits, consultants, and Democratic presidential candidates can't seem to get over this loss. Once "McGovern" is mentioned, Democrats and liberals seem to reflexively pull back from their convictions, become hesitant and doubtful and cede the power of political passion to Republicans.

Miroff concludes with a chapter on some of the key people that worked in the McGovern campaign: Bob Shrum, Gary Hart, Bill Clinton (and his supporters) among others. Following these careers is instructive in understanding where the party is today. He also describes how McGovern has remained faithful to his liberal ideology since his 1972 campaign.

In his epilogue, Miroff is clear on what he thinks the party should do: "An essential step in resolving the identity crisis of the Democratic Party is to recover what Democrats believe, their core-and liberal-convictions, and to refuse to conceal them any longer. Equally essential is the honesty to work through the traumas of liberal defeat, particularly 1972, and to learn from liberal failings." (p. 304-5)

If "the traumas of liberal defeat" are explored more honestly by Democrats and liberals, there might be some uncomfortable questions that become more visible. In particular, how does the party create an ideological model that can win the presidency while still remain true to the strong anti-war feelings of the party's grassroots? This is where Vietnam is connected to Iraq; 1972 to 2008.

The Liberals' Moment is excellent political history. It is also a work of political analysis which is precise and pertinent to today.

Bruce Miroff's "The Liberals' Moment" is an in-depth look at the McGovern presidential campaign of 1972 and its aftermath. It's a reminder of that era when the decade of the 1960s was quickly running out of time, in a sense, largely ending with McGovern's colossal defeat and the impending Watergate crisis. Miroff makes no apologies for the campaign and sees it in a broader light than just the run of the last true liberal for president on a major party ticket.

The author covers so many angles...all with clarity. Yes, it was a race about the war in Vietnam and ideology, and it was prompted in large part by grassroots from young people. But it was also a campaign that had an ugly flip side...one has largely forgotten the damage that Hubert Humphrey did to McGovern in the run-up to the Democratic convention in Miami Beach and the loss of "traditional" Democrats...blue-collar workers and ethnic voters. But the campaign, itself, from the Eagleton affair to the "demogrant", right up to Election Day.....we all knew McGovern would lose but for those of us who voted for him (it was my first presidential vote cast as a nineteen-year-old) this was as passionate as campaigns get. And quite rightly, as Miroff points out, that holds true for many of us today.

The legacy of the McGovern campaign is covered well and Miroff balances things to a tee. He's also good at telling us what happened to all those people who were "high-ups" working for McGovern. It's fascinating when he compares McGovern to other candidates who ran in succeeding years for the presidency and how they never had a clear and succinct message. Unfortunately, we're seeing some of those same things appear in the presidential race in 2008.

Finally, Miroff has a few kind words about George McGovern, himself. McGovern has never left his embrace of liberalism and I marvel when I see him now occasionally on tv.....the old warrior of the left still unapologetic and unreconstructed, saying things that make even more sense today. "The Liberals' Moment" is a fine piece of work and I highly recommend it.

Ayres begins her preface, "The mark of a great man, it has been said, is that the more you know about him the more you like him"(p.ix). In this book, Ayres' scholarship and passion for Lincoln and his Kansas connection come to life. Through her use of primary sources, stories, and the historical and political context of the times, Ayres shares insights into the lives and beliefs of the people and situations that shaped the history of Kansas and this country. This exciting read will whet the appetite for further research and questioning of the scholar/teacher within each of us. I encourage you to peruse her work. It is an enjoyable read as you learn more about the history of Kansas, the man Lincoln, and the events and characters of the time. It is also an excellent resource for teaching this period of history in Kansas. Within these pages, Ayres succeeds in shedding more light on some of the characters who influenced the decisions and outcomes of "bloody Kansas" and the events before, during, and after the Civil War. It also brings to life several of the many artifacts and Kansas treasures housed in the Saint Mary College Lincoln Collection and other valuable resources around the area. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know some of these historical characters in a more personal light. Great for summer or anytime reading!

This is one you probaly will want to eventually add to your collection. This work covers the vist Lincolne made to Kansas in 1859 and gives some grat background, often overlooked, as to the origines of the boarder wars, attitude of the participants and circumstances surrounding this bloody period. The author's text is smooth and the work is well researched. I of course collect books dealing with this era, but almost as importantly, I collect neat, little known details. This work is full of them. Recommend this one highly.

I really got an insight to the way John Locke must have been thinking at the time

The author does an excellent job in demonstrating the influence of John Locke on the great thinkers who founded America. Backed by an enormous amount of scholarship, and written clearly, this book removes any doubt about the roots of classical American liberalism. The ideas on which "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" are based were derived from the writing of Locke (and others). And ideas move men to action. The Founding Fathers were true believers, and not (as the leftist movement in academia would have us think) merely attempting to justify the economic supremacy of the wealthy class over the masses. Their beliefs stemmed from a long British tradition of freedom in which Locke played a major role. The author argues his case with cool and meticulous logic. "Locke in America" makes a major contribution and is a pleasure to read.

Mike has touched on something that is lacking in the church in the U.S. This book has its thumb on the pulse of our chief assignment as Christians. A must read for those desiring personal spiritual growth as a follower of Christ.

D. Michael Henderson has written an excellent book encouraging Christians to enter into meaningful relationships with other believers, for mutual growth in the faith.

"Mamie Doud: The General's First Lady" by Marilyn Irvin Holt (an independent historian and PBS documentary consultant) is a 208-page biography of the wife of Dwight David Eisenhower, the supreme commander of the allied forces in Europe during World War II, who then went on to become president of the United States during the opening years of what was to be known as the Cold War. Enhanced with thirty black-and-white photographs, Holt draws upon original source material in the Eisenhower Library to provide the reader with an informed and informative description of Mamie Doud Eisenhower within the context of her time as an ideal First Lady, a stylish grandmother devoted to her family, and a key influence on her husband's success throughout their marriage. A work of seminal scholarship, informed and informative, "Mamie Doud" is an excellent and highly recommended biography showcasing a most remarkable woman who was considered by her peers to be the perfect example of what a President's wife should be.

I just finished this new biography and I was very impressed! Mamie Eisenhower often gets written off as just a housewife (most biographies are her are pretty worthless in my opinion), but this book really highlights her contributions and her perfect fit for the American people of the 1950s. It also discusses her early life as a military wife and how that prepared her for her role of First Lady.

I especially liked how the author brought out the ways that Mamie is typically stereotyped and then talked about how she cultivated some of that image and what she was really doing in the background. Mamie was a huge influence on Ike, but she was a big believer in stepping back and staying in her own sphere, although she certainly had opinions and could often be very strong-willed! Mamie in the 50s was a huge change for the White House as entertainment had been very subdued under the Roosevelts and the Trumans (and it makes sense for subdued entertainments during depression and war). She went back to a full schedule of entertainment and strove to serve the people - to the extent that she responded to all letters to her personally (at least signing them herself although she wrote or dictated many personally as well).

This book relies on almost all primary sources - the huge amount of letters that Mamie Eisenhower wrote over the years is the mainstay. The letters give this book a really personal feel of Mamie - you can really hear and see her in the pages. You can also really feel the devotion the Eisenhowers felt for each other throughout their marriage. I feel like I got to know Mamie as I read this book.

I highly recommend the book - as a historian, as a teacher, as a researcher and as someone who just enjoys a well-written biography!

As a high school science teacher on the Omaha Indian Reservation, both my students and myself found this book to be an invaluable resource this past fall. As my students did their ethnobotanical survey of the reservation, I often found them waiting to use my one copy of the book. (I will be getting additional copies for the upcoming school year.) We found the information to be both accurate and thorough. The students especially enjoyed the well drawn pictures and easy to follow format. I would suggest this book to anyone interested in plains ethnobotany.

Medicinal Wild Plants contains information on nomenclature, habitat, Indian use, Anglo folk use, use in medical history, some entries for recent scientific research, and cultivation. Kindscher frequently cites Eclectic medical use for the plants. These books are authoritative. Kindscher has thoroughly studied the ethnobotany of each and presented the most useful information. What is most striking to me about these books are Kindscher's frequent comments revealing that he has personally seen and tasted these plants, and sometimes tested the methods he writes about, something rare in the ethnobotanical literatue of North America.

I always enjoy a good quilt book, particularly when there is historical evidence involved. Ms. Tomlonson did an excellent job of incorporating the historical information with the quilts shown.

This is an absolutely beautiful book, with full color images of both Mennonie quilts and the landscape of "Amish Country." My only complaint is that it's much too short! The paperbound book is about 125 pages long, and almost exactly the style, size and format of the Amish quilt books by Rachel and Ken Pellman. The story of each quilt is given, whether as just a name, year and current owner, or through a short reminiscence regarding the quilt or its maker. Readers are immediately drawn into the feeling of simplicity, peace, thrift, and heritage as they are treated to lovely photographs of the natural world that surrounds the daily lives of the Mennonite quilters. The quilts themselves, done in slightly more "worldly" fabrics and patterns than their Amish neighbors, will inspire and dazzle you. I love making quilts with traditional designs, such as "Broken Star," "Harvest Sun," "Tumbling Blocks," and "Cactus Basket," all of which I have made or am currently working on. This book is my well-worn reference, my inspiration, my small window to the Mennonite world, and my source of serenity when I find myself going from design hunt page turning to reading the engaging text. If you love traditional quiltmaking as much as I do and can manage to find a copy of this book (now out of print), you will be so very glad you did.

C. Robert Haywood has written a wonderful book on one of the founders (of perhaps two or three men) of Dodge City, Kansas. Wright made millions from cattle and spent it all. Four wives, and 45 years later he died in Dodge City, broke and not famous. He was one of the men who hired Wyatt Earp and was a backer of Bat Masterson, among many other more famous (infamous) Western heros. As President of the Ford County (ie, Dodge City) Historical Society, I assure the reader that no better history of that period has yet been written, except perhaps Robert Wright's own 1913 book on Dodge City. (out of print). Wright is an amazing man, from a family which included a grandfather who was Clerk of the US Supreme Court and a greatgrandfather that was president of the US during the period before the constitution. Great book. (Little known fact: Wright has, in 1999, a greatgrandson, age 80 and a grandson, age 49, still living. That doesn't happen often, but with forty years or so between wife number 1 and wife number 4....) George Laughead Jr.

C. Robert Haywood has written a wonderful book on one of the founders (of perhaps two or three men) of Dodge City, Kansas. Wright made millions from cattle and spent it all. Four wives, and 45 years later he died in Dodge City, broke and not famous. He was one of the men who hired Wyatt Earp and was a backer of Mat Basterson, among many other more famous (infamous) Western hero. As President of the Ford County (ie, Dodge City) historical Society, I assure the reader that no better history of that period has yet been written, except perhaps Robert Wright's book on Dodge City itself. (out of print). Wright is an amazing man, from a family which included a grandfather who was Clerk of the US Supreme Court and a greatgrandfather that was president of the US during the period before the constitution. Great book. (little known fact: Wright still has in 1999 a greatgrandson age 80 and a grandson, age 49, still living. that doesn't happen very often, but with forty years or so between wife number 1 and wife number 4, etc.) George Laughead Jr.

Nate Evans has created a Grahame Base, Dr. Seuss- type book that is a fun read for young and old. Lessons about boasting, cynicism, greediness all rolled up into one fun book. Bongo and Lu have their work cut out for them as they help Prof. Yahoo find "animals" for the queen's zoo. The fact that the Professor has lost his glasses is of no concern to him! One last slip at the end of the day saves the day.

Does Nate Evans have any more books I should know about?

Both me and my children have enjoyed this book a ton! The wonderfully bright illustrations and the rhyming story are fun to read over and over again!

Being a direct descendent of Julia German & having known her as a child I have lived with this story my entire life. Arlene's book however makes this true American tale of courage and survival come alive even for those of us who thought we understood it. Highly suggested reading for historians who want to realize the truth as it was on both sides of the Anglo-Indian issues of that time and/or as an inspirational experience for readers of all ages. There's history here for the reader to experience on every page. Thank you Arlene for bringing the definitive non-ficitional illustration of these events to the general public.

THIS BOOK IS A VERY GOOD PORTRAYAL OF THE GERMAN FAMILY.THE FOUR GERMAN SISTER WERE CAPTIVE OF GRAY BEARD THEIR NAME WERE CATHERINE 17 YEARS OLD AND 12 YEARS OLD SOPHI,ADDIE AND JULIE THE YOUNG ONE'S . CAREFULLY RESERCHED. WHERE WAS CATHERINE IN 1880.