Eckhardt: There Once Was a Congressman from Texas

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University of Texas Press, 1 de des. 2007 - 419 pàgines

Renowned for his "brilliant legislative mind" and political oratory—as well as for bicycling to Congress in a rumpled white linen suit and bow tie—U.S. Congressman Bob Eckhardt was a force to reckon with in Texas and national politics from the 1940s until 1980. A liberal Democrat who successfully championed progressive causes, from workers' rights to consumer protection to environmental preservation and energy conservation, Eckhardt won the respect of opponents as well as allies. Columnist Jack Anderson praised him as one of the most effective members of Congress, where Eckhardt was a national leader and mentor to younger congressmen such as Al Gore.

In this biography of Robert Christian Eckhardt (1913-2001), Gary A. Keith tells the story of Eckhardt's colorful life and career within the context of the changing political landscape of Texas and the rise of the New Right and the two-party state. He begins with Eckhardt's German-American family heritage and then traces his progression from labor lawyer, political organizer, and cofounder of the progressive Texas Observer magazine to Texas state legislator and U.S. congressman. Keith describes many of Eckhardt's legislative battles and victories, including the passage of the Open Beaches Act and the creation of the Big Thicket National Preserve, the struggle to limit presidential war-making ability through the War Powers Act, and the hard fight to shape President Carter's energy policy, as well as Eckhardt's work in Texas to tax the oil and gas industry.

The only thorough recounting of the life of a memorable, important, and flamboyant man, Eckhardt also recalls the last great era of progressive politics in the twentieth century and the key players who strove to make Texas and the United States a more just, inclusive society.

 

Continguts

Introduction
1
PART I The Eckhardts of Texas
5
One The German Texas Pioneers
7
Two Bobby Eckhardt in Austin
18
Three Student Eckhardt on the Forty Acres
31
PART II Lawyer Eckhardt
51
Four Eckhardts Shingle and Pen
53
Five Civil Rights and Labor
71
Eleven Readying for Congress
186
Americas Second Congressman
201
Twelve Inside Congress Inside Washington
203
Thirteen The Veteran Congressman
226
Environmental and Consumer Policymaking
249
Fifteen The Oil and Gas Wars
270
Sixteen The 1980 Election
293
Seventeen Congressman Emeritus
314

Six Eckhardt in 1940s Texas Politics
88
Seven Brother Eckhardt Goes to Houston
103
Eight Eckhardt the Texas Observer and Yarborough Come of Age
122
PART III Pygmies Giants and Knights at the State Capitol
143
Nine Freshman Legislator of the Year 1959
145
Ten The Veteran Legislator
163
Afterword
324
A Chronology
327
Notes
329
Sources
377
Index
393
Copyright

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Sobre l'autor (2007)

Gary A. Keith is Assistant Professor of Political Science at University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

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