Being Rapoport: Capitalist With a Conscience

Tower Books Imprint

by Bernard Rapoport, Don Carleton, Bill Moyers (Introduction)

Bernard Rapoport has lived the American Dream. Born to Russian Jewish immigrant parents in San Antonio, Texas, in 1917, he grew up in poverty and worked his way through the University of Texas during the Great Depression. In 1951, he founded the American Income Life Insurance Company, which he developed into a multi-million dollar business. Using his wealth to support a host of local, national, and international organizations, Rapoport was named by Fortune magazine as one of America’s forty most generous philanthropists, unstinting in his support for education, social justice, and liberal political causes. In this memoir, Rapoport recalls a life of hard work and a philosophy of giving that made him a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. He explains how his early experiences of poverty and his youthful acquaintance with Marxists and New Deal economists shaped him into a capitalist with a conscience. Rapoport goes on to describe his liberal activism as a supporter of Democrats from Ralph Yarborough to Tom Daschle to his good friends Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton, an underwriter of the political journal The Texas Observer, a regent of the University of Texas System, a supporter of the state of Israel, and a champion of at-risk students.

Genres: Biography

316 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2002

Reviews

[Corey A. Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read this book because I work for Torchmark, the company which bought B's company in the mid 90's. I wanted to get some insight into the founding and the culture of American Income Life. This book definitely did that and more. The stories are very interesting. For someone intersted in politics and Texas, it is a great read...especially if you are part of "Big Labor". It is truly amazing what B was able to accomplish in his life. The man must have never slept. It is inspiring and motivating. His passion and work ethic are unmatched. I will now seek out stories from those who had the chance to meet him and know him. I'm very curious to learn about those interactions and relationships because judging from this book, the man was a rare force of nature.

Before reading the book, I only knew he must have been something special in order to have a former president, William Jefferson Clinton, speak at his funeral. Now I understand the background.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being Rapoport is is a memoir of his life supporting liberal Texans and others running for office from 1950's through 2000. He tells stories of politicians with photos. It is most engaging. Bill Moyers wrote the introduction. I learned a lot about Texas and US political history and how he was involved as a fundraising chair for many politicians and his viewpoint on issures. He also has a chapter on his involvement with Israel and his Russian Jewish heritage is an integral part of the book.