Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage

by Barney Frank

The New York Times Bestseller How did a disheveled, intellectually combative gay Jew with a thick accent become one of the most effective (and funniest) politicians of our time? Growing up in Bayonne, New Jersey, the fourteen-year-old Barney Frank made two vital discoveries about he was attracted to government, and to men. He resolved to make a career out of the first attraction and to keep the second a secret. Now, sixty years later, his sexual orientation is widely accepted, while his belief in government is embattled. A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage is one man's account of the country's transformation--and the tale of a truly momentous career. Many Americans recall Frank's lacerating wit, whether it was directed at the Clinton impeachment ("What did the president touch, and when did he touch it?") or the pro-life movement (some people believe "life begins at conception and ends at birth"). But the contours of his private and public lives are less well-known. For more than four decades, he was at the center of the struggle for personal freedom and economic fairness. From the battle over AIDS funding in the 1980s to the debates over "big government" during the Clinton years to the 2008 financial crisis, the congressman from Massachusetts played a key role. In 2010, he coauthored the most far-reaching and controversial Wall Street reform bill since the era of the Great Depression, and helped bring about the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
In this feisty and often moving memoir, Frank candidly discusses the satisfactions, fears, and grudges that come with elected office. He recalls the emotional toll of living in the closet and how his public crusade against homophobia conflicted with his private accommodation of it. He discusses his painful quarrels with allies; his friendships with public figures, from Tip O'Neill to Sonny Bono; and how he found love with his husband, Jim Ready, becoming the first sitting member of Congress to enter a same-sex marriage. He also demonstrates how he used his rhetorical skills to expose his opponents' hypocrisies and delusions. Through it all, he expertly analyzes the gifts a successful politician must bring to the job, and how even Congress can be made to work.
Frank is the story of an extraordinary political life, an original argument for how to rebuild trust in government, and a guide to how political change really happens--composed by a master of the art.

Genres: Politics, Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Biography Memoir, LGBT

400 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2015

About the author

Jewish-American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a Democrat and has represented Massachusetts's 4th congressional district since 1981. The district includes many of Boston's southern suburbs--such as Brookline, Newton and Foxborough--as well as the South Coast.

Following the Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives in the 2006 midterm elections, Frank assumed the chairmanship of the House Financial Services Committee.

Frank is one of the most liberal members of the House, and has been outspoken on many civil rights issues, including gay rights. In 1987, he spoke publicly about his homosexuality for the first time. He said in a 1996 interview: "I'm used to being in the minority. I'm a left-handed gay Jew. I've never felt, automatically, a member of any majority."

Reviews

[Marla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really never knew who Barney Frank was but thought this book would be interesting. I learned a lot about what was going on the years he was in office like Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. It was interesting to see Washington through Barney’s eyes. I’m not very political so sometimes political books go in one ear and out the other for me. It was interesting to see how Washington slowly changed their views about LGBTQ rights. I think he would be an interesting person to have a conversation with over a long dinner.

[judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me confess that I voted "present" on several sections of Barney's book. I'll admit that it wasn't fair because Barney is whip-smart, super funny, should be mandatory reading for all idealists who enter politics and was a heck of a Congressman for many years. I skipped parts of his work on gay rights and the financial crisis. This was simply overload from having being immersed in these subjects before. My brain just refused to go down certain roads again. Anyone not familiar with his work on those subjects should pay attention. He did solve one of my enduring political questions. I could never figure out why Clinton tackled gays in the military just after he took office. He almost threw his whole Presidency off track by not waiting until he had some more capital built up. Barney answered that question--but no spoilers--read the book. The book is brimming with wisdom on our current state of affairs. I love this man's ability to analyze. Meanwhile--the story ends happily--very, very happily--which Barney Frank certainly deserves.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! I already had a good opinion of Barney Frank. When I was chairperson of the board of Birmingham AIDS Outreach, we faced a serious financial crisis. I had recently seen Frank in Harvard Yard on a visit back to Cambridge, so I thought that I'd reach out to him and see if he had any suggestions for ways we could raise money. He replied with a personal letter, NOT a form letter. He didn't know me, and I wasn't a constituent, but he took the time to write a personal letter. Agree with his politics or not, if you read this book you will be impressed with the man's passion and patriotism. It's also an inspiring story of someone who had to conceal a big piece of himself for most of his life but who came out late in life, facing a potentially devastating professional cost,but who triumphed. It's also nice to know that an older man can find love.

[b aaron talbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

barney frank is my political hero and this book cements my belief.

this book is an unbelievably honest, detailed, and readable account of frank's political career and his lifelong history of fighting for lgbt and civil rights, affordable housing, and financial well-being of americans. it is also a blistering critique of the right and the left's clinging to ideological beliefs to the detriment of those same american people. and it is his critiques of the left that i find the most insightful and challenging and ultimately beneficial to political conversations: his ability to pinpoint specific points when democrats/the left "fought" for ideological purity instead of compromising highlight the problems with our ideas of how change takes place within our system.

he writes from the perspective of a public servant, a government worker, and elected official and this perspective is mostly lost in our new cycles and cultural conversations about politics, governance, and how we function as a country. he also writes from a very personal perspective of a gay man who came into public service at a time when being out was simply not an option.

his detailed accounts of his time in the massachusetts state government, coming to the u.s. house the same year reagan was elected, negotiating the bush white houses, the clinton impeachment, the iraq war, the financial crisis, and the obama administration illustrate his pragmatic approach to governing, his longevity and effectiveness, and his success in his public service. he is truly someone whose service to our country should be lauded, studied, and mimicked by anyone wanting to actually make a difference in our national system.

an absolutely incredible book by an incredible man.

[Rob Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Barney Frank. I have always enjoyed his brashness and his ability to not only contradict but completely dismantle a great number of conservative arguments. His wit and his sense of humor have always made his arguments and TV appearances educating and entertaining. I wish this book lived up to those aspects of Frank. This memoir chronicles Barney Frank's political life, from working as an advocate and activist for civil rights to banking reform and LGBT civil rights issues. One of the areas I've often disagreed with Frank was his belief that activism doesn't lead to change as much as political lobbying does. This philosophy appears again and again in his life and work. He makes strong cases in favor of politics over activism, some of them quite persuasive. While I found much of this memoir interesting and compelling, I lost interest in the economic work on which Frank prides himself. I'm sure that readers who love economic theory will find these sections very interesting. The memoir would have been strengthened by more of Frank's characteristic snark and witticism.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barney Frank narrates his book perfectly written for a political news junkie such as myself. I only knew of Frank since he became a national figure and therefore did not know about his background.
I appreciate that once Barney Frank understood that he was a Jewish gay man with speech difficulties he did not let those things hold him back for working for his constituents.
I want to read the physical book so more sticks in my addled head.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The glorious and tragic story of a true public servant. It opens with 14 year old Frank “realized there were two ways in which I was different from the other guys: I was attracted to the idea of serving in government and I was attracted to the other guys.” (3). That was 1954, “when the government was still popular, but homosexuals were held in universal contempt.” (5).

The story is glorious because Frank helped accomplish some great things. He helped make the world better for people who had been despised because of their race or sexual orientation.

But it’s tragic too because Frank wanted to build a more economically equitable society. He fought hard against the idea that government was the problem in part to be to use government to solve problems. He was at the table and may have kept things from being worse. Maybe.

Frank is deeply pragmatic and doesn’t have much patience for symbolic or self-affirming exercises. “If you care deeply about an issue, and are engaged in group activity on its behalf that is fun and inspiring and heightens your sense of solidarity with others, you are almost certainly not doing your cause any good,” he tells us. (156). Instead, he strongly urges getting your people to the polls, getting them to call their legislators, and not holding out for the best when better is available. (He calls it the Henny Youngman principle, but since that makes me cringe, I’m reframing it).

His story of his own coming out put tears in my eyes. Well worth the read.

His strong defense of Democratic innocence in the 2008 mortgage market collapse wasn’t quite as compelling; one of ours did undo key parts of the New Deal after all. But I am persuaded that others bear far more of the blame.

A good book about a good man. I’m glad he was there.

[Heather Terran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very rarely go in for (auto)biographies, and even more rarely for politicians, so this is a really extreme change of pace for me. But I had the chance to see Mr. Frank speak and so I picked up a copy of his book at the event.

It turned out to be both fascinating and engaging. I would highly recommend this to anybody interested in either the politics of LGBT equality or the machinery of US national politics. Frank obviously speaks from the moderately far left politically, so you have to be okay with that, but assuming that his politics don't turn you off, there's a lot here.

He opens with the observation that when he started a career in politics, he had to hide his identity as a gay man -- one of the most loathed and publicly reviled groups in the US. Politicians, however, were generally well regarded: people still believed in the "Great Society" -- that we could use government as an instrument to improve life for everybody and build a more just society. In a turn of wit that characterizes the book and his political style, he then observes that when he retired, he was still among the most loathed groups -- but now it was by virtue of being a Congressman. Being gay in 2013 ranked far higher in the polls.

Frank traces us through his career in politics, touching on the key turning points in both his career and in national events. (He barely addresses international politics -- it's clear that his career was domestically focused.) A large part of his political focus was (and still is, I suppose, though he's retired from Congress) on LGBT rights and social justice more broadly. But he gives us a number of lessons in how seemingly mundane governmental tasks, like highway construction, interact heavily with social justice, and that to be truly effective in things like battling inequality, you also have to be dedicated to the mundane and detailed.

He walks through a number of key political events -- Nixon and Watergate, Reagan's election and the battles against rolling back all social safety nets, don't ask/don't tell, the Clinton impeachment, the 2007 financial crash (and the construction of the Dodd-Frank act), the rise of the Tea Party -- giving his insider's view of each. More interestingly, he dissects the machinery of how the political decisions get made in each case, the political gamesmanship and system-gaming that are often used to get things done, and his assessment of the various approaches to political influence and effectiveness. He calls out ways in which even well-meaning people often act against their own interest politically, sometimes through ignorance of the mechanics of the system and sometimes because of a failure to appreciate the impact of external perceptions. (For example, he makes a very interesting and critical comparison between the 1993 LGBT March on Washington and the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, dissecting the structure of each and its effect on public opinion and, thus, politicians and public policy.)

One message that stands out with respect to political effectiveness is: "When the Left gets angry, they go out and march. When the Right gets angry, they go out and vote. Guess which one wins?"

Without having read widely in politics, it's hard for me to judge the veracity of all of his statements or the accuracy of his assessment of how the politics fell out in each case. The text is persuasive, but, then, persuasiveness is his job. But I'll grant him credit that he clearly admits to a number of tactical, strategic, or ethical mistakes. He gives his thought process (and often emotional state) around each, along with his diagnosis of why it turned out to be a mistake. That adds a level of authenticity to the successes he claims. (Though reading between the lines, it does feel like he may be sweeping some of the strong-arm tactics of politics under the rug.)

A key message that he returns to throughout the book is that we're currently suffering from a vicious cycle instigated by the anti-government folks: they push out propaganda about how useless and ineffective the government is, then they cut funding to key sectors, which makes government less effective, which makes people angry, which they use as support for the assertion of government ineffectiveness, leading to more cuts, etc. The most pernicious part of it, is that it's often supported by an utter fantasy that it's possible to have excellent governmental services and programs, without paying for them, simply by "eliminating corruption, inefficiency, and waste". I can see the trend myself, even within the relatively brief span that I've been (marginally) politically aware. It troubled me before I read Mr. Frank's book, but he highlighted the problem clearly. We have to shift the message from, "It's our money and the government wants to take it" to "They're our services and you get what you pay for."

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read political memoirs because they're too often sanitized works of self-delusion by the sort of pathological narcissists and other assorted dingbats who generally run for office and then write a book about it. I made an exception for this one because Barney Frank is that rare species of a congressman who both had the privilege to be able to speak his mind for his entire electoral career and is educated enough to be able to speak intelligently when he does. In that respect, I was not disappointed, for this is (as political memoirs go) an uncompromisingly honest work filled with the same wry, intelligent, often self-deprecating humor Frank was known for as an elected official.

It's also an extremely tightly-written and well-edited work. Almost every book by a real "journalist" that I've read recently has been weaker technically than Frank's, and that is no small feat. In particular, Frank, unlike many politicians, is accomplished at delivering information in succinct paragraphs that pretty much anyone can understand. The chapters are still about 40 pages each, but they never get bogged down in excessive detail, and there's remarkably little bloviation for someone who was in Congress for 32 years. The first sentence sets the tone for the entire book, and for Frank's life as he presents it: that he discovered early on while growing up in New Jersey that he was attracted to politics, and to men. Most of the rest of the book covers these twin themes of using political power to benefit the economically disadvantaged and to advance the cause of gay rights. Regardless of how well-covered certain events were in the media, Frank only discusses something if he personally finds it to be important, which is admirable in the post-1994 era of Democrats refusing to lead on any issue until the media and the opposition have defined it for them. One particularly illustrative instance: Dick Armey's high-profile homophobic bullying of Frank while Armey was majority whip in the late 90's and other similar events is not mentioned at all, despite being a major media non-story at the time. It's a very honest work in that respect.

One other thing struck me, and this is Frank's approach toward opposing political points of view. He in particular laments repeatedly the many opportunities that liberals have missed that would advance the cause of middle and working-class white men, and advances the view that the complete lack of impact of gay rights issues on voting returns and the now-widespread public acceptance for gay marriage despite the total hostility to such things earlier in Frank's lifetime indicates that the public favors economic security more than superficial social distractions. He also makes it very clear that he believes coastal affluent liberals' attacks on other potentially Democratic-voting Americans for being too blandly homogenous (e.g. the Pete Seeger song "Little Boxes", or general denunciations of the Midwest) are electorally foolish, and serve only to alienate mainstream voters for the sake of temporary neuroticism because having the option to be anything other than blandly homogenous requires an education and family background that most people simply don't have access to, even in America.
Interestingly, Frank also advances a spirit of cooperation that one as outspoken as he is might not be expected to advance, even going as far as to speak of collaborating with the occasional Tea Party congressman during his last term if they happened to share his view on a particular issue; strange bedfellows, indeed. Rather, Frank's harshest criticism in the entire book is reserved for Ralph Nader's Republican-enabling spoiler campaign during the 2000 presidential election, and Frank's deepest political regrets for the subsequent loss of the progressive policies of the Gore administration that never was (which would have had the ability to be way more progressive than Obama was able to be after eight years of Bush fundamentally altered the national calculus.) There's also the element that it's just interesting to hear about these nationally prominent issues and personalities (Monica Lewinsky, Dodd-Frank, Bill Clinton generally, etc.), from someone who was intimately involved on a political level and has no self-serving reason not to be honest about his experience.

Ultimately, this is a high-quality memoir that offers valuable insight into the political reality of the last 40 years, on both a national and personal level. For this reason, though it is not an absolute must-read, it's still an interesting and impressive work and deserving of a read for those interested in the man or his causes.

[Richard Jespers · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this tersely written memoir (though verbose in places), Frank memorializes his forty years of public service. Though I find the word “service” can have a false ring with people in Congress who, over time, increase their wealth considerably, such a word rings strong and true with regard to Barney Frank. For four decades he serves, in one capacity or another, the people of Boston, Massachusetts—but also many citizens from coast to coast. During his tenure as congress member, he evolves into an ace legislator who is instrumental in getting landmark legislation through Congress: undoing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, strengthening laws that govern Wall Street (Dodd-Frank) after 2008, and any number of LGBTQ issues. He has a way of stating the truth that only stings if you are the guilty party:

“If every issue is always on the active agenda, if an issue that was already disposed of by a majority can be reopened whenever the side that lost regains an advantage, instability infects not just the body that made that decision but also the society that it is governed by. It is the explicit rejection of that principle by the Tea Party Republicans that contributes heavily to political gridlock. A representative or senator’s effectiveness thus is based on his or her ability to deal with a very wide range of issues, with never enough time, and with little guidance from others” (73).

Frank is able to articulate the why and wherefores of legislation and government, as in this statement justifying taxation:

“In a civilized society that needs a profit-driven private sector and a tax-funded public sector, it is all the people’s money. The task facing sensible people is to distinguish between the personal or family needs and wants best fulfilled by individual spending choices and those societal goals that can be achieved only if we pool our resources to buy collective goods” (171-2).

Frank speaks to how our country can dovetail capitalism with democracy:

“Representative government in a capitalist society involves the coexistence of two systems—an economic one, in which a person’s influence necessarily increases with his or her wealth, and a political one, in which every citizen is supposed to have an equal say. If the mechanisms of the free market are going to work, that is, if they are going to increase productivity through incentives and allocate resources efficiently, money must drive decisions. For democracy to fulfill its moral promise, everyone’s vote should have the same weight in making the rules by which we govern ourselves” (183).

Hallelujah, he should be teaching civics in high school!

Frank is blunt about the issues that Democrats face:

“Democrats will regain a fighting chance to win majority support among working- and middle-class white men only when we demonstrate the will—and capacity—to respond to the economic distress inflicted on them” (187).

“The NRA does what I have long begged my LGBT allies to do, at first with mixed results, and more recently with much greater success. They urge all of their adherents to get on the voting rolls. They are diligent to the point of obsession in making sure that elected officials hear from everyone in their constituencies who opposes any limits on guns, especially when a relevant measure is being considered, and they then do an extraordinary job of informing their supporters of how those officials cast their votes” (203).

One only hopes that new Democrats now filling slots in Congress are half as dedicated, knowledgeable, honest, and generous as Barney Frank. In the coming months and years we’re going to need such people to face the issues that plague citizens across this country.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

Congressman Barney Frank employs his characteristic wit and humor to keep the tone light in this memoir. The average reader would probably find the book dull, but I recommend it to political junkies.

My favorite recurring theme is that achieving real change is hard work, and is rarely fun. If you're preaching to the choir, you're not changing any minds. This is illustrated in Frank's account of a 1993 Don't Ask Don't Tell rally in Washington: "To my deep disappointment, the march confirmed my impression that many of my allies preferred undisciplined self-expression to serious participation in the political process. There were eloquent appeals to allow us to serve our country. But their impact was substantially diluted, if not obliterated, by [others]... One prominent lesbian comedian exulted that there was finally a first lady that she would like to 'fuck'--her remark was carried live by C-SPAN and widely cheered by the march audience... I take credit for preventing what would have been an even greater disaster. As I waited behind the stage to be introduced, I was horrified to see nine or ten of the gay soldiers who had been victimized by the ban standing shoulder to shoulder, beginning a rhythmic kick routine, with accompanying campy gestures. Nothing could have been more devastating to our argument that LGBT people would blend comfortably into the military than a photo--or worse, a video--of these guys lined up not to march but to emulate the Rockettes."

This image reminds me of some of the Tea Party rallies of the past few years: Those who spend much time in the echo chamber become deaf to the preferences of the general electorate.

Frank (rightly in my view) excoriates Gavin Newsom for counterproductively attempting to force the issue of gay marriage. By getting ahead of the law and the voters, Newsome caused a huge backlash and retarded progress. Sometimes one must be content with baby steps; in the end this is usually the faster and more effective way of achieving a goal than is insisting on "all or nothing" from the start.

Frank also effectively illustrates the insidiousness of the GOP's tax policies over the past several decades. With substantially lower revenue, the government has to enact cuts. The cuts are so significant that the government cannot satisfactorily perform its functions. Voters then see the government becoming more ineffective, decide that government is incompetent, and support even further cuts. He cites this as a key reason that lower- and middle-income white males tend to vote GOP: "This critical bloc of voters is disaffected from government not because they don't believe it should play an active role, but because they are disappointed it hasn't played an effective role. The biggest single reason for this is that conservatives have made sure that there is not enough government revenue for it to succeed... The angrier voters become with government for not meeting their expectations, the more they vote for politicians who are philosophically opposed to an extended public sector role and support cutting taxes. This obviously results in government becoming even less able to deliver, which leads to more antigovernment voting."

Other passages I liked:

"Two hundred years ago, Jeremy Bentham explained why his advocacy of 'the greatest good for the greatest number' did not call for socialism - leveling, as it was then known. A person's pain in losing something, he asserted, is usually greater than the pleasure someone else experiences in benefiting from that loss."

"After one of [Adlai] Stevenson's eloquent, intellectually sophisticated speeches, a supporter told him he would 'get the votes of all the thinking people.' 'Thank you, madam,' he replied, 'but I need a majority.'"

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I finished Barney Frank's A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage, I realized that I'd made a connection about a particular way of looking at life. Here's the question: What do Barney Frank and Nora Ephron have in common? Here's the answer: Clarity and humor.

I realize the comparison is a stretch. Yet they both look at what's real and find humorous or memorable ways to point out those truths. Nora Ephron was a journalist, novelist, playwright, director and screenwriter. Her comedies were about human nature; her last two books were a humorous look at aging, un-gilding the image of our golden years. Barney Frank was a Democrat who represented Massachusetts from 1981 to 2013. He was chairman of the Finance Committee, co-sponsor of the Dodd-Frank Act, a 'sweeping reform of the U.S. Financial Industry' and considered the most prominent gay politician in the U.S. I admire them both for essentially the same reason.

Though I'm not reviewing Ephron, here's an example that she could have written: Frank made a fuss over a bill he knew he couldn't defeat during Clinton's presidency. In explaining why he made the fuss, he said:

When the package was completed I charged that paying for inheritance tax cuts by reducing Medicare spending effectively elevated the claims of rich dead people over those of sick, living middle-class ones.

And then he explained his fuss-making further:

Ballplayers do not argue with the umpire so that he'll change the decision in question. They want to be on his mind when he makes the next one.
(ebook p. 380, Ch. 7, Welcome to an Earmark)

Or fighting against the ban on Medicare subscribers purchasing prescriptions from Canada:

The argument against imports from Canada was the insincere claim that they might endanger old people's health--it was advanced by those who more often accused drug safety regulators of overreaching. I will drop my charge of insincerity the first time I read about defective drugs producing a lot of dead Canadians.
(ebook p. 421-22, Ch 8 Defending Clinton)

I'm not a fan of politics--so many things are controlled by expediency or money--but I have to respect someone who can make me understand things such as why the NAACP was willing to take the incremental steps toward equality.

The NAACP lawyers were not acquiescing to the constitutionality of separate but equal--they were pursuing a thoughtful, tough-minded strategy to overthrow it. Incrementalism is not the enemy of militancy; it is often to only effective means of expressing it.
(ebook p.435, Ch. 8, Defending Clinton)

And my favorite of Frank's many strategies--logic. Here Frank is talking about Congressman Robert Dornan of California. Even though the ban on security clearance for any gay people had been struck down by executive order, Dornan threatened to have Congress codify it into law.

This time my logic was irrefutable. If the House were to assert that gay men are security risks, I announced, I would consider it my patriotic duty to provide a list of gay members to the appropriate authorities. Dornan backed down, undoubtedly at the urging of his own party leadership, and denounced me for my threat.
(ebook p. 306, Ch 6, The True story of Don't Ask, Don't Tell)

Hmmm. To be fair, if I may speak only a little facetiously, now that I think about these stories--plus the countless others--though Frank hasn't written screenplays, some of his campaigns get mighty close.

[Annis Pratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

FRANK : A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same- Sex Marriage
BY BARNEY FRANK Farrar Straus and Giroux NY 2015
This is an insightful biography by a loud, funny, vituperous politician who decided early on to go into a field where, if anyone ever found out he was gay, he would be out on his ear. Consistent to his resolution to work for better housing for the poor and for the end of discrimination against gays and lesbians, after years and years of wheeling and dealing and compromising, he was amazingly successful.
On the way, he provides some striking insights into the way politics work.
In college he took a lot of economic classes, which “made it clear to me that the best system was one where the creation of wealth relied primarily on market mechanisms – with a strong government providing appropriate regulation, lessening inequality without destroying incentives, and playing an active role when necessary to keep the economy functioning at high levels of employment.” 12
He deplores the way Freedom Summer participants filled the air with rhetoric against the very kinds of middle class goals black people longed for. He is the first political analyst ever to notice that Pete Seeger’s distaste for ticky tacky housing demonstrates abysmal ignorance about working class and poor folks who long for just that kind of housing.
He is uncomfortable with liberal disdain for compromise, demanding everything they want all at once. When the Freedom Democrats refused an offer of two seats at the Atlantic City Democratic convention instead of seating their whole delegation, they didn’t realize that if even two had been seated the all-white delegation would have all walked out.
He finds liberals short sighted in their preference for demonstrating and marching, when contacting legislators and getting out the vote is more effective in getting things done.
Always working “through the system,” he had no patience for people who despised it so much that they would rather fail at their goals than achieve less than total victory. He contrasts the enormously effective and restrained 1963 march on Washington, where every speech was vetted, to far out gay demonstrations where shocking everyone by the way they dressed and acted kept the LGBT community from enacting effective legislation sooner.
He deplores the “preference for demonstrative rather than electoral politics”:

“The logic of the opposite opinion – that the ‘system’ was stacked against us and in the control of those determined to keep us unequal –called for direct action instead of electioneering. You want to play nice with the system,’ I was told scornfully. ‘We know that power never grants rights without struggle, without our making the establishment so uncomfortable that they have to give in.”

His take on present day impasses and gridlock is especially interesting:
“In fact, the conservatives’ stark dichotomy of ‘government’ and ‘people’ represents the harshest possible judgment on America. It implies that we are not self-governing, that the government, far from being representative of the voters, is a hostile entity that stands apart from the citizenry. When such a claim is made by the official organs of the Iranian or Chinese Governments, American conservatives indignantly refute it. But when the same argument is used to block increased public transportation, aid to community colleges, or more money to clean hazardous waste sites, they find it very comforting.”172

[Bradley Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading "Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage" by Barney Frank. In this memoir, Frank answers the question "How did a disheveled, intellectually combative gay Jew with a thick accent become one of the most effective (and funniest) politicians of our time?" Frank reflects on his triumphs and failures over the course of his five decades in politics. With the narrative being his own personal struggle of coming out as a gay man, Frank analyzes his own history against the backdrop of the societal consequences and developments of LGBT acceptance in society.

This memoir was poignant and very informative. Frank's accounts on his work fighting Don't Ask, Don't Tell in the early 1990s, the 2008 financial crisis, and other socioeconomic issues during his career were vivid and, at times, funny. However, the most significant aspect of the book was Frank's anxiety hiding his sexuality from the public sector until he officially came out in 1987. Frank fought for a number of major social issues including civil rights legislation, but he feared how his work advocating for LGBT acceptance would impact his career. He struggled with the question of whether he could make any significant strides in eliminating LGBT discrimination as a closeted gay man.

Barney Frank is a man who I respect for his fierce humor, sharp wit, and ability to work on bipartisan legislation. He retired officially in 2013 after choosing not to seek reelection in his district in Massachusetts. Congress needs more individuals like Frank. I learned a lot from this book. Not just about him as an individual or even his involvement in major legislation. There were ample philosophical nuggets to consider in my personal and professional development.

One that struck me as rather prolific was that it is necessary to celebrate the small victories. Frank got a lot of flack for not being entirely inclusive all the time and for not pushing for major, sweeping legislation that would abolish all LGBT discrimination. He had a keen insight for what Congress would pass and how such legislation could impact elections and constituent views. Of course, we all want to eliminate these awful things in one felt swoop. But the political process is a slow game. Fight for key points here and there and build towards a goal. Doing so will ensure the majority of the voting public accepts the desired goal and this will then be reflected in the leaders they elect going forward.

It took almost twenty years to end the Defense of Marriage Act. When it was enacted, public approval of same-sex
marriage was low. Now, we are a few years away from all 50 states approving same-sex marriage. It may be painfully slow to enact change, but the process works. What a truly exciting time we live in.

[Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was quite productive in terms of things I've learned, although I expected more disclosures of the policy making situations which happened behind the scenes. Also Frank dedicated quite a lot of time to convey his feelings about all the episodes :)

My notes:
* Policy change is usually incremental and follows long periods of incubation and temporary defeat, but rapid shifts in public opinion (e.g. same-sex marriage) and demands for action in the face of crisis (often from elite actors) can precipitate more ambitious responses
* It is worth proving that there is a debatable space in the question area you’d like to raise
* Tactical importance of being realistic
* Celebrating even tiniest incremental successes is the most important for the foot soldiers of the movement
* When you put up a fake objection in a negotiation you win nothing when it is resolved
* Poor rely on publicly provided services the most
* Violent actions drain attention from policy making to firefighting even from supporters
* Low income areas are the paths of least resistance to highway builders
* Average residency length (how much people live in an area you represent on average) means voter here at some point will become voters elsewhere
* "Who is that guy with Frank Barney campaign" - cool idea to take a photo with a celebrity and do like Frank
* Job payed barely to live on - surprising fact as in Ukraine everyone thinks it's good enough
* Idea of supporting people with position somewhat similar to yours and urging them to expand the agenda with your items when their is ok
* If you spend fun time with likeminded people, most probably you're not doing any good to your cause -- probably because talking to others is more productive in terms of gaining supporters
* Compensation principle - we're friends, I screwed up, I'll fix it
* So Clinton viewed not as an enemy (because of Don't Ask Don't Tell bill) but as a friend who tried to help but failed
* When arguing, use "Show me where the law says I can't do it that way"
* If your job requires large numbers of people to vote for you, then pointing out how confused they are is not the best way to go
* Hawaii court ruled LGBT marriage is ok, lgbt people did a mistake praising that as an imminent reality for the whole country, thus making it nation wide issue
* Debates idea: it's easy to state something simple, like "Let's cut the spending", much trickier to talk about implications "What will be cut for the education spending" etc

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreclo...
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Era_of_...
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filibuster

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers who enjoy political intrigue and an insider's view of the workings of United States politics will find an excellent tour guide in Barney Frank, the outspoken gay Democrat who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (representing Massachusetts) from 1981 to 2013.

Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage is a political biography--there's no time for childhood memories; by page six, Frank is 16 years old and working on Adlai Stevenson's second presidential campaign. He offers compelling and nuanced accounts of how key political legislation moved through the political mechanisms, and why they succeeded or failed.

Never averse to working with Republicans, Frank made cross-party compromises to help end racial and sexual inequality. Today, compromise is almost impossible. Frank writes: "America's political community has come to live in two parallel media universes. Each wing ingests information and opinion that reinforces its own policy preferences and its own conviction that those preferences reflect majority opinion."

As an astute eyewitness and participant to more than 50 years of political history, Frank offers keen observations about Bill Clinton's impeachment hearings; the creation of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"; becoming the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, where he tried to reform Wall Street; the Iraq War; and the rise of the Tea Party. Frank is more reticent about his private life, but opens up a bit when discussing his relationship and eventual marriage to Jim Ready. Frank is a talented, persuasive and witty raconteur whose passion for politics and justice translates to a compulsively readable overview of American political life.

A insider's candid political biography that crosses all party lines, filled with memorable and observant stories of compromise for the good of all.

[Susan D'Entremont · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frank was my representative for much of my life. This book isn't as funny as he is in real life.

This is a fairly typical political memoir with some interesting turns. He stresses how things have really turned from when he first started in politics. Way back then, government was seen as a positive thing, and LGBTQ rights were seen as a negative thing. Now it's the complete opposite. The book tells the tale of this switch.

One useful tidbit from the book - progressives tend to demonstrate and protests a lot, but don't actually contact their legislators about what they want. Those emails and phone calls matter, and the right wing has that down pat. Demonstrations are fine, but if legislators don't know that it is THEIR constituents out there, it may not affect a vote.

The other interesting thing was his view on compromise and how getting part of what you want through Congress is a lot better for advancing a cause than being a purist and waiting for a bill that has everything you want. This one would be hard for me, but that's part of the reason why I am not a politician.

I found the beginning of the book the most interesting, but that is probably because I am from the Boston area. I recognized most of the names. (I can't believe I had forgotten all about Mel King!) But I was a kid when this stuff was happening, and didn't really understand what was going on. It was great to get the back story.

I wish he had talked more about his family. He briefly mentioned that his mother received national awards for her work and that his sister had a career in politics, including a stint in the Clinton White House. I want to know more!! How did a family with humble beginnings get so involved in government and politics, especially two women at that time.

[furious · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was entertaining & informative. down-to-earth, rational, and super funny, Barney Frank puts the best face imaginable on the career Washington politician. he describes a career determined to advance progressive ideology through legislation, by riding the waves of national sentiment, biding time, doing deals, striking when opportunities present. he describes a life on the Hill as not unlike a life at Court, as courtiers press advantages that wax & wane with the inevitable swings in party dominance & constituent opinion. he describes a life as rich in rewards (a perfect witty rejoinder on the floor of the House that destroys an opponent's viewpoint & also results in a tangible legislative victory) as it is in frustrations (the Republican Party's ongoing, & very successful, poisoning of the middle-class American mind against the very notion of a helpful government that is worth funding through tax dollars). he succeeds in making public service still seem like a potentially noble effort, even at the federal level. which is no small feat.

if i have a complaint about this book, it's that it seemed to weirdly give short shrift to September 11th. he gave SO MUCH more attention to the Clinton impeachment! obviously, due to his close involvement with that, and yes, i get it; he spends the majority of the book discussing the legislation HE worked on & the issues in which he was personally involved. but the 9/11 attacks, & the subsequent marches to war, deserved a little more background & historical context than they got.

otherwise this would probably be a 5 star book, i really enjoyed it.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sort of an interesting read for those who follow politics, particularly in the New England area. Barney Frank was a Congressman from southeastern Massachusetts for quite some time as well as being a gay man. This book is a mashup of memoir and political analysis of the period in which he served.

Folks who know about him would probably not be surprised at the folksy nature of the writing style. He is definitely frank (pun intended) and honest about his viewpoints. He has no trouble giving kudos to political allies and foes alike when he talks about the events he was a part of. He definitely has a respect for many of his colleagues though not all.

It was really interesting hearing about his personal experiences both as a politician and as a gay man. He is from a very different time, and his sexuality was not nearly as accepted when he was younger in comparison to my own experiences. Though, I know I can probably say the same thing when comparing my own history in this area with many LGBTQ kids in this time period.

The book touches on a number of important issues including 9/11, the Great Recession, the USA PATRIOT Act, the implementation and repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, any many other topics that reflect our time period.

This is definitely not a book for anyone, but it really is an intriguing read for political junkies and those interest in LGBTQ history. Frank is actually someone I would really like to meet. He seems down-to-earth and easy to speak with. That can be pretty refreshing in a politician of any party. I am glad that I read this one.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through this long political career, Barney Frank was known for his candor, his wit (often in the form of a biting retort to a republican or a journalist), and a refreshing directness. He brings all of these things to his memoir of his nearly 50 years of public service.

Although not overpowering, he uses the book also to defend himself from the accusations of the mindless conservative masses that he (personally) was responsible for the financial collapse in 2008. Although I never "bought" this (because I can count and remember) he effectively reminds us that 1) the democrats and he were in the minority from 1994 to 2006, 2) although he became chair of the Financial Services in 2006 the damage was done, 3) provides documentary evidence that throughout the time in the minority the dems regularly tried to advocate for both statutory and regulatory measures that would reign in predatory banks from giving mortgages to unqualified low income families, 4) a paper trail that shows that Frank was always more an advocate of subsidizing rental property for low income families rather than home ownership. The list could go on as could the list of egregious Republican countermeasures.

All in all an excellent read. As a gay man it was interesting that Frank also gives perhaps undue emphasis on the advancements in human rights in this country and abroad for gays and lesbians. We couldn't have done it without Barney Frank, so I say THANK YOU BARNEY.

[Janine Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book, especially for those who have become so disillusioned with our dysfunctional government that they have come to believe that all politicians are alike, and that government can never improve people's lives. Barney Frank had to sacrifice the possibility of a satisfying personal life for many years in order to serve as a Congressman, since a gay man would not have been electable. Eventually, attitudes and laws changed, but it was a slow process and the changes came incrementally. He is especially frustrated by liberals who disparage government and politicians because they don't do enough and change doesn't happen quickly enough, because this attitude only helps those who would like to dismantle the programs that help ordinary people, like Social Security and Medicare. Barney Frank did the best that he could to serve his constituents, and was willing to compromise, even if it meant settling for half a loaf. We need more men and women like him in Congress.

[Steven Yenzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An only slightly self-serving account of Frank's time in public life, from his beginnings as an extremely closeted gay man to an powerful House committee chair who also happened to be gay. It was exciting to see the incredible change in attitude towards gays that Frank has witnessed from within the Washington establishment. I also found his brand of political pragmatism, in which he fights unapologetically for incremental progress, very interesting. I've never seen someone endorse that position so fiercely. Finally, Frank relishes political warfare, and his descriptions of maneuvering within the House and during campaigns were fascinating.

At times Frank (the book) felt like a bit of a whitewash for Frank (the man). Although he was quick to admit mistakes, I couldn't help but feel like he was artificially inflating some of his victories. At times I wondered if he was really as articulate as he recalled. However, his self-confessed obsession with setting the record straight about who was truly responsible for the sub-prime mortgage crisis made me trust his account far more.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Barney Frank and the book was an interesting (and humorous) read about the life and political times of one of our most liberal contemporary politicians who was also one of the first "out" gay politicians on the national scene. He is funny (and knows it) but as a political junkie it is interesting to go behind the scenes to see how things happen. He pulls no punches in critiquing friends as well as opponents, and shows how liberals so often shoot themselves in the foot. His strongest interest and commitment was to Civil Rights and the poor, and later to LBGT issues. He is not unaware of the irony that as it became more and more OK to be a gay man it became less and less admired to believe that society could work through government to better the lives of the people. It does leave one wondering how a humorous, sarcastic, gay, Jewish guy, from New Jersey could become such a popular figure in staid New England.

[Jim Angstadt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was helpful to me in two ways. First, this book provides a clear picture of the character and motivations of the author. We see his successes and failures, cleverly self-described, and often with a sharp edge. He is true to his core values. His ethics are consistent and righteous. I like the way he describes his mistakes.

Second, this book provides an insider view of law-making. We see ideology get in the way of a good thing. We see the type of relationships that congress members must nurture, if they are to be effective. It's one thing to hear a phrase such as "making law is like making sausage...", it is more helpful to see the details of working out a compromise.

Regarding narrative style, I often felt like I was listening to the author dictate the story. And the story was actually a lot of smaller stories, strung together by time. Still, this made for a good read; but not one from which I would take notes.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following Barney Frank's life in the public sector, this was a pretty typical political memoir, which surprised me considering how engaging he is in person.

I think part of the reason I wasn't blown out of the water with this book is the narrative pretty much follows Frank's time as a kid to his time running for various public office with only a few tie ins and insights. While he talks about struggling with how public his sexuality should be when it finally is revealed it's in a fairly anticlimactic way and then the story continues.

I did find it funny that Frank acknowledges his confrontational reputation in several places but I didn't find myself hooked on his book.

[Leonore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voted for Barney Frank I think ever since he went to Congress. I think he explained politics in a way that we could understand better. Sometimes in the newspapers he did not come off as well as he should have. In some ways I should have read it rather than listened to it as he is the reader. He is often difficult to understand even in person. I think that's part of the charm. I met him recently at the Newton Free Library Spring Fling where he was one of the key speakers. He is funny and interesting.

[Robert Gustavo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bulk of the content is kind of mediocre -- various personal insights that are not particularly insightful, and a general praise of pragmatism. What makes this book rise above that is Barney Frank's way with words -- the man can do details like no one else, and is a master of the quip and the snarky phrase. Very enjoyable.

He mentions taking part in an annual Moby Dick reading, and that now that he is retired he can admit he finds the book dreadfully dull. I kind of wish he would spend his retirement rewriting Moby Dick, adding jokes and making it not so tediously boring.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a liberal on most issues I fully expected to find myself in agreement with Frank on most issues. What I did not expect was to find out how pragmatic he was. I may not agree with some of the actions he did & didn't take, but I respect him for his political realism. I admit I did skim over some of the financial story, but the insight into his co-legislators made up for that. I recommend this to anyone interested in how government works.

[Harry Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A political memoir is, almost by definition, somewhat self-serving and self-centered. Many of the entries in this genre are decidedly dull; this one is not. Anyone who has paid minimal attention to political debates on the issues of our times has seen Congressman Frank in action. He is direct, confrontational, and sometimes lashes his policy opponents with an acerbic wit. These qualities are abundant in his recollection of his life in public service.

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barney Frank is an American hero. He came from a place of true oppression to occupy the highest pinnacles of power. Along the way he helped to repeal Don't Ask Don't tell, and passed the largest financial reform since the Great Depression. His memoir is full of great quotes and stories, a refreshing take on recent history. I especially like his sharp wit, his willingness to take people at face value and his great talent at pissing off the right wing.