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Unreasonable Men
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OPEN - THE AUTHOR IS IN THE HOUSE - Q&A WITH MICHAEL WOLRAICH
Mike wrote: "Question: in researching this book, were you surprised at Theodore Roosevelt's belief that the presidency should be above politics considering how intertwined presidents and politics are today?"Hi Mike, I knew a bit about the history of presidential etiquette before starting this book, but I didn't realize how seriously people took it in the early 20th century. Though it was common knowledge that presidential candidates participated in their own campaigns, it was still extremely controversial to publicly acknowledge this fact or even to express a desire for the presidency.
Quite a difference from today, no?
Hi Michael, My name is Savannah Jordan. I posted this 2 questions on your author page accidentally, so here goes for a second time. QUESTIONS: Don't understand how Lafolette could be a US Senator and Governor at the same time? Also, did not realize that a governor could appoint him/herself as a US Senator.
Hi Savannah, LF's transition from governor to senator was certainly odd. He didn't actually appoint himself. At that time, state legislatures elected U.S. senators. But La Follette had enough support in the Wisconsin legislature to get elected. As I wrote in the book, even many of his opponents voted for him, "perhaps consoling themselves that his Senate duties would keep him far away from Wisconsin."Though elected to the Senate while serving as governor, he didn't occupy both offices at the same time. His Senate seat remained vacant until he resigned the governorship. Only then did he take the oath of office and take his seat in the Senate.
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Exactly Bentley. The Republicans in New York thought the same thing when they supported TR's vice presidency. Get him out of NY!
Hi Michael:Question: What inspired you to use dates as headers in your chapters? You don't see it very often in books, even ones that do history chronologically. Thanks.
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Question: What has been the feedback on that approach - it was a little disconcerting at first in determining that there was overlap and back and forth with the timeline. I see what you did and why you did it - each thematic segment has its own dates but I was wondering if other folks figured that out and whether that influenced the readers in any way?
Hi Michael:QUESTION: It seems that the committee structure in Congress really is a roadblock to implementing legislation. Do you happen to know if other democratic countries have this system for reviewing legislation? Seems like it allows a tremendous concentration of power and that there ought to be a better way of running the country.
Bryan wrote: "Hi Michael:Question: What inspired you to use dates as headers in your chapters? You don't see it very often in books, even ones that do history chronologically. Thanks."
Thanks, Bryan. Jason actually asked the same question up-thread. OK if I refer you to my answer in message 30? Short answer, I organized the book as a series of "scenes" for narrative flow, and the dates/locations provided the scaffolding for these scenes.
It was often painstaking to nail down an exact moment for each section. People didn't always record the dates of their activities, but I was usually able to correlate them with press reports.
It could also be rewarding. Years ago, historian/journalist Mark Sullivan attributed the famous "bull moose" quote to the Chicago convention in June of 1912, and many biographers followed his lead. But I was able to track the quote to the previous April. TR was on a whistle-stop tour in rural Arkansans, lounging on the rear platform of his railcar, when he heard the news that he had unexpectedly defeated La Follette in the Oregon primary. A journalist from the New York Sun asked him what he thought, and TR replied that he was "feeling like a bull moose."
Bentley wrote: "What has been the feedback on that approach - it was a little disconcerting at first in determining that there was overlap and back and forth with the timeline..."As far as I know, there shouldn't be any overlap. Except for a few "flashback" scenes to much earlier in American history, I tried to make every section in the book chronological. If you've found an exception, please let me know.
Some reviewers liked the approach, but I'd love to get more feedback from readers here, as I may consider using the same format again in another book.
Savannah wrote: "It seems that the committee structure in Congress really is a roadblock to implementing legislation. Do you happen to know if other democratic countries have this system for ..."Interesting question, Savannah, and I'm afraid that I don't know enough about the legislatures of other countries to answer it. It's my understanding that party leaders in parliamentary systems have more control over the rank-and-file within the party, but they are also more beholden to small parties within their governing coalitions.
In the U.S., committees are cauldrons of legislation, so I'm not sure how we would replace them. There are some ways for ordinary congresspeople to defy the committee heads and majority leaders, but it's not easy. The history of Congress is a long power struggle between party leaders and party insurgents. Both sides have at times been responsible for tremendous obstruction, with which we are all too familiar these days.
I think the best remedy is to make Congress as democratic and transparent as possible that that legislators are held accountable for their actions.
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I found it a bit jarring but I will reserve judgement until the end - however - I really like the book very much overall - you cover a lot of ground.
Bentley wrote: "There was from chapter one to chapter two - you went back much earlier in history at the beginning of chapter 2 than the year when chapter one ended."Ah yes, that was the "flashback" I mentioned. There is one more of those at the beginning of chapter 7, but everything else is chronological. I'm very glad to hear that you're enjoying the book.
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Greetings Michael,Thank you for investing so much time and research into making this book possible as well as discussing it with us.
Question: - In the nearly 40 years I've been following our elections, I don't recall any quite so unpredictable, unexpected, and even unsettling as the one this year. Naturally, in the thick of the battle we sometimes wonder if the world in coming to an end... The election this year seems to resemble the times of Teddy Roosevelt, as has been pointed out. From where you stand, would you say that we are involved in a normal party shift or shakeup, or more of an earth changing major shift in our politics and government...or just politics as usual with perhaps a few cosmetic differences?
Lewis C.
(Bentley, very sorry...for the life of me, my cute little iPhone got the best of this old man as I couldn't figure out how to make "Question" bold...)
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You can copy and paste below to get your bolding right: (just copy and paste exactly what I have added below without any changes) - and edit your previous post and take out your word Question: and in its spot just paste what you copied below. Do not type this over - it has embedded html - That should work for you every time. Or you can learn how to do it from scratch - click on the green text above comment box which says (some html is ok). Either way - very easy.
<b>Question:</b>
Lewis wrote: "From where you stand, would you say that we are involved in a normal party shift or shakeup, or more of an earth changing major shift in our politics and government...or just politics as usual with perhaps a few cosmetic differences?"This is an excellent question, Lewis, and one that I've been thinking about quite a bit. Historically, large populist insurgencies do tend to herald major political upheavals. The progressive movement is one example. Andrew Jackson's insurgency against Democratic-Republican Party is another.
One difference today is that we have two conflicting insurgencies happening at the same time. Although Bentley would probably disagree, I see Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren as classic progressive insurgents--pro-labor, anti-Wall Street.
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, on the other hand, embody Andrew Jackson's nationalism and suspicion of institutions. Trump's bluster against China is reminiscent of Jackson's confrontation with France, and his calls for mass-deportation echo the exile of Native Americans in the Walk of Tears. And Cruz's denunciations of the Export-Import Bank bear uncanny resemblance to the Jackson's attacks on the Second Bank of the United State.
If history is a guide, one of these two insurgencies will probably succeed, and we will once again have a populist party in the U.S. Whether that party will be Jacksonian Republicans or Progressive Democrats remains to be seen.
Dear Michael, I just watched the video interview on your author page. I was fascinated to learn that you're neither an academic nor a journalist, but got into writing from blogging. It gives me hope for my future. Perhaps all this book reviewing might turn into something bigger for me, too.
Question: Any publishing tips for all us ordinary working folk who love to write?
Ha, I got a bit lucky, I suppose. When I pitched my first book, publishers were still under the illusion that blogging mattered. I had a timely idea--writing about right-wing politics in 2010 when the Tea Parties were exploding. Blogging gave me a platform to reach an audience.The bottom line is that publishers want to sell books. The surest way to sell books is to publish big name authors, which doesn't help people like us. They're still willing to take risks on new authors, but you have to have a hot idea and a platform to promote your book. Blogging doesn't cut it anymore. My agent keeps telling me to tweet more, but I'm not impressed that it helps unless you're Donald Trump with millions of followers.
And of course, being able to write is a plus ;)
Bentley wrote: "No Michael I do agree about Sanders and Clinton "channeling" progressive ideas. I think Trump is "authentic" and I agree with the populist connection you are making but as far as Cruz (I would no..."
Hi Bentley, I think you've got the wrong thread, by the way. I mentioned you in regard to Sanders because I thought you previously argued that he was not channeling progressive ideas. If that's not the case, then I happily retract.
Regarding Cruz, I make no claim as to his authenticity, but his public statements do remind me of Jackson. Compare their language. When Jackson vetoed an extension to the Bank of the U.S. charter, he declared that that “the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes” and accused the bank of enriching wealthy Americans and foreign investors at the expense of “the American people…the farmers, mechanics, and laborers.”
Last summer, Ted Cruz denounced the Export-Import Bank as “a quintessential example of cronyism and corporate welfare” and accused “DC insiders, cozy with international corporate interests” of “putting taxpayers on the hook for hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies.”
And on the campaign trail, he said, "Career politicians in both parties get in bed with the lobbyist and special interest. And the fix is in. Where Washington’s policies benefit big business, benefit the rich and the powerful at the expense of the working men and women."
Ftr, I certainly don't endorse Cruz--far from it--and I agree with you that he's calculating. But I do believe that his rhetoric has a Jacksonian populist tenor.
Bentley wrote: "No problem - I will consider it a typo on one of our ends (smile). No worries.Really on Cruz - really???? But then again Jackson was authentic and Cruz is not so maybe when I listen to Cruz I hea..."
I guess my real focus is not Cruz himself but the movement that he hopes to lead. Think of him as a data point. Even if Cruz (or Trump) weren't in the picture, there would still be a populist insurgency in the Republican Party. This insurgency is anti-establishment and even anti-corporate, but it isn't progressive. It has a nationalistic, anti-institutional tone that reminds me of Jackson. It's an imperfect parallel for sure, but I can't think of a closer comparison in American history.
Hi Michael,QUESTION: On page 88, you state:
"Even the New York Times, of all papers, had praised La Follette's long-winded screed."
Why were you surprised by the praise of the Times? I view the Times as a very liberal paper. Was it different back then?
Savannah wrote: "QUESTION: On page 88, you state: "Even the New York Times, of all papers, had praised La Follette's long-winded screed."
Why were you surprised by the praise of the Times? I view the Times as a very liberal paper. Was it different back then?"
Hi Savannah, I would call today's NYT center-left--consistently progressive but skeptical of radicalism. For example, the paper endorsed Hillary Clinton rather than Bernie Sanders.
Many papers have changed a great deal since the early 1900s, but I think it's fair to say that the Times' political nature was somewhat similar to today. The editors approved some of La Follette's reform ideas but tended to criticize his character and methods--at least in the early days.
HI Michael ~I'm very much enjoying your book and the clear character depictions that you paint.
Questions:
1. Was there a particular person that you came across that caused you to want to dig in deeper or that you particularly didn't like?
2. What's coming up on the horizon for you? Is there another book in the works?
Jill wrote: "Michael.....Why you think LaFollette is pretty much a footnote in the overall history of the US. Is it because he was an adversary of a bigger than life man and is overshadowed because of him?."
Ooh. I'm looking forward to the answer on that one.
Kressel wrote: "Jill wrote: "Michael.....Why you think LaFollette is pretty much a footnote in the overall history of the US. Is it because he was an adversary of a bigger than life man and is overshadowed becaus..."
Hi Kressel, it's up at the top of the page, message 51. Not a very satisfying answer, I'm afraid.
Teri wrote: "HI Michael ~I'm very much enjoying your book and the clear character depictions that you paint.
Thank you very much, Teri. These people were such rich, fascinating characters. It was a pleasure to research and write about them. La Follette and Aldrich were the trickiest. LF was tough because he was so focused on his causes that it was sometimes difficult to uncover his humanity. Aldrich was truly a sphinx who almost never gave interviews and left very few personal letters. His poor biographer was forced to constantly speculate about his motives. See Nelson W. Aldrich, A Leader In American Politics by Nathaniel W. Stephenson (no pictures).
But that doesn't really answer your question. I think "Smooth Steve" Elkins of West Virginia (p43) was the most odious. He made his fortune as a real estate conman in the Wild West then plowed the money into coal, railroads, and dirty politics. In the Senate, he was Aldrich's stooge, gutting railroad bills while brazenly insisting that he was TR's loyal ally.
Someone I would have like to write more about is Belle La Follette. She was an impressive woman, the first female graduate from the U. of Wisconsin law school, a mother of four who somehow found time to advocate for woman's suffrage and other progressive causes while campaigning for Bob and managing and editing La Follette’s Weekly Magazine--now known as The Progressive magazine. She was Bob's Abigail Adams, an astute political adviser who was ahead him on many progressive issues and the love of his life.
I linked to her biography before, but let me do it again:
by Nancy C. Unger (no photo)
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Teri wrote: "What's coming up on the horizon for you? Is there another book in the works? "Alas, I'm not working on a book right now, to my frustration. I pitched a book about Jay Cooke, the Civil War financier and pioneering investment banker who raised 1.5 billion for the Union, but my publisher felt that it wasn't a "big" enough book. The reviews for Unreasonable Men have been great, but sales have not been commensurate, so she's looking for a book that will have wide popular appeal. It's the big iconic presidents and founding fathers who sell the most books, but they've been written about to death. So it's a struggle. I welcome ideas!
Bentley wrote: "Excellent post Michael - thank you."Thanks, Bentley. I forgot to include a link to an article about Elkins' activities in the "Santa Fe Ring" by Simeon H. Newman III in Arizona and the West .
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Thank you for the link.
Michael wrote: "Teri wrote: "What's coming up on the horizon for you? Is there another book in the works? "Alas, I'm not working on a book right now, to my frustration. I pitched a book about Jay Cooke, the Civi..."
Thank you! Now I want to dig in more into Elkins and particularly Belle La Follette.
If I had a suggestion for you, and assuming you like the theme of the Gilded Age and railroads, it would be General William Jackson Palmer. Very little has been written about him. He co-founded the Denver-Rio Grande railroad, and was founder of Colorado Springs, CO and Manitou Springs, CO. He was quite a character.
Thank you again and all the best!
Teri wrote: "If I had a suggestion for you, and assuming you like the theme of the Gilded Age and railroads, it would be General William Jackson Palmer. ."Thank you, Teri. I hadn't heard of Palmer, and he does seem like a fascinating guy. I'm afraid that I'll have the same problem with him that I have with Jay Cooke. People tend not to buy books about people they haven't heard of. But maybe I could wrap his story into something about railroad tycoons. His whipping that regiment into shape also sounds like quite a story. Bad News Bears meet Civil War. ;) I'll give it some thought.
Bentley wrote: "One about Jay Gould might be interesting or one about Progressive Politics in America - present day or whatever the politics are that we are living through now. Taft also perked my interest the mor..."Like this one?
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Edward J. Renehan Jr.I would love to write another book about progressives, past or present. I haven't figured out the right angle though. I keep coming back to FDR but need to find a compelling reason to write yet another book about the guy.
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Edward J. Renehan Jr.Above you had one extra part - but pretty close.
I think progressive ideologies in presidents and candidates past or present would be interesting. There is so much about FDR - what is there new?
Re: Belle La Follette. I just learned that Nancy C. Unger will be on C-SPAN on Saturday night to discuss her book, Belle La Follette: Progressive Era Reformer. She's an excellent speaker. Here is the link: http://www.c-span.org/video/?407872-1...
by Nancy C. Unger (no picture)
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You might want to also add the following:
Airing Saturday, May 07 9:00pm EDT on C-SPAN3
Will do. C-SPAN covered my first book, Blowing Smoke, and they were supposed to cover Unreasonable Men when I spoke about it to the New York Historical Society, but the crew didn't show. The speech was outdoors at Bryant Park, and I think they were worried about rain. (They also have a reputation for being pretty flaky.)
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We might as well cite your first book too.
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Michael Wolraich
I agree Michael, writing about FDR would be a challenge. There is so much out there, including scholarly material. I'm not worried though in whatever you write. You got a gift
Bryan wrote: "I agree Michael, writing about FDR would be a challenge. There is so much out there, including scholarly material. I'm not worried though in whatever you write. You got a gift"
Thank you, Bryan. I really appreciate that.
Bentley wrote: "You are kidding - I would have been bummed out - you should speak to Vincent about that - he has had a lot to do with the New York Historical Society - maybe they can welcome you back. Maybe they c..."I don't remember the name of the guy who hosted the event, but he said that C-SPAN BookTV had flaked on other talks too, and I heard the same thing from my publicist. Not that I would mind speaking to NYHS again. :) It was a great turnout, 200 people or so.
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Hi Mike, At the beginning of chapter 4, you describe a very ominous situation occurring in the Fall. QUESTION: What year was this that you are describing?
QUESTION: If every year there was a migration of money from New York outward, why would this particular year lead to a depression. Was it due to the San Francisco earthquake pulling even greater amounts from East to West?
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<b>Question:</b>
It will come out bolded when posted.
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The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Autobiography of Lincoln Steffens (other topics)La Follette's Autobiography: A Personal Narrative of Political Experiences (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Robert Marion La Follette (other topics)Henry L. Stoddard (other topics)
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Hi Jill. It's a really interesting question. For starters, I think American history is hard on senators. Think of the five "greatest" senators that Bentley mentioned on another thread: Robert La Follette, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, and Robert A. Taft. In 2004, the Senate added Robert Wagner and Arthur Vandenberg to the list. None of these approach the fame of America's iconic presidents, generals, and founding fathers.
Second, as a progressive Republican, La Follette is a bit of a political orphan, claimed by neither party. That top five list was compiled in 1957, when the GOP still had a liberal wing, and Democrats were closer to their progressive roots. I wonder if he would make the list today.
If you'd like to read more about him, I highly recommend Nancy C. Unger's biography, Fighting Bob La Follette: The Righteous Reformer. She has also written an excellent biography of Bob's very under-appreciated wife, Belle.