The History Book Club discussion
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Unreasonable Men
PRESIDENTIAL SERIES
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THE DISCUSSION IS OPEN - WEEK ONE - PRESIDENTIAL SERIES: UNREASONABLE MEN - April 11th - April 17th - Preface and Chapter One - The Bolt - (pages 1 - 30) - No Spoilers, please
Hi, my name is Gary S and I am a big fan of presidential history. I am also a fan of TR because I have always found him to a man who marched to his own drummer.I know nothing of Robert Lafollette.
I am very interested in the current republican campaign. Trump is obviously the progressive candidate while Cruz is the cookie-cutter conservative. As far as a contested convention, I believe the last one was in the 1976 between Ford and Reagan so it remains to be seen what will happen this year.
Before their were open primaries, candidates seemed to have been picked based on what the people in background had to say...such as the election involving James Garfield aka The Dark Horse when the party bosses had all the power. I think its better the way it is done today because then the people know what's going on.
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I do hope we do not regress with the conventions coming up but I have my fingers crossed. I do agree with you about Trump and he is out of step with the Republican establishment. On the Democratic side - Sanders is trying to channel LaFollette.
Bentley wrote: "Next set of quotes to take with us as we move through the book are the author's own words about why he wrote this book.Michael Wolraich wrote:
"I wrote this book to explain how it all began. By..."
Bentley wrote: "Next set of quotes to take with us as we move through the book are the author's own words about why he wrote this book.
Michael Wolraich wrote:
"I wrote this book to explain how it all began. By..."
Bentley wrote: "Next set of quotes to take with us as we move through the book is the comparison of President Theodore Roosevelt and Senator Robert Marion La Follette.
Please feel free to discuss both President ..."
I have enjoyed the first two chapters of this book. I was surprised how many similarities between 1904-- and 2016.
The primary elections are very interesting. I didn't remember all of the differences between the process in each state and in between parties. Caucuses, winner take all, and election by house district. ect. Since the Constitution doesn't mention political parties and didn't plan on political parties there has never be agreement on the nomination and election process.
I do think the process has become dysfunctional. My major concern is how long the process takes and how much money it takes. Trump was given a hard time for giving money to people in the democratic party. To me his response was very honest, he was a business person. Money has influence and the more money the better chance for corruption and promises to the people who give the money.
I also don't the the signed pledges to not vote for budget increase. Personally, I think we should elect people we think will do the "right thing" when issues come forward.
I think TR and LaFollette were both honest men who wanted to do the best for their country. I found it interesting that they both changed over time to move towards each others methods. LaFollette went from all or nothing to being more practical and TR went towards battling for big issues and not being happy with moving slowly.
Lastly, I think our system is dysfunctional because as soon as a President, House Representative or a Senator gets elected, they have to start raising money for the next election.
I hope I didn't go to far away from the book and the issues in the book.
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Very true about the political party situation which I think has complicated things for the American people and our country - but then again there were the Federalists and the Anti Federalists so like minded folks seemed to come together even at the time of trying to adopt the Constitution.
Yes, there are a lot of things that I agree with Trump on and many people are thinking what he is saying but are too polite to say it themselves. However, he is very very wrong on some other points and the way he comes across and some of his speech and things he says are not presidential.
I agree with what you said about these signed pledges - it is holding our elected body hostage.
Yes, they were each other's teachers even though they would never admit it.
It is a shame but it takes zillions to run for president.
No it seemed to me like you were rehashing the preliminary discussions. However be careful - because you said that you were talking about the first two chapters of the book and this thread is only about the Preface and Chapter One - Tomorrow or at midnight tonight I am opening up the Week Two thread which is about the railroads.
Bentley wrote: "Thanks Gary and welcome again - thank you for the introduction and responding to the preliminary questions. You are in the same boat as everybody and I think we will learn more about LaFollette tog..."I actually am looking forward to Trump and Sanders being the candidates. I think we are better for it when the cookie-cutter candidates are forced out of their comfort zone.
So if LaFollette was the first to own his campaign from start to finish then it's a shame he's not better known. I guess we'll find out in the pages to come.
Mod
I think we will and the author is available for any questions you might have. We do have an author's Q&A thread - if you cannot find the thread - go to message one of any weekly thread including this one and you will see all of the links.
Hello everyone! I am Jack and just got done with a hectic week. I am a fan of military and other history. I have been in the Navy for almost 26 years and love learning about our country and many other eras of world history. I am not a political man, but I understand from a Causewitzian perspective, war is an extension of politics. So, one must understand politics and policy to understand why nations go to war. 2. Tell us what you know about Theodore Roosevelt and Robert Marion La Follette before reading this book.
I am vaguely familiar with Theodore Roosevelt mostly as him being Secretary of the Navy and his involvement in the Spanish American War. As a president, very little. This will be a good start. I know nothing of La Follette.
3. Progressive politics from my high-school history class was a break from Republicans. I understand that, but I am unsure of why it happened. Again, this book should be a good start on filling the gaps.
4. What do you think of the state of congress and government today? Are you pleased with the performance of both bodies of government? Why or why not? How do you feel about politics in general? Are you pleased with the executive branch and the judiciary? Be civil and respectful but share your perspective if you can. This is not a thread to discuss the primaries in depth or your favorite candidate. In the Presidential Series folder - we do have threads where you can discuss that topic in depth. However, this thread is not that place. 4. Politics is extremely interesting to me...and very tedious. I have almost exclusively studied foreign policy of nations from Alexander the Great to the modern era. I have also participated in politics, but only from a military standpoint...mostly as an observer of host-nations. Our political environment appears to be going downhill and fast. We do not have great statesmen like Wilson, Eisenhower, or Reagan anymore. They simply cannot be made in today's political foundries.
5. I am not involved in politics, but that may change when I retire. Who knows what will happen.
6. There will definitely be a contested Republican convention.
7. I find it amazing how the start of this book seems an awful lot like what is happening today. I have mentioned many times that our system is more of an oligarchy vice a democracy. The Roosevelt's, Kennedy's, Clinton's, and Bush's are perfect examples of recent families exclusively involved and dominating American politics. That is what interests me the most.
8. So far, I have only read the preface and chapter one. Looking good so far! I am hooked.
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Being a Navy man you are right about TR - forgot about that aspect of his life and career.
Leadership is something that someone has or they do not have - I don't think it is one of those qualities that you can "learn". I think you can get better at it but I think you have to have that strong inner core to begin with.
I agree with you about the contested Republican convention.
Are you for powerful families running the government - of course the Adams family was very actively involved with the founding of our country so this is not a recent phenomena - and goodness knows we had the Kennedy's dominating the political scene for some time and many of these families are quite philanthropic and are focused on those who are less fortunate and do not have a voice. I am not sure if I fit the Bush's into that category but the others were almost philanthropic with their goals for the country.
Glad you are hooked - I think the book is timely for us considering we are in the midst of the primary circus season. And it is a wild one.
Bentley, I was thinking of your questions about the different approaches of TR and LaFollette regarding "half a loaf." What strikes me is it depends a bit on what the "loaf" is. I had a colleague (very progressive!) who thought the only way to get the country on a progressive track would be to let all branches of government end up on the deeply conservative side. He believed that this would cause people throughout the country to rise up and demand radical change.
I wasn't sure that was true...and I also thought that, especially for the poorest, it would be a rough, rough time waiting for everyone else to rise up....
1) Hello! My name is Kristie and I live in Colorado Springs. History was always my favorite subject in school and was pervasive in my family (anyone else have family reunions in Gettysburg?). I'm interested in this book because it's always good to expand my knowledge, discuss with others, and hear different points of view. Although I'm not overly familiar with this period in history, I do enjoy American History. 2) Prior to reading this book, my knowledge of Theodore Roosevelt has been limited to what we learned in school, and I really don't know much of anything about La Follette.
3) Prior to reading this book, progressive politics is a term I've heard but don't have much context for.
4) I don't have a lot of hope toward the actions of the government today. In general, I think there's a lot of mistrust and desire for change, for the way things used to be.
5) I'm not very involved in the primary season this election cycle. Political back biting tends to bring out the worst in people.
6) I'm hopeful for contested conventions. I have an acquaintance who works for a political consulting company - they're so unhappy with the outcome of the leading candidates that they're attempting to go back to the drawing board to get other candidates into the race.
7) Yes, I think that politics and primaries generally show the worst in people. I think these primaries in particular are biting, but I don't think it's unique just to this political season.
8) I didn't realize before how middle of the line Roosevelt was... I always had this 'big stick' mentality of Roosevelt, and it was surprising to me that he didn't seem to take the same stance in national issues, that he was so willing to compromise.
My favorite history teacher in high school used to saw that history doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes. It'll be interesting to see how the period of history that we're reading about in this book 'rhymes' with the political climate of today.
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I often think of the story of King Solomon.
Link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...
For those folks who are willing to compromise and are not willing to destroy everything so that they can get their way, or they are power hungry or they don't care about the undue suffering of many - they are the ones it would appear who would let the baby die.
The others who are more willing to save the baby out of love and real attachment to it - are more willing to safeguard the person and give up whatever personal glory or power they may seek for the good of the baby or in the analogy I am making for the good of the country.
What troubles me is that I do not see a Mitch McConnell or others like him (and he is not alone in this nor is this simply Republican party specific) looking out for the country or showing with their actions that they believe that "all men are created equal and are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". I think they are more concerned with a very "few" of the people.
To me they are focusing on power and money and not the country and the people themselves.
Maybe a few rich people or a few rich corporations who help pay their way but not the country.
I think that is why a Bernie Sanders is creating traction even though he is a socialist and a bit odd - not your usual charismatic candidate and that is why a Trump is resonating with a lot of people.
I think though we have to sit back and decide who is not going to throw out the baby with the bath water and who is going to protect the people who have placed whoever the next president is in the White House.
I worry about our current situation and think we should focus on someone who is not going to make the foreign issues worse and who is not going to get us involved in another war.
We have paid dearly for the ones that we are still involved in. Who would be the most temperate? Who would use intelligence to make the right decisions? Who would be cool under pressure? Who would garner respect through their actions? Who is the brightest and the most astute of the candidates? Who can see a path down the middle? Now this last one I think would anger a LaFollette but there are many complicated situations which could be made a whole lot worse in the world now by a LaFollette individual than could have been back when LaFollette was pushing his "all or nothing" approach.
It is an interesting dilemma and one that the American people will figure out. I think what is happening is similar but the potential for a huge world disaster is now a lot different than it was when LaFollette was alive. LaFollette lived during World War I but he was not around for the hydrogen bomb and World War II.
The stakes are higher now - I feel. And I worry about who would be in control of our nuclear power and making the decisions to use that power or not. I would prefer nobody who shoots from the hip.
We are living in very complex times and these times are different although they sound similar.
Page 27One thing that hasn't been discussed (or I missed it), Was Roosevelt's announcement "Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for or accept another nomination." I am sure this will be discussed later in the book, but did Roosevelt make a mistake?
I believe that President Polk made a similar statement after he was elected president. It ended up being a disaster for his programs. I am not sure any "modern" presidents have ruled out a second term.
I think it was a major mistake by Teddy. Obama is currently a "lame duck" and at this time can't get the Republican Party even consider filling the Supreme Court seat. It is hard for a president in the last year of his term to get any major legislation passed. The Senators and Representatives (even in his/her own party) don't want to support issues that may lose them votes and/or support by businesses.
Staying with our theme of comparing the past to this election do you think any candidate would gain support by announcing he/she would be a one term president?
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Alice hi - this thread only goes to page 30 and only deals with the Preface and Chapter One.
Though what you are talking about is historical - it is a spoiler for this thread. I have moved your post to the glossary.
Please however answer the preliminary questions which you have not done yet - you can find them in message 5 on this thread or you can find them in the note I sent you.
But what you posted is a spoiler. Be mindful that we are only discussing what we are reading (the assigned pages). That is why I instructed all recipients to read with the group and not get ahead.
So you will have to have your book in front of you to make sure that your posts only discuss the pages assigned on each non spoiler thread or if that does not work for you - then just post in one of the spoiler threads like the glossary one. However most of the conversation will be posted on the non spoiler ones.
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Helga - you inadvertently posted a spoiler - it was posted in the wrong thread - an honest mistake I know. This thread only goes to the end of Chapter One - up through page 30.
I have moved your comment about page 36 which is part of Chapter Two to the Week Two thread:
Here is the link to the Week Two thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Mod
Here is the link to the Week Two thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Bentley wrote: "SPOILER ALERTHelga - you inadvertently posted a spoiler - it was posted in the wrong thread - an honest mistake I know. This thread only goes to the end of Chapter One - up through page 30.
I ha..."sorry, I'm so used to the BOM with spoilers all in 1.Thanks for moving it. It was definitely in the wrong place.
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Bentley wrote: "Alice wrote: "Hi, I am Alice and I live in New Jersey. I am one of those Rockefeller Republicans or liberal Republicans, a group that hasn't existed for decades. I loved "Unreasonable Men" as it op..."Thanks, Bentley!
Mod
Hi I am Mary from Tennessee! I am sorry about this being late. I am currently enrolled in a couple college classes and it is towards the end of the semester and plus I also have a part time job with crazy hours! I was a History Major with minors in Public History and Film Studies. I have always loved history. Learning about it and reading about it. I wanted to read this book because I want to learn more about Theodore Roosevelt and also to expand my non fiction reads. That is one of my book goals this year. To read more history books and non fiction books. 2. Tell us what you know about Theodore Roosevelt and Robert Marion La Follette before reading this book.
I knew that Theodore Roosevelt was President of the United States of America and I also Governor before that. I actually did not know anything about Robert Marion LA Follette. I never learned about him in school so I never got a chance to read or learn about him.
3. What does progressive politics mean to you? Prior to reading this book?
Truth be told before reading this book I never really was much into politics. I tried to avoid it as much as I could. Just seems to me that it upsets a lot of people and people start hating each other for it. The only times I would talk about politics is now since there is an election and I want to learn about much of the candidates as possible so I can vote for the one I think is the right choice.
4. What do you think of the state of congress and government today? Are you pleased with the performance of both bodies of government? Why or why not? How do you feel about politics in general? Are you pleased with the executive branch and the judiciary? Be civil and respectful but share your perspective if you can. This is not a thread to discuss the primaries in depth or your favorite candidate. In the Presidential Series folder - we do have threads where you can discuss that topic in depth. However, this thread is not that place.
I think that the government can do a better job. To me personally they can improve and learn to work together. I don't like the party ideas because too many people only vote for thier party and ideas. I think people should choose what they think is best for this country not just because their party tells them so.
Mod
Just try to keep up and at least post once in each weekly thread so that we know you are out there. I think you have set up some great goals for yourself.
In time hopefully, you will be very familiar with LaFollette and will understand what he did for Wisconsin and the country.
I like your approach to politics and just try to read about 5 pages each day and you will very likely be able to keep up. I am sure that you will love the book and will like interacting with others who are also discussing the book.
Glad to have you. We are now on Week Two - which is Chapter Two of the book. However, on this thread you can discuss the Preface and Chapter One. And when you are ready move to the Week Two thread and post there. Make sure to check out the table of contents and syllabus so you can keep up with us.
I look forward to reading your posts.
Bentley wrote: "Welcome Mary from Tennessee - we are delighted to meet you. Just try to keep up and at least post once in each weekly thread so that we know you are out there. I think you have set up some great..."
Thanks! I can not wait to read more from the book! :)
Michael wrote: "Bentley wrote: "Michael I think you are the best person to begin leading a discussion on progressivism. You might want to begin digging in to the questions below..."Great questions, Bentley. I wo..."
Michael, I have read your post several times. I liked that you included what you see as the defining principles.
Michael wrote:
"Progressive ideology was fairly indistinct at first, just a loose collection of reform ideas. If I were forced to name a couple defining principles from this era, they would be:
1) Reform political corruption
2) Regulate corporations
Both of these are issues that are relevant today. As I was reading your post, Joe Biden was being interviewed by CNBC and he was talking about tax reform and how currently Hedge funds who make a million dollars only pay between 14-17 percent taxes on those gains. Which I thought applied to regulations in the financial area and banks.
All most all the candidates from both parties have said we need to do something about corporations moving business offshore or in Apples's case keeping their profits offshore to avoid taxes. However, they have different ideas about how to solve the problems. One wants more regulation and the other lower corporate taxes. Once again we may be a stand off and nothing will be done.
I am worried about political reform and voting rights. If we look back on voting even George Washington used alcohol to get votes in his early elections. Also, in many case only white males who owned land could vote. I read somewhere that in the 1800's only 40% of the population had the right to vote.
In my state, Michigan, and other states across the country are working on making it harder for people to vote. Michigan Republicans have gotten rid of voting by checking off the box to vote for all the Democrats or Republicans on the ballot. Other states are increasing regulations on voter registration and voting.
I think both of these issues relate to the progressive movement and the current frustration of voters across the country. People hear the promises, but the politicians can't find a command ground to make changes. (Perhaps we need another LBJ that knows how to move legislation through congress.)
Mod
Nathan welcome - it is never too late (smile) - we are glad to have you. There are a lot of great posts on this Week One thread and most folks did all of the preliminary questions which is a great way to get to know all of the posters and where they are coming from - the preliminary questions are also fun because you can go back and reread what you said and see whether you changed your mind on certain points or learned something new.
I do hope you revisit all of the preliminary questions and respond to the ones you missed. And also try to tackle some of the discussion questions which deal with the Preface and Chapter One (the book itself).
At the same time - if you are not caught up on the reading - complete the Preface and Chapter One here on this thread and then head over to the Week Two - Chapter Two thread and post there and get into the discussion real time.
We are always delighted Nathan to have you with us. Being surrounded by books all day must be a real joy.
Mod
But if you have any specific questions for him - the Q&A thread is the place where they will always be noticed. Great post by the way.
Mary wrote: "Hi I am Mary from Tennessee! I am sorry about this being late. I am currently enrolled in a couple college classes and it is towards the end of the semester and plus I also have a part time job wit..."Mary - I'm not into politics either - for exactly the same reason. I'm a data person, not an emotions person. I get a little frustrated when politicians (and people) use emotional versus data based arguments. However, my husband is into politics. Fortunately, he also has a strong preference for data, so we can discuss.
Mod
Here is the link to the Week Two thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Peter wrote: "I. Hi I am xyz and from abc. I love history because of d and I am interested in this book and progressive politics and Theodore Roosevelt in general because of f. Or state what you are interested i..."I found the source for the quote from Rav Salanter. Email from the Mussar Institute:
The source is Rav Yisrael Salanter, as quoted in the list of epigrams of Rav Yisrael’s in R’ Dov Katz’s Tenu’as haMussar vol. 1 in the form: "A pious Jew is not one who worries about his fellow man’s soul and his own stomach; a pious Jew worries about his own soul and his fellow man’s stomach.”
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Savannah wrote: "Hi Helga, Could not help but respond since your background seems so similar to mine. I have a masters in organic chemistry and a minor in mathematics, but have had a life-long love of history and p..."Hi Savannah, sorry I didn't see this before. But we do have similar backgrounds and it nice to see we both love history and live in the south. I an still working for a few more years in chemistry and have 2 grandchildren and will have twins in the family in a month. It's nice having another Chemist in this group who loves history.
For anyone interested in reading the old McClure's magazine article (October 1904) that Steffens wrote about "Fighting Bob" La Follette, you can find it at this link: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?i..."Jump to" page 563 for the first page of the piece. Steffens's monthly piece in McClure's is titled "Enemies of the Republic," which certainly fits his writing interest.
The article is mentioned on p. 23 of our book, and in prior pages.
8. What surprised you the most about Theodore Roosevelt and La Follette in Chapter One? (view spoiler)
Bentley wrote: "Yes I do Michael - in fact I know people are going to be upset but I think Donald has some similar characteristics to LaFollette although LaFollette had many more "good upstanding qualities". San..."
How tall was LaFollette?
How tall is Sanders?
Most folks would under the scrutiny possible with todays technology and communication face more likelihood of coming up short than in 1904 I think
Jim wrote: "Michael wrote: "Bentley wrote: "Michael I think you are the best person to begin leading a discussion on progressivism. You might want to begin digging in to the questions below..."Great question..."
just a small comment from a progressive person (this is me who thinks we must make progress towards our goals) - when one says regulate corporations" - does one not mean regulate activity that effects society - i.e. regulating industry would not have avoided the water crisis in Flint Michigan. -
a bit further is to not paint all corporations as dirty dogs - some are quite ethical and the wealth or our society is largely based upon industrial efforts in a secure democracy.
As someone who worked a half century in the private sector - mostly in industrially oriented corporations - I find it very untrue to imply that "corporations are the root of evil" etc
Mod
American History: Teddy Roosevelt Leads Nation After McKinley Is Assassinated
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/co...
Source - VOA - Also good for our foreign members - a Learning English video
Mod
Here is the link - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
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a) We have the Weekly Non Spoiler threads - we open them up every week and we discuss the assigned reading for that week in depth - we have conversations on all of the people, events, laws, bills, etc. so please join in.
b) We have the Author’s Q&A thread (a spoiler thread) where you can ask Michael Wolraich any question you would like about his wonderful book - Unreasonable Men. This is an excellent opportunity for you and the author to interact. Please take advantage of it.
Here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
c) We have the Bibliography thread - a spoiler thread - where we have listed and cited all of the books, articles and research material that Michael Wolraich has listed as research materials for his book. This is a wonderful list of other books and research material worth reading and looking at. Also if you have ancillary books and articles to add - this is the thread.
Here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
d) We have the Glossary thread - a spoiler thread - where every day the moderators are putting together formal glossary entries on all of the important personages, events, bills, etc. in the book. We add them chapter by chapter every day and they make very interesting reading. Also please if you have ancillary material that you would like to add - please feel free to add your material, links, etc on this thread. It goes without saying that there is no self promotion. But this is a very important and useful thread for our readers. Please take advantage of this thread and use it often.
Here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
e) We have the Table of Contents and Syllabus thread which is a spoiler thread and where you can find the layout of the book itself and its chapters and pagination. You also can find the timeline and reading schedule for the book itself.
This is an important thread and here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
f) We have a thread showing samples of citations and how to do them. This could be very helpful to you.
Here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
or if you need more detailed help:
Here is the link to the Mechanics of the Board thread - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
g) If you are confused about what to do next or how to jump into the conversation - this is the thread for you - What Do I Do Next?
Here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
h) If you are reader or group member who has not yet started the book and would like to read the reviews and watch the videos and the media regarding the book and its author - by all means go to the Introduction thread and read and watch what is there. There are a lot of links and reviews added.
Here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
i) If you are interested in free book offers coming up and you want to find out what the criteria is for being considered and what are your responsibilities - then please by all means visit this thread which maps out our criteria and process:
Here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
j) If you are shy and would like to learn how to jump into a discussion and read like an historian - by all means visit this thread - How to Jump Into Discussions
Here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
k) At the end of our discussion we will ask all readers and all recipients of the free book offer to review the book briefly and also to give their independent rating - this is part of the t’s and c’s - here is the link to the Book as a Whole and Final thoughts thread which will be opened up at the end of the discussion - this is of course a spoiler thread.
Here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
For anyone interested in learning more about Belle La Follette, an influential reformer and suffragist in her own right, biographer Nancy C. Unger will be speaking about her on C-SPAN3, Saturday, May 07 9:00pm EDT.Belle Case La Follette is a fascinating, under-appreciated pioneer of progressivism and women's rights, and Unger is an excellent speaker, so I'm sure it will be a very interesting talk.
by Nancy C. Unger (no picture)
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The Preface starts out by stating that America was in a crisis as the rich/poor gap was growing and natural resources were dwindling. We hear these statements often, and it is interesting to hear them applied to the US more than 100 years ago. But was it really true? Don't we have many more resources today than we ever imagined we had 100 years ago? Isn't the more important question whether the poor today have more or less than 100 years ago? Today would they have electricity, access to health care, a longer life expectancy, the possibility of obtaining a higher education, the possibility of relocating to search for a better job? It would seem to me that these would be the more important questions to ask...
Page 2 states: "Such radical ideas did not sit well..." It is interesting how in many ways the election of 1904 seems to mirror the election we are facing this year, with the GOP in turmoil. But it is somewhat comforting - 100+ years later - to realize that life does have a way of carrying on even when we wonder how that will be possible in the middle of the chaos!
We learn on page 2 about "Fighting Bob" La Follette, a personality I don't recall studying about in the past. But at the time, he was clearly a large presence that shook up the status quo...perhaps very similar to Donald Trump today. Will DT be remembered 100 years from now...or will he be an obscure, little known historical footnote...
The challenge to the delegates mentioned on page 3 has also been hinted at at various times in this year's election. At least there is some precedent to this election's confusion...
"The schism in Wisconsin" (page 3) also sounds very much like 2016. What will the Republican Party look like in four or eight years?
Lewis wrote: "The Preface starts out by stating that America was in a crisis as the rich/poor gap was growing and natural resources were dwindling. We hear these statements often, and it is interesting to hear t..."I think that just because we are at a "higher" plateau and viewing from there it does not change the justice of inequality of wealth.
Today we have even bigger justifications for more equality of wealth as it was the mass of the Americans that protected this country in two world wars - granted using the wealth & industry built by the business sector - but it would not have worked without the mass of the people.
Regardless of the overall level the differences are what will almost always be noticed and discussed I think
I love the descriptions of some of the political figures of the time, such as that of Joseph Cannon on page 6. One of the beauties of the book are the vivid descriptions that allow us to feel as if we are here in the courtrooms or chambers with them.
Perhaps our world faces about as many problems today as it ever did. But it is good to be reminded every now and then, as Joseph Cannon did on page 7, of how successful we have been and how much has been accomplished since past generations. Sometimes the problems before us blur the blessings and achievements.
The description of La Follette on pages 13-14 makes him seem hard to dislike. Perhaps he would have gone farther and been more successful if he had been a little more flexible and willing to bend...
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Belle La Follette: Progressive Era Reformer (other topics)Unreasonable Men: Theodore Roosevelt and the Republican Rebels Who Created Progressive Politics (other topics)
John Adams (other topics)
His Excellency: George Washington (other topics)
The Octopus: A Story of California (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Nancy C. Unger (other topics)Joseph J. Ellis (other topics)
David McCullough (other topics)
Frank Norris (other topics)
Fareed Zakaria (other topics)
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Ron Paul - ok. Thanks for the info Laura - I have never lived in a caucus state so I find the information very interesting. So you were a delegate - do the delegates at that level go to the convention. Or is it just state based.
I hope you do enjoy the book - I think you will.