Masters Of The House: Congressional Leadership Over Two Centuries

by Roger H. Davidson, Susan Hammond, Raymond Smock

Overview

Much of this nation's political life and public policy have been shaped by a handful of powerful people—the leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives. Masters of the House identifies enduring patterns of House leadership, explaining the effects of such factors as party strength, White House? Congressional relations, leaders' formal prerogatives,

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367316815
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/27/2019
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Roger H. Davidson is professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland. Susan Hammond is professor of political science at the American University. Raymond Smock is former historian of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Rediscovering the "Masters of the House" — The Start of Something New: Clay, Stevenson, Polk, and the Development of the Speakership, 1789-1869 — Thomas Brackett Reed and the Rise of Party Government — Uncle Joe Cannon: The Brakeman of the House of Representatives, 1903-1911 — Oscar W. Underwood: The First Modern House Leader, 1911-1915 — Nicholas Longworth: The Genial Czar — John Nance Garner — The Speaker and the Presidents: Sam Rayburn, the White House, and the Legislative Process, 1941-1961 — Hale Boggs: The Southerner as National Democrat — Gerald R. Ford: Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, 1965-1973 — Tip O'Neill and Contemporary House Leadership — Epilogue: Leaders Talk About House Leadership

Editorial Reviews

A history of the Speaker of the House of Representatives<-->a powerful office which is neglected by historians and contemporary political thinkers alike. (Though Library of Congress cataloguing shows the main entry as "Davidson," he is actually one of three editors of this collection of contributed papers.) Papers are grouped by era, among them the rise of party government in the late 19th century, the speaker and the presidents from 1941 to 1961, and Tip O'Neill and contemporary House leadership. Discussion includes the effects on the office of factors such as party strength, White House-congressional relations, leaders' formal prerogatives, members' expectations, and the public's attitude. Paper edition (unseen), $69. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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