{"product_id":"from-my-old-kentucky-home-to-the-white-house-the-political-journey-of-catherine-conner-9780813121024","title":"From My Old Kentucky Home to the White House: The Political Journey of Catherine Conner","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis lively memoir recounts the story of a determined woman who led a remarkable life in the highest circles of power in both state and national politics. Catherine Conner spent her formative years on a farm named \"Solitude \" located outside of Bardstown. Her father  who taught her early to ride and swim  told the young woman  \"I cant teach you how to be a lady  but I can teach you how to behave like a gentleman.\" She was weaned on a secret \"early breakfast\" of bourbon and milk toddies that her father brought to her every morning. Though she enjoyed privilege  Conner also witnessed the harsher sides of rural life. Those experiences markedly shaped the personality of a woman who would become the youngest National Democratic Committeewoman and would subsequently serve in FDRs inner circle. Conner began her political career in Kentucky under the tutelage of J. Dan Talbott of Bardstown  heading the successful effort to have Federal Hill  better known as \"My Old Kentucky Home \" preserved as a state park  which has now become one of the most popular in Kentucky. When local leaders proved only mildly supportive of the project  Conner devised a campaign in 1921 that raised $45 000 by having schoolchildren all over the state drop their pennies into a cardboard replica of the famous home. She acted as a special assistant to Harry Hopkins for five years  helping set up departments to carry out New Deal programs and lobbying. She befriended many of the shapers of the 20th Century  including Senator Sam Rayburn  A.B. \"Happy\" Chandler  and Senator Harry Byrd of Virginia. Throughout her life  Conner witnessed remarkable events. She saw the Hindenburg crash  met Amelia Earhart  and had Cary Grant show her how to gut a Thanksgiving turkey.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45652935245877,"sku":"ByrdShop_0813121027","price":62.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780813121024.jpg?v=1781853534","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/from-my-old-kentucky-home-to-the-white-house-the-political-journey-of-catherine-conner-9780813121024","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}