{"product_id":"legacy-to-power-senator-russell-long-of-louisiana-9781557784674","title":"Legacy to Power: Senator Russell Long of Louisiana","description":"\u003cp\u003eRussell Long towered over the U.S. Senate for almost four decades as one of the most powerful men in Washington and the nation. He was a politicians politician  always operating behind the scenes  masterfully pulling the levers of the legislative process in a unique and colorful fashion. Legacy to Power tells Russell Longs story and the larger story to which it belongs - the fascinating tale of the Longs of Louisiana  one of Americas greatest political dynasties. For almost six decades  the Long family dominated Louisiana politics: Russells legendary father  populist senator Huey Long  his flamboyant Uncle Earl  a three-term Louisiana governor  and his mother  who served in the Senate after Hueys death  were among the many Longs in public office. When Huey Long died from an assassins bullet in 1935  Russell  aged sixteen  became heir to his fathers powerful political legacy. His entry into politics in 1948 was kindled by an obsession to rehabilitate his fathers tarnished reputation. Elected to the Senate the day before his thirtieth birthday  he embraced some of Hueys populist politics but soon acquired his own distinctive style. Where Huey had been fiery and impatient  Russell was quiet  respectful  and tolerant  wielding his power with a velvet glove. This is also the story of how the Washington political game evolved after World War II and how Russell Long mastered the game by constantly outwitting his more sophisticated legislative foes. Long - who served with eight presidents from Truman to Reagan - played a role in most foreign policy issues of his time  including the perennial debate over foreign aid  the Korean conflict  and the divisive Vietnam War. During his chairmanship of the Finance Committee  Long was at the center of most of Lyndon Johnsons Great Society programs of the 1960s and 70s. He became what his father abhorred - the ultimate Washington insider - and his political technique was so refined that Newsweek once said Russell Long could \"outtalk  outfoot  and outfox just about any man in the Senate.\" The last of the Senates great southern barons  he was praised from all quarters  Republicans and Democrats alike  when he retired in 1987. This fast-paced and sharply written biography full of political intrigue  personal insight  and colorful anecdotes of Washington life - from the backroom politics that brought a football team to New Orleans to the spirited filibusters and wily compromises that shaped the nations civil rights laws. Sometimes critical in its assessment of Long  Legacy to Power is a celebration of a great and tragic dynasty that survived an assassination and rose to new heights of power  only to find its members often pitted against each other. Despite their differences in style and method  Russell Long never wavered in his abiding affection for his familys powerful legacy and was dedicated always to the compassionate ideas that spawned this extraordinary political dynasty.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45647564046389,"sku":"ByrdShop_1557784671","price":30.55,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781557784674.jpg?v=1781693019","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/legacy-to-power-senator-russell-long-of-louisiana-9781557784674","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}