{"product_id":"the-class-of-74-congress-after-watergate-and-the-roots-of-partisanship-9781421424699","title":"The Class of '74: Congress after Watergate and the Roots of Partisanship","description":"\u003cp\u003eA thought-provoking look at the game-changing congressional Class of 1974. In November 1974  following the historic Watergate scandal  Americans went to the polls determined to cleanse American politics. Instead of producing the Republican majority foreshadowed by Richard Nixons 1972 landslide  dozens of GOP legislators were swept out of the House  replaced by 76 reforming Democratic freshmen. In The Class of 74  John A. Lawrence examines how these newly elected representatives bucked the status quo in Washington  helping to effectuate unprecedented reforms. Lawrences long-standing work in Congress afforded him unique access to former members  staff  House officers  journalists  and others  enabling him to challenge the time-honored reputation of the Class as idealistic  narcissistic  and nave Watergate Babies. Their observations help reshape our understanding of the Class and of a changing Congress through frank  humorous  and insightful opinions. These reformers provided the votes to disseminate power  elevate suppressed issues  and expand participation by junior legislators in congressional deliberations. But even as such innovations empowered progressive Democrats  the greater openness they created  combined with changing undercurrents in American politics in the mid-1970s  facilitated increasingly bitter battles between liberals and conservatives. These disputes foreshadowed contemporary legislative gridlock and a divided Congress. Today  many observers point to gerrymandering  special-interest money  and a host of other developments to explain the current dysfunction of American politics. In The Class of 74  Lawrence argues that these explanations fail to recognize deep roots of partisanship. To fully understand the highly polarized political environment that now pervades the House and American politics  we must examine the complex politics  including a more open and contentious House  that emerged in the wake of Watergate.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45665866743861,"sku":"ByrdShop_142142469X","price":24.39,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781421424699.jpg?v=1782411239","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-class-of-74-congress-after-watergate-and-the-roots-of-partisanship-9781421424699","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}