Anthony Champagne

Discover the hidden personalities behind the Supreme Court's most pivotal decisions in this captivating new book. Through vivid anecdotes and intimate stories, readers are introduced to the justices not just as legal minds, but as individuals with distinct characters and quirks. From Chief Justice John Marshall's conviviality and his clever rule to enjoy wine only when it rained, to the tragic tale of John Rutledge's struggle with mental health and public perception, the book brings to life the human side of the Court. Experience the wit and wisdom of justices like Joseph Story, who found a way to please Marshall's love for Madeira, and the resilience of Charles Evans Hughes, whose extraordinary memory left little to be debated during conferences. Venture into the lives of justices who, despite their influential roles, faced personal battles and societal challenges. Learn about the financial woes of Justice James Wilson, the haunting ailment of John Blair, and the dependence on painkillers that nearly tarnished William Rehnquist's legacy. Discover the humorous yet humble encounters of justices mistaken for tourists or elevator operators, underscoring their relative anonymity despite their significant impact. This book offers a fresh perspective on the Supreme Court, providing an enriched understanding of the justices' thought processes and the institution's political nature through these compelling and often surprising anecdotes.

Inspired by his parents’ love for the written word, former Speaker of the House Jim Wright developed a passion for books and writing at a young age. During his thirty-four years as a US Congressman and two years as Speaker of the House, written communication continued to play an integral role in Wright’s life as he developed an increased understanding of the power of words. Through a sampling of some of Wright’s finest work, The Wright Stuff follows the major elements in Wright’s political career, ideological development, and philosophical thought. A prolific and accomplished writer, Wright possesses the keen ability to properly contextualize historic events while providing enduring lessons in governance and life. In addition to offering a unique perspective on Wright’s contemporaries and the leaders of today, this compilation of speeches, essays, and excerpts from his previous work addresses many of the major national and international events of the twentieth century. Additionally, this book chronicles a more personal narrative through Wright’s reflection on the most important influence of his young life—his parents—and shares some of the key lessons he learned during his service with the US Air Corps during World War II. Generously illustrated with photographs, The Wright Stuff allows readers to celebrate the many accomplishments of Speaker Wright, and, through his eyes, to gain a greater understanding of many of the signature events of the twentieth century.

Texas' political power really began in the late nineteenth century, when Texas congressmen first began to wield power as committee chairs and party leaders. In the era of Woodrow Wilson, Texas clout intensified as Senator Morris Sheppard introduced the Prohibition legislation with which his name is associated today. John Nance Garner's political influence was first felt in the Wilson administration, as a liaison on war matters between the administration and the House, then grew in the Hoover era when Garner rose to minority leadership and critic of Hoover administration policies. In the Roosevelt era, Texas was a Democratic state and, with Democratic control of Congress and a Democratic president, the state's power grew--John Garner became vice president in 1933, and Texans chaired six House committees: Agriculture, Interstate and Foreign Commerce, Judiciary, Public Buildings, Rivers and Harbors, and Territories. And during the Eisenhower years, Lyndon Johnson, Sam Rayburn's protege, became minority and then majority leader of the Senate. It was an extraordinary time with Texans in the top leadership of both the House and the Senate. This book is the story of the men and women who represented Texas in Congress. For a century and a quarter they were masters of congressional politics and represented Texas on the national stage. Authors Jim Riddlesperger and Tony Champagne paint lively pictures of the characters--party leaders, committee chairs, and the political pioneers--who made Texas a major player in congressional politics for the past 125 years, as well as the ideologues and the buffoons that are also part of the Texas congressional story.

For the more than fifty years that Democrats controlled the U. S. House of Representatives, leadership was divided between Massachusetts and Texas. When the Speaker was from Texas (or nearby Oklahoma), the Majority Leader was from the Boston area, and when the Speaker was from Boston, the Majority Leader was from Texas. The Austin-Boston Connection analyzes the importance of the friendships (especially mentor-protégé relationships) and enmities within congressional delegations, regional affinities, and the lynchpin practice of appointing the Democratic Whip.

For the more than fifty years that Democrats controlled the U. S. House of Representatives, leadership was divided between Massachusetts and Texas. When the Speaker was from Texas (or nearby Oklahoma), the Majority Leader was from the Boston area, and when the Speaker was from Boston, the Majority Leader was from Texas. The Austin-Boston Connection analyzes the importance of the friendships (especially mentor-protégé relationships) and enmities within congressional delegations, regional affinities, and the lynchpin practice of appointing the Democratic Whip.

In recent years, judicial elections have changed dramatically. The elections themselves have become increasingly partisan, interest group involvement in judicial races has escalated, recent court decisions have freed judicial candidates to speak more openly than ever before about their judicial ideologies, and the tenor of judicial campaigns has departed significantly from what were once low-key, sleepy affairs. This book examines the evolution of the new rough-and-tumble politics of judicial elections by focusing on Texas, a bellwether for the new judicial selection politics in America. The Texas experience illustrates what can - and usually will - go wrong when judges are elected, and lays the path for meaningful reforms to stem the tide of the new politics of judicial elections.

In recent years, judicial elections have changed dramatically. The elections themselves have become increasingly partisan, interest group involvement in judicial races has escalated, recent court decisions have freed judicial candidates to speak more openly than ever before about their judicial ideologies, and the tenor of judicial campaigns has departed significantly from what were once low-key, sleepy affairs. This book examines the evolution of the new rough-and-tumble politics of judicial elections by focusing on Texas, a bellwether for the new judicial selection politics in America. The Texas experience illustrates what can - and usually will - go wrong when judges are elected, and lays the path for meaningful reforms to stem the tide of the new politics of judicial elections.