Rostenkowski: The Pursuit of Power and the End of the Old Politics

by Richard E. Cohen

Book Overview

This scrupulous political biography of Dan Rostenkowski follows his rise to power from modest origins in the Democratic ward politics of Chicago's Polish northwest side, through his national legislative triumphs, and ultimately to his criminal conviction and imprisonment for abuses of House practice. But the story offers much more than Rostenkowski's personal tragedy: it's a tale of the transformation of American political life, and of the fall of old-fashioned congressional politics. "An insider's story. Anybody wanting to understand Congress and its place in American politics should read it."-Jim Wright. "Masterful...not just a book on Rostenkowski; Cohen has spun the tale of the entire modern period of Congress."-Larry Sabato.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566633109
• ISBN13: 9781566633109
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Globe Pequot Publishing Group Inc/Bloomsbury
• Length: 324 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

One of my favorite politcos -- politics aside

Though I've been a Republican (and occasional Libertarian) since I was old enough to vote, one of my favorite politicians remains a Democrat. Chicago's own Dan Rostenkowski served as chairman of the very powerful Ways and Means Committee until 1994 when he was voted out of office amongst corruption charges and disgust with the Democratic establishment in general. Richard Cohen's book is the first and (as far as I can tell) only full-length biography of this politician and its a fascinating read. Following Rostenkowski from his beginnings as an obscure lackey of Mayor Richard Daley in the '50s to his position as the most powerful man in Washington, D.C. in the late '80s and early '90s, and finally ending with his downfall, Cohen's book shows how this man came to power though the old fashioned politics of patronage and was eventually destroyed by them. Its also a finely nuanced investigation of a man who remained bluntly unglamorous as American politics were transformed into the world's most vapid beauty contest by the Clintons and their ilk. Even as you read about the man's flagrant abuse of power, its hard not to miss Dan Rostenkowski whose ill-fitting suits, cheap haircuts, and blue collar manner become all the more likeable in the face of our recent crop of lip-biting, pain-feeling, bridge-building politicians.

A great tale of a human being and American politics

COHEN's book takes us from boyhood to the ignominious end of a political career -- and does so while telling a second and equally fascinating stoy about the changes in the American political system that accompanied, and ended, with the ROSTENKOWSKI era. For those who find Chicago politics -- where tombstones sometime vote -- to be worth a good read, this is a wonderful view of how all that worked in and around a Congressional district. For those who find the story of this Polish-American icon to be worthy of a book investment, this volume delivers 200%. For those who appreciate what a professional journalist with 30 years of Washington reporting can add to the ROSTENKOWSKI story by way of historical perspective and evolution, this is a book that cannot be missed.