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Professor Wellstone Goes to Washington The Inside Story of a Grassroots U.S. Senate Campaign Dennis J. McGrath and Dane Smith |
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How did a fortysomething college professor and outspoken liberal activist manage to unseat from the Senate one of the nation's most skillful politicians and money raisers? This engaging insiders' account of Paul Wellstone's successful grassroots Senate campaign explains it all for you. Written by two political reporters for the Minneapolis StarTribune who covered the Wellstone campaign from its inception, Professor Wellstone Goes to Washington provides a revealing and evocative behind-the-scenes look at a memorable chapter in U.S. Senate campaign history. When Paul Wellstone announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate at an inner-city community center in early 1989, no one thought he had a chance. His opponent, Republican Senator Rudy Boschwitz, was a popular politician and a celebrated master of the two most important skills of modern political campaigning, fundraising and television advertising. But to the surprise of many, Wellstone, a student of grassroots organizing techniques, succeeded in putting together a campaign that served as a harbinger and a model for the anti-establishment populism of the 1990s. He rode to an unbelievable victory as the only Senate challenger to defeat an incumbent that year. Professor Wellstone Goes to Washington is must reading for anyone interested in American politics. It details the most stunning upset in Minnesota's modern political history, and illustrates why Wellstone, whom Mother Jones magazine described as "the first 1960s radical elected to the U.S. Senate," has become one of the Senate's most notable, quotable, and controversial figures. "This is a book about progressive political energy and what it takes to overcome a plutocratic opponent's massive re-election apparatus and war chest. Wellstone and his energetic colleagues hurled smarts, sweat and shoe leather against big money and its smooth slogans and won. All around the country, citizens who want a government of, by and for the people can learn from this campaign and win against government of, by and for the Exxons, General Motors and DuPonts." —Ralph Nader "Political junkies will gorge themselves on Star Tribune reporters McGrath and Smith's inside look at Paul Wellstone and his 1990 campaign cum crusade. The authors' description of events are first-rate. The book teems with the behind-the-scenes stuff newspapers often don't get before elections. This book offers a portrait of Wellstone free of campaign rhetoric." —Twin Cities Reader "Will the now senior Minnesota senator's brand of politics sell in what appears to be a more conservative 1996 and beyond? McGrath and Smith are not in the prediction business. Nonetheless this breezy, sometimes gossipy, yet always provocative glimpse into our suddenly ancient past suggests that any future opponent would be wise not to sell the diminutive ex-professor short." —Minneapolis Star Tribune "The most comprehensive chronicle to date of this senator's populist rise form political science to Washington politician. This is a timely book in light of reports that undercover cameras are now filming Wellstone's every move in hopes of a slip-up to use against him in the 1996 election." —City Pages "The best moments are when we see Wellstone upclose on the campaign trail. Those who love their politics Minnesota-style will want to hop on the green bus and come along for the ride." —Rochester Post-Bulletin "There's a new book that today's high-school students in Minnesota and Wisconsin should read before they graduate. It's about on of the most extraordinary political campaigns we've ever had in the region, the 1990 U.S. Senate race between the Republican incumbent, Rudy Boschwitz, and Democratic challenger Paul Wellstone, a political-science professor from Carleton College. This book will amuse, surprise and encourage even the most cynical youngster. This is a story about what extremely hard work, passion, commitment and a bit of luck can accomplish. Not just a story for admirers of Paul Wellstone, it's a deeply optimistic, encouraging story. It's history that today's high-school students have lived through, and it offers a lesson we all need to hear: Money and power do not always prevail." —Joe Nathan, St. Paul Pioneer Press "This tale of Professor Wellstone takes us to a faraway time and place in which an unabashedly liberal Democrat, starting with no money and no party leadership n his side, won a U.S. Senate seat from a popular Republican incumbent. Wellstone reminds us that American elections are turning on the decisions of a 'volatile middle' that is not ideological but is anti-establishment." —Independent Weekly (Raleigh-Durham) "A revealing and evocative behind-the-scenes look at a memorable chapter in U.S. Senate campaign history." —Midwest Book Review Dennis McGrath, on the promise that he would write nothing until after the election, was given unlimited access to the inner workings of the Wellstone campaign. He has been a reporter with the Minneapolis StarTribune since 1978, and has won several awards for reporting. Dane Smith, who had no contact with McGrath during the campaign, covered it from the outside on a daily basis for the Minneapolis StarTribune. He also has won awards for reporting and has worked for newspapers in the Twin Cities since 1977. Winner of a 1995 Minnesota Book Award 5 7/8 x 9 | 216 pages| 8-page photo section | 1995 See also: |
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$18.95 paper