Renowned for his "brilliant legislative mind" and political
oratory--as well as for bicycling to Congress in a rumpled white
linen suit and bow tie--U.S. Congressman Bob Eckhardt was a force
to reckon with in Texas and national politics from the 1940s until
1980. A liberal Democrat who successfully championed progressive
causes, from workers' rights to consumer protection to
environmental preservation and energy conservation, Eckhardt won
the respect of opponents as well as allies. Columnist Jack Anderson
praised him as one of the most effective members of Congress, where
Eckhardt was a national leader and mentor to younger congressmen
such as Al Gore.
In this biography of Robert Christian Eckhardt (1913-2001), Gary
A. Keith tells the story of Eckhardt's colorful life and career
within the context of the changing political landscape of Texas and
the rise of the New Right and the two-party state. He begins with
Eckhardt's German-American family heritage and then traces his
progression from labor lawyer, political organizer, and cofounder
of the progressive Texas Observer magazine to Texas state
legislator and U.S. congressman. Keith describes many of Eckhardt's
legislative battles and victories, including the passage of the
Open Beaches Act and the creation of the Big Thicket National
Preserve, the struggle to limit presidential war-making ability
through the War Powers Act, and the hard fight to shape President
Carter's energy policy, as well as Eckhardt's work in Texas to tax
the oil and gas industry.
The only thorough recounting of the life of a memorable,
important, and flamboyant man, Eckhardt also recalls the last great
era of progressive politics in the twentieth century and the key
players who strove to make Texas and the United States a more just,
inclusive society.
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