"The senator's own account of his service to Oklahoma and the nation through depression and war"

Elmer Thomas (1876-1965) represented the people of Oklahoma in the state's first legislature and in Congress. This memoir, written shortly after he left the U.S. Senate in 1951 but never before published, chronicles his long career and offers a wealth of information on people and events that helped shape the development of the state and the course of American history.

Thomas became one of Oklahoma's first state senators in 1907 and was involved with financing the construction of public works. As a member of the U.S. Congress, he made it his business to understand the Federal Reserve System, and as the farm crisis of the 1920s worsened during the Great Depression, he consistently argued for inflating the currency to stimulate the economy--a struggle that became central to his career and that he eventually won.

Thomas's panoramic look at the issues of his time includes a behind-the-scenes view of the Nurnberg War Crimes Trial and also tells how he helped push funding for the atomic bomb project through Congress without disclosing its true nature. Thomas dedicated his career to improving the lot of rural residents, Native Americans, and working people. "Forty Years a Legislator" is a rich source of insight for all concerned with twentieth-century politics or the early years of Oklahoma statehood.

When the Democrats retook control of the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2007 after twelve years in the wilderness, Nancy Pelosi became the first woman speaker in American history. Given current electoral trends, she will probably serve for many terms to come. In Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the New American Politics, Ron Peters, one of America's leading scholars of Congress, and Cindy Rosenthal, one of America's leading scholars on women and political leadership, provide a comprehensive account of how Pelosi became speaker and what this tells us about Congress in the twenty-first century. They consider the key issues that Pelosi's rise presents for American politics, and also on the core themes that have shaped, and continue to shape, her remarkable career. She has always had to deal with challenges that women face in the male-dominated world of American politics, particularly at its highest levels. The authors also focus on her political background: first as the scion of a powerful Baltimore political family whose power base lay in east coast urban ethnic politics, and later as successful politician in what is probably the most liberal city in the country, San Francisco. After exploring her roots, they trace how she built her base within the House Democratic Caucus and ultimately consolidated enough power to win the leadership. They then consider how twelve years out of power allowed her to fashion a new image for House Democrats, and close with an analysis of her institutional leadership style. The book will be the first scholarly account of this major American political leader in her institutional context, and the authors will carry the account through the first year of the Obama administration.

When Women Lead is a fascinating study of the different leadership styles of men and women in American politics. Providing close studies of key state legislatures, Professor Rosenthal provides an original insight into the workings of the largest cohorts of women in institutional leadership roles. Her work marks an important contribution to understanding gender, organizational leadership, and legislatures.

When Women Lead is a fascinating study of the different leadership styles of men and women in American politics. Providing close studies of key state legislatures, Professor Rosenthal provides an original insight into the workings of the largest cohorts of women in institutional leadership roles. Her work marks an important contribution to understanding gender, organizational leadership, and legislatures.