Statesman...
When George Mitchell was Senate majority leader, Washington worked. Through cooperation with Republican Leader Bob Dole, Congress produced an astonishing amount of major, bipartisan legislation. Mitchell’s life since leaving the Senate has included achievements exceeding those of most ex-presidents.
He chaired the talks that brought peace to Northern Ireland, and issued two fact-finding reports that helped Major League Baseball regain public trust. In an era where all his major political colleagues were marked by electoral defeat or scandal, Mitchell’s integrity remains unquestioned, and his reputation as a statesman is unmatched.
What They're Saying
“This is a lengthy, meticulously detailed book filled with insights into Mitchell himself and the gritty realities of state, national and international politics. It’s heady stuff, indeed, but nicely leavened with warm, funny stories of Mitchell’s childhood, political lessons taught by his mentor Ed Muskie, and his lifelong love of baseball — especially the Red Sox . . . Rooks has done Maine a great service with this excellent biography of a true statesman.” Bill Bushnell, “Bushnell on Books” “I recommend it for anybody who has lost faith in our political leaders. Given the deeply unsettling state of the 2016 election, it’s easy to be cynical. Yet Mitchell’s career shows that it’s possible for good, competent people to serve in government at the highest levels and effectuate real change.” Good Reads “Keeping track of all those dates, times and names, and being able to weave them into the social and political context of those times, is a remarkable scholarly achievement.” Earl Brechlin, Mount Desert Islander “I learned a lot of things from his book that I didn’t know before.” George Mitchell on Maine Public Radio |