About the Book
A majestic big-picture account of the Great Society and the forces thatshaped it, from Lyndon Johnson and members of Congress to the civilrights movement and the media
Between November 1963, when he becamepresident, and November 1966, when his party wasrouted in the midterm elections, Lyndon Johnsonspearheaded the most transformative agenda inAmerican political history since the New Deal, one whose ambition and achievement have had noparallel since. In just three years, Johnson drovethe passage of the Civil Rights and Voting RightsActs; the War on Poverty program; Medicareand Medicaid; the National Endowments for theArts and the Humanities; Public Broadcasting;immigration liberalization; a raft of consumer andenvironmental protection acts; and major federalinvestments in public transportation. Collectively, this group of achievements was labeled by Johnsonand his team the Great Society.
In The Fierce Urgency of Now, Julian E. Zelizer takesthe full measure of the entire story in all its epicsweep. Before Johnson, Kennedy tried and failedto achieve many of these advances. Our practicedunderstanding is that this was an unprecedented liberal hour in America, a moment, afterKennedy s death, when the seas parted andJohnson could simply stroll through to victory.As Zelizer shows, this view is off-base: In manyrespects America was even more conservative thanit seems now, and Johnson s legislative programfaced bitter resistance. The Fierce Urgency of Nowanimates the full spectrum of forces at play duringthese turbulent years, including religious groups, the media, conservative and liberal political actiongroups, unions, and civil rights activists.
Above all, the great character in the bookwhose role rivals Johnson s is Congress indeed, Zelizer argues that our understanding of theGreat Society program is too Johnson-centric. Hediscusses why Congress was so receptive to passingthese ideas in a remarkably short span of time andhow the election of 1964 and burgeoning civil rightsmovement transformed conditions on CapitolHill. Zelizer brings a deep, intimate knowledge ofthe institution to bear on his story: The book is amaster class in American political grand strategy.
Finally, Zelizer reckons with the legacy of theGreat Society. Though our politics have changed, the heart of the Great Society legislation remainsintact fifty years later. In fact, he argues, the GreatSociety shifted the American political center ofgravity and our social landscape decisivelyto the left in many crucial respects. In a very realsense, we are living today in the country thatJohnson and his Congress made."
About the Author :
Julian E. Zelizeris the Malcolm Stevenson Forbes, Class of 1941 Professor of History andPublic Affairs at Princeton University and a fellow at New America. He is the authorand editor of numerous books that examine U.S. politicalleaders, policies, and institutions since the New Deal. Hismost recent books areJimmy Carter, Arsenal of Democracy, andGoverning America: The Revival of Political History. He is also a weekly columnist for CNN.com."
Review :
Sam Tanenhaus, The New Yorker:
The Fierce Urgency of Now, Julian E. Zelizer s account of wins and losses in the Johnson years, combines history with political science, as befits our data-happy moment. The information comes at us steadily there are useful facts on almost every page The emphasis falls instead on the high, and sometimes low, workings of legislative government This patient no-frills approach offers illuminations that a more cinematic treatment might not. And if Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton, at times betrays the head-counting instincts of a House whip, well, head-counting is the nuts and bolts of congressional lawmaking.
The Washington Post
Insightful Zelizer briskly dispels nostalgia for a time when politics were supposedly easier, asserting that this period of liberalism was much more fragile, contested, and transitory than we have usually remembered. [Zelizer s] fundamental point is that it s always a struggle to enact bold legislation, which becomes possible in historical moments created by much broader forces than the political genius of a few individuals .[An] intelligent, informative book.
Chicago Tribune
[An] authoritative new history Although The Fierce Urgency of Now expertly illustrates both the breadth and the limitations of presidential power, Zelizer resists telling the story of the Great Society as Johnson s biography. History doesn't always come in the form of a tight narrative with a compelling hero, and it doesn't here.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Political context does, indeed, matter. And the Democratic landslide of 1964, which brought to Washington the most liberal class of elected officials in decades, clearly greased the wheels for Mr. Johnson s Great Society. The lesson Lyndon Johnson had learned should command the attention of all president-centric historians and the political pundits who think that Barack Obama can break the partisan gridlock in Congress by simply emulating the treatment employed by our nation s 36th president.
Kirkus:
A sort-of-liberal president faces an intransigent, obstructionist Congress: We mean Lyndon Johnson, of course, and the class of 1966. Zelizer, a lucid writer, doesn't need to cherry-pick to line up parallels with today A smart, provocative study.
Publishers Weekly
Zelizer paints Johnson as a flawed opportunistic, domineering, ambitious yet impressive leader, who took advantage of a perfect storm of legislative and governmental conditions to push through an unprecedented number of projects and achievements; a president who gambled greatly while his party and a liberal majority were in ascendancy and won accordingly His focus on the conflict between conservative and liberal factions is even more timely in today s climate. Zelizer writes with an expert s deep understanding of the subject.
"
Sam Tanenhaus," The New Yorke"r:
"The Fierce Urgency of Now," Julian E. Zelizer s account of wins and losses in the Johnson years, combines history with political science, as befits our data-happy moment. The information comes at us steadily there are useful facts on almost every page The emphasis falls instead on the high, and sometimes low, workings of legislative government This patient no-frills approach offers illuminations that a more cinematic treatment might not. And if Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton, at times betrays the head-counting instincts of a House whip, well, head-counting is the nuts and bolts of congressional lawmaking.
"The Washington Post"
Insightful Zelizer briskly dispels nostalgia for a time when politics were supposedly easier, asserting that this period of liberalism was much more fragile, contested, and transitory than we have usually remembered. [Zelizer s] fundamental point is that it s always a struggle to enact bold legislation, which becomes possible in historical moments created by much broader forces than the political genius of a few individuals .[An] intelligent, informative book.
"Chicago Tribune "
[An] authoritative new history Although "The Fierce Urgency of Now" expertly illustrates both the breadth and the limitations of presidential power, Zelizer resists telling the story of the Great Society as Johnson s biography. History doesn't always come in the form of a tight narrative with a compelling hero, and it doesn't here.
"Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"
Political context does, indeed, matter. And the Democratic landslide of 1964, which brought to Washington the most liberal class of elected officials in decades, clearly greased the wheels for Mr. Johnson s Great Society. The lesson Lyndon Johnson had learned should command the attention of all president-centric historians and the political pundits who think that Barack Obama can break the partisan gridlock in Congress by simply emulating the treatment employed by our nation s 36th president.
"Kirkus: "
A sort-of-liberal president faces an intransigent, obstructionist Congress: We mean Lyndon Johnson, of course, and the class of 1966. Zelizer, a lucid writer, doesn't need to cherry-pick to line up parallels with today A smart, provocative study.
"Publishers Weekly"
Zelizer paints Johnson as a flawed opportunistic, domineering, ambitious yet impressive leader, who took advantage of a perfect storm of legislative and governmental conditions to push through an unprecedented number of projects and achievements; a president who gambled greatly while his party and a liberal majority were in ascendancy and won accordingly His focus on the conflict between conservative and liberal factions is even more timely in today s climate. Zelizer writes with an expert s deep understanding of the subject.
"
Sam Tanenhaus," The New Yorke"r:
""The Fierce Urgency of Now," Julian E. Zelizer's account of wins and losses in the Johnson years, combines history with political science, as befits our data-happy moment. The information comes at us steadily--there are useful facts on almost every page...The emphasis falls instead on the high, and sometimes low, workings of legislative government ...This patient no-frills approach offers illuminations that a more cinematic treatment might not. And if Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton, at times betrays the head-counting instincts of a House whip, well, head-counting is the nuts and bolts of congressional lawmaking."
"The Washington Post"
"Insightful...Zelizer briskly dispels nostalgia for a time when politics were supposedly easier, asserting that 'this period of liberalism was much more fragile, contested, and transitory than we have usually remembered.'...[Zelizer's] fundamental point is that it's always a struggle to enact bold legislation, which becomes possible in historical moments created by much broader forces than the political genius of a few individuals....[An] intelligent, informative book."
"Chicago Tribune "
"[An] authoritative new history...Although "The Fierce Urgency of Now" expertly illustrates both the breadth and the limitations of presidential power, Zelizer resists telling the story of the Great Society as Johnson's biography. History doesn't always come in the form of a tight narrative with a compelling hero, and it doesn't here."
"Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"
"Political context does, indeed, matter. And the Democratic landslide of 1964, which brought to Washington the most liberal class of elected officials in decades, clearly greased the wheels for Mr. Johnson's Great Society.... The lesson Lyndon Johnson had learned... should command the attention of all 'president-centric' historians -- and the political pundits who think that Barack Obama can break the partisan gridlock in Congress by simply emulating the 'treatment' employed by our nation's 36th president."
"Kirkus: "
A sort-of-liberal president faces an intransigent, obstructionist Congress: We mean Lyndon Johnson, of course, and the class of 1966. Zelizer, a lucid writer, doesn't need to cherry-pick to line up parallels with today...A smart, provocative study."
"Publishers Weekly"
"Zelizer paints Johnson as a flawed--opportunistic, domineering, ambitious--yet impressive leader, who took advantage of a perfect storm of legislative and governmental conditions to push through an unprecedented number of projects and achievements; a president who gambled greatly while his party and a liberal majority were in ascendancy and won accordingly...His focus on the conflict between conservative and liberal factions is even more timely in today's climate. Zelizer writes with an expert's deep understanding of the subject."
Sam Tanenhaus," The New Yorke"r:
""The Fierce Urgency of Now," Julian E. Zelizer's account of wins and losses in the Johnson years, combines history with political science, as befits our data-happy moment. The information comes at us steadily--there are useful facts on almost every page...The emphasis falls instead on the high, and sometimes low, workings of legislative government ...This patient no-frills approach offers illuminations that a more cinematic treatment might not. And if Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton, at times betrays the head-counting instincts of a House whip, well, head-counting is the nuts and bolts of congressional lawmaking."
"The Washington Post"
"Insightful...Zelizer briskly dispels nostalgia for a time when politics were supposedly easier, asserting that 'this period of liberalism was much more fragile, contested, and transitory than we have usually remembered.'...[Zelizer's] fundamental point is that it's always a struggle to enact bold legislation, which becomes possible in historical moments created by much broader forces than the political genius of a few individuals....[An] intelligent, informative book."
"Chicago Tribune "
"[An] authoritative new history...Although "The Fierce Urgency of Now" expertly illustrates both the breadth and the limitations of presidential power, Zelizer resists telling the story of the Great Society as Johnson's biography. History doesn't always come in the form of a tight narrative with a compelling hero, and it doesn't here."
"Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"
"Political context does, indeed, matter. And the Democratic landslide of 1964, which brought to Washington the most liberal class of elected officials in decades, clearly greased the wheels for Mr. Johnson's Great Society.... The lesson Lyndon Johnson had learned... should command the attention of all 'president-centric' historians -- and the political pundits who think that Barack Obama can break the partisan gridlock in Congress by simply emulating the 'treatment' employed by our nation's 36th president."
"Kirkus: "
A sort-of-liberal president faces an intransigent, obstructionist Congress: We mean Lyndon Johnson, of course, and the class of 1966. Zelizer, a lucid writer, doesn't need to cherry-pick to line up parallels with today...A smart, provocative study."
"Publishers Weekly"
"Zelizer paints Johnson as a flawed--opportunistic, domineering, ambitious--yet impressive leader, who took advantage of a perfect storm of legislative and governmental conditions to push through an unprecedented number of projects and achievements; a president who gambled greatly while his party and a liberal majority were in ascendancy and won accordingly...His focus on the conflict between conservative and liberal factions is even more timely in today's climate. Zelizer writes with an expert's deep understanding of the subject."
"Chicago Tribune "
"[An] authoritative new history...Although "The Fierce Urgency of Now" expertly illustrates both the breadth and the limitations of presidential power, Zelizer resists telling the story of the Great Society as Johnson's biography. History doesn't always come in the form of a tight narrative with a compelling hero, and it doesn't here."
"Kirkus: "
A sort-of-liberal president faces an intransigent, obstructionist Congress: We mean Lyndon Johnson, of course, and the class of 1966. Zelizer, a lucid writer, doesn't need to cherry-pick to line up parallels with today...A smart, provocative study."
"Publishers Weekly"
"Zelizer paints Johnson as a flawed--opportunistic, domineering, ambitious--yet impressive leader, who took advantage of a perfect storm of legislative and governmental conditions to push through an unprecedented number of projects and achievements; a president who gambled greatly while his party and a liberal majority were in ascendancy and won accordingly...His focus on the conflict between conservative and liberal factions is even more timely in today's climate. Zelizer writes with an expert's deep understanding of the subject."
"Kirkus: "
A sort-of-liberal president faces an intransigent, obstructionist Congress: We mean Lyndon Johnson, of course, and the class of 1966. Zelizer, a lucid writer, doesn't need to cherry-pick to line up parallels with today...A smart, provocative study."
"Publishers Weekly"
"Zelizer paints Johnson as a flawed--opportunistic, domineering, ambitious--yet impressive leader, who took advantage of a perfect storm of legislative and governmental conditions to push through an unprecedented number of projects and achievements; a president who gambled greatly while his party and a liberal majority were in ascendancy and won accordingly...His focus on the conflict between conservative and liberal factions is even more timely in today's climate. Zelizer writes with an expert's deep understanding of the subject."
