The Thorny Rose of Texas: An Intimate Portrait of Governor Ann Richards - Hardcover

Shropshire, Mike; Schaeffer, Frank

3.59

27 ratings by Goodreads

9781559722322: The Thorny Rose of Texas: An Intimate Portrait of Governor Ann Richards

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1559722320 ISBN 13: 9781559722322

Publisher: Birch Lane Pr, 1994

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A look at the governor of Texas presents the life of a woman born to an impoverished farm community, a fierce intercollegiate debater, and an advocate for the rights of abused women

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From Booklist:

Shropshire, an award-winning Texas newspaperman, and novelist Schaeffer have teamed up to write the first book-length biography of the second woman governor of Texas, the tough and witty Ann Richards. This peppy love-fest of a bio will surely make Richards' Texas supporters smile, especially since its release will coincide with her race against George Bush Jr. for her second term, but Richards has been a national figure ever since her vinegary keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. Born Dorothy Ann Willis in Waco, Texas, Ann is the only child of a pragmatic mother and raconteur father who happily taught her how to fish, hunt, and tell stories. Bright, competitive, and calm under fire, Richards' place has always been center stage, and her politicalization proceeded smoothly even as she married young and raised four children. A genuine grassroots politician, Richards' first official foray into politics was as campaign manager for a woman who won a seat in the Texas House of Representatives. Richards went on to become county commissioner and then state treasurer, the first woman to win a statewide office in Texas in 50 years. The dark side? All her schmoozing and networking led to a drinking problem and the breakup of her marriage, but alcohol is no longer a problem, and Richards is poised for future triumphs. Donna Seaman

From Publishers Weekly:

In this enthusiastic, casual, not-so-intimate biography of Democratic Texas governor Richards, Texas journalist Shropshire and novelist Schaeffer ( Pandora Man ) tell the life story of the gutsy, tart-tongued former junior high school teacher who first won national acclaim at the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta for her caustic comments on George Bush ("Poor George, He can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth"). The authors trace the growth of feminist Richards's heterogeneous, loyal following and the honing of the campaign style which won her elections in 1976 as County Commissioner of Travis County and in 1982 as State Treasurer. These were professional outlets for the then wife and mother of four, with her "enormous energy as an overachiever." But Richards is also tritely characterized here as "a woman on edge," who was "rescued" from alcoholism by family, friends and counselors in the 1970s. Despite her hardships as a divorced, recovering alcoholic, she won the governorship in 1990. This breezy, mid-career look at her rise offers no revelations and standard journalese. But Richards's fans will enjoy the rah-rahing of the authors, especially since the governor is up for reelection in 1994. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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