Of Goats & Governors: Six Decades of Colorful Alabama Political Stories - Softcover

Flowers, Steve

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1588383865 ISBN 13: 9781588383860

Publisher: NewSouth Books, 2018

Synopsis

Few states have as colorful a political history as Alabama, especially in the post-World War II era. During the past six decades, the state played a central role in the civil rights movement, largely moved away from its earlier farm-based economy and culture, and transitioned from a relatively moderate-progressive Democratic Party politics to today's hard-core conservative Republican Party domination.

Moving onto and off Alabama's electoral stage during all these transformations have been some of the most interesting figures in 20th-century American government and politics. Swirling around these elected officials in the Heart of Dixie are stories, legends, and jokes that are told and retold by political insiders, journalists, and scholars who follow the goings-on in Washington and Montgomery. In Alabama, it seems, politics is not only a blood sport but high entertainment. There could be no better guide to this colorful history than political columnist and commentator Steve Flowers.

About this title

About the Author:

Troy native Steve Flowers was a page in the Alabama Legislature at age 12 and worked at the Capitol throughout high school. At the University of Alabama, he served in the Student Senate and graduated in 1974 with a degree in political science and history. At age 30, he was elected State Representative from Pike County. He was reelected four times and retired in 1998 with a perfect attendance record for 16 consecutive years. His House colleagues honored him as outstanding freshman member in 1982, most ethical member in 1988, and most outstanding member in 1992. In 2002, Flowers began writing on Alabama politics. Today his weekly column appears in more than 60 newspapers. In addition, his weekly radio show on Alabama politics is heard statewide on Alabama Public Radio, and he is the political analyst for the University of Alabama Radio and TV Network. Flowers has also analyzed Alabama politics for state, national, and international television audiences on CBS, PBS, ABC, and the British Broadcasting Network. Flowers has been an up-close participant and observer of the Alabama political scene for more than 50 years and is widely considered the ultimate authority today on Alabama politics and Alabama political history.

Edwin C. Bridges graduated from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and received his M.A. and Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago. After six years at the Georgia Archives, where he last served as Assistant Director, he was appointed Director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History in 1982 and retired in 2012.

Review:

"I met Steve 40+ years ago when he was a college student. I had never known anyone who absolutely loved anything and everything political to the extent that Steve did. Still haven’t. 'Tree' has become our State’s leading political columnist and commentator. This book is delightful. Some of the stories are new to me. All are humorous or interesting." ―Bill Baxley, former Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor of Alabama

"Of Goats & Governors is real insider baseball. Every political anecdote you might ever hear in a bar, on the golf course or at a luncheon is here, and they are marvelous. There can be few Alabamians better situated to write this book than Steve Flowers." ―Don Noble, Tuscaloosa News

“Steve Flowers's ability to dive deep into Alabama's colorful political history makes Of Goats and Governors a must-read. Steve brings to life our state's rich past and offers a unique perspective in his new book.” ―Richard Shelby, U.S. Senator

About this edition

• Publisher: NewSouth Books
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1588383865
• ISBN 13: 9781588383860
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288