In these strange times I am reminded of George Washington’s warning to us in his September 17, 1796 Farewell Address: "However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."
Sounds like the more things change, the more they stay the same. Both sides of Congress regularly engage in petty silliness and one-upsmanship that should be beneath the dignity of the body. I've see clown shows with much more professionalism than those in DC
Brands writes "it’s reasonable to predict that McCarthy won’t be remembered as a giant of the speakership; he won’t be ranked with Henry Clay or Sam Rayburn. Or Thomas Reed." Although not a professional historian, I'd add Joseph Cannon to the list. Cannon served as Speaker of the House from 1903 to 1911 and some regard him as the most powerful Speaker in history.
What a fascinating story. Speaker Reed surely did have a quick wit.
I don't know enough about the history of speakers. In my life time I have seen them from Tip O'Niell tothe present. I cannot imagine Tip or Nancy Pelosi (or even the now disgraced Hastert from the GOP) giving up so much authority over their caucus as McCarthy did.
Eight republicans representing only six million residents (a mere 1.8%) out of a US population of 332 million want to dictate their policy to the entire nation and McCarthy let them. I don't think we need to wait for the "judgement of history" to assess the damage done- McCarthy is the worst most ineffective speaker in my 64 year old lifetime.
But the GOP has been on this trajectory since they won the House in the 2010 Tea Party surge elections.
In these strange times I am reminded of George Washington’s warning to us in his September 17, 1796 Farewell Address: "However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."
Hahahah Reed is what we call today “savage.”
Sounds like the more things change, the more they stay the same. Both sides of Congress regularly engage in petty silliness and one-upsmanship that should be beneath the dignity of the body. I've see clown shows with much more professionalism than those in DC
Brands writes "it’s reasonable to predict that McCarthy won’t be remembered as a giant of the speakership; he won’t be ranked with Henry Clay or Sam Rayburn. Or Thomas Reed." Although not a professional historian, I'd add Joseph Cannon to the list. Cannon served as Speaker of the House from 1903 to 1911 and some regard him as the most powerful Speaker in history.
Quite so.
What a fascinating story. Speaker Reed surely did have a quick wit.
I don't know enough about the history of speakers. In my life time I have seen them from Tip O'Niell tothe present. I cannot imagine Tip or Nancy Pelosi (or even the now disgraced Hastert from the GOP) giving up so much authority over their caucus as McCarthy did.
Eight republicans representing only six million residents (a mere 1.8%) out of a US population of 332 million want to dictate their policy to the entire nation and McCarthy let them. I don't think we need to wait for the "judgement of history" to assess the damage done- McCarthy is the worst most ineffective speaker in my 64 year old lifetime.
But the GOP has been on this trajectory since they won the House in the 2010 Tea Party surge elections.