Synopses & Reviews
For almost four decades, from his role in the 1972 George McGovern campaign to his years as a visionary senator, from his leadership on national security issues before and after 9/11 to his role in international environmental issues, Gary Hart has been one of America's great public servants. Through times of triumph and disappointment, Hart's dedication to the ideals of the founding fathers, particularly Thomas Jefferson, and his devotion to the American Republic never wavered. In this insightful, humble, and often humorous account of his political and public life, Hart shares the lessons he has learned in the last forty years, imparting to future generations the significance of public service and the role of America in the world. The Thunder and the Sunshine is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand where we have been as a country, and where we are heading in the twenty-first century.
Gary Hart represented the state of Colorado in the US Senate from 1975 until 1987. He is currently scholar in residence at the University of Colorado, co-chair of the USRussia Commission, and vice chair of the Homeland Security Advisory Council. He was co-chair of the US Commission on National Security for the 21st Century, which predicted the terrorist attacks on America and proposed a sweeping overhaul of US national security structures and policies for the postCold War century and the age of terrorism.
Review
"If you are interested in politics and policy, you will find it absorbing and instructive."—
James Fallows,
The Atlantic"By continuing to follow his passion for the scholarly analysis of foreign and public policy issues, Gary Hart has risen from late-night punchline to elder statesman..." —Examiner.com
Synopsis
For almost four decades, from his role in the 1972 McGovern campaign to his years as a visionary senator, from his leadership on national security matters before and after 9/11 to his contributions as a respected statesman on various issues, Gary Hart has been and continues to be one of America's great public servants. In this insightful, humble, and often humorous account of his political and public life, Hart shares his journey through the sometimes rough seas of American politics. Through this journey, Hart conveys the lessons he has learned along the way, including the importance of public service, the continued relevance of the ideals of our nation's founders, and the role of the American republic in the world.
More than a personal memoir, The Thunder and the Sunshine, is an important contribution to understanding the history of our nation since the 1960s, including firsthand accounts of the end of the Cold War, the presidential elections of 1984 and beyond, America's initial forays into alternative energy, and the landmark work of the Church Committee.
Drawing on the same keen intellect and foresight that shaped his political achievements and prolific writings, Hart provides a lucid critique of our past, present, and future. At a time when political leadership is often questioned and civil discourse is on the decline, this book provides insight to where we have been as a country, and where we must go in the twenty-first century.
Synopsis
The political memoir of one of our most prescient public servants, as well as a history of American politics.
About the Author
Gary Hart: Gary Hart represented the state of Colorado in the US Senate from 1975 until 1987. During his senate years, he played a leadership role in major environmental and conservation legislation, military reform initiatives, new initiatives to advance the information revolution, and new directions in foreign policy. He is currently Scholar in Residence at the University of Colorado, cochair of the US-Russia Commission, and vice chair of the Homeland Security Advisory Council. He is also chair of the American Security Project, a Distinguished Congressional Fellow of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a member of the board of the Eurasia Foundation. He was cochair of the US Commission on National Security for the 21st Century, which performed the most comprehensive review of national security since 1947, predicted the terrorist attacks on America, and proposed a sweeping overhaul of US national security structures and policies for the postCold War century and the age of terrorism. Senator Hart is the author of 18 books, including The Courage of Our Convictions, The Shield and the Cloak, Under the Eagles Wing, and God and Caesar in America.
Douglas Brinkley: Dr. Douglas Brinkley previously served as director of the Theodore Roosevelt Center for American Civilization and Professor of History at Tulane University. In July 2007, he joined RICE University and the James Baker Institute for public Policy.
Four of Dr. Brinkleys biographies have been selected as New York Times "Notable Books of the Year": Dean Acheson: The Cold War Years (1992), Driven Patriot: The Life and Times of James Forrestal, with Townsend Hoopes (1992), The Unfinished Presidency: Jimmy Carters Journey Beyond the White House (1998), and Wheels for the World: Henry Ford, His Company and a Century of Progress (2003). And three more recent publications have become New York Times best-sellers: The Boys of Pointe du Hoc; Ronald Reagan, D-Day and the U.S. Army 2nd Ranger Battalion (2005), Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War (2004) and Parish Priest: Father McGivney and American Catholicism (2006). His most recent publications include a two-volume edition of Ronald Reagans unpublished White House diaries and The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America.
Dr. Brinkley is contributing editor for Vanity Fair, Los Angeles Times Book Review, and American Heritage. A frequent contributor to the New York Times, Boston Globe, Rolling Stone, and The Atlantic Monthly.
He lives in Austin Texas with his wife Anne and two children Benton and Johnny.