Don't Let the Fire Go Out!

by Jean Carnahan

The slogan Don’t Let the Fire Go Out! became the guiding force for Jean Carnahan as she confronted life’s challenges after her husband, son, and longtime friend were killed in a plane crash on October 16, 2000. The wife of Mel Carnahan, the well-known and highly respected Missouri governor and popular leader of the Democratic Party, Jean Carnahan made history when she agreed to serve in the U.S. Senate after Missouri voters elected her husband to the position posthumously. Don’t Let the Fire Go Out! is a fascinating and compelling look at the life of this amazingly strong woman.
Although the emphasis in this book is on the years 2000 through 2002—as Carnahan survived the tragic deaths of her loved ones and made her push forward with the campaign to fill what would have been her husband’s Senate seat—it also covers her family, her years of growing up in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, D.C., and her marriage to Mel Carnahan. She offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at life in the Governor’s Mansion during her years as Missouri’s First Lady. The book also provides insight into Mel Carnahan’s devotion to public service. Jean Carnahan recounts her own introduction to the U.S. Senate, her struggle with the decision to vote against the confirmation of John Ashcroft as attorney general, her interactions with other senators, the loss of her Missouri farmhome to fire, a trip to Afghanistan, her reelection defeat in 2002, and countless other experiences that shaped her life and thought.
Don’t Let the Fire Go Out! is an intimate and revealing memoir of an extraordinary woman who overcame great tragedy to become the first woman from Missouri to serve as a United States senator. Resilient, intelligent, and charming, Jean Carnahan will inspire all who read her remarkable story.

Genres: History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Jason Hojnacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember vividly when Mrs. Carnahan’s husband died suddenly, and she was appointed to his Senate Seat; I was in college studying political science. I remember being very impressed by the way she rose up to fulfill her obligations during that time and rooted for her re-election and was disappointed when this didn’t happen. With some very recent deaths in my family, I remembered Mrs. Carnahan’s story again and remembered that she had written a book about her experiences. In Don’t Let the Fire Go Out, Mrs. Carnahan tells her life story and shares her feelings of losing her husband and her son in the plane crash. I enjoyed reading about how she felt the need to carry on her husband’s life work after his death and how she handled her new role in Washington. My only regret is I feel she could’ve discussed more of the ins and outs of Washington instead of focusing so much on fundraising stories. I would’ve loved to hear about her debate preparations or how she felt about her performance during the debates with her opponent. Enjoyable read, especially for someone dealing with the loss of a loved one.