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The Best Lawyer in a One-Lawyer Town: A Memoir
If Frank McCourt had grown up in Depression-era Arkansas, he might write like Dale Bumpers, one of the most colorful, entertaining, and wise politicians in recent American history, Atticus Finch with a sense of humor. In The Best Lawyer in a One-Lawyer Town , Bumpers tells the story of his remarkable journey from poverty to political legend, and the result is a great American memoir that has attracted wide acclaim for its clever southern charm.
312 pages, Paperback
First published February 18, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 14, 2008
A biography of Senator Dale bumpers of Arkansas. This book concentates on the childhood and legal career of Sen. Bumpers. The reader is introduced to Arkansas many political leaders of the last 50 years. An outstanding book for the reader of poltical issues and small time life in Arkansas.
February 25, 2009
I actually enjoyed this quite a bit. I'm from the same town, Charleston, Arkansas. Most of it was before my time so I'm not always familiar with all the characters, but it was interesting reading about a somewhat different side of my small town.
March 17, 2017
The life and political career of Dale Bumpers. An interesting personality from Arkansas. Friend of Bill Clinton.
May 6, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this autobiography of a man who was one of the first politicians I can remember meeting growing up in Arkansas. Dale ran for and won the Governor's office in 1970, was reelected in 1972, and then in 1974 was elected to the U.S. Senate where he served for 24 years (4 terms) until he retired in 1998.
It was very interesting to read of Dale's upbringing in poverty and the encouragement his mother and father gave him and how he was able to graduate from college and law school and become a lawyer and then position himself in the midst of personal and business triumphs and setbacks to run for Governor in 1970 as a virtual unknown with 1% name recognition when he entered the race and won and never lost another race and retired as one of most highly respected Senators to ever serve in that astute body.
The thing that stands out most in this book is Bumpers' wry and dry wit and self-deprecating sense of humor. He is not shy about admitting his fallibilities and is a very humble man, a trait not common to someone who served in politics for 28 years.
The main reason for my 4 stars instead of 5 was how Bumpers covered his career and life from 1974 when he was first elected to the Senate to 1999 when he offered the final defense in President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial. In the previous part of the book, I learned a lot about Dale's life and even governorship. I never would have known he hated being governor. I wish he had covered his Senate career in as much depth and detail as he covered his life before the Senate. I would have liked to have learned more about arguably the most important era of his life and the issues he tackled as a Senator.
Dale Bumpers was an anomaly in the State of Arkansas, in the fact that he was more liberal than most Arkansans yet was always popular and respected even when he advocated for ideas with which most Arkansans didn't agree. He had the ability to explain why he voted for something you didn't agree with in such a way where you not only respected him but would vote for him again. He truly cared about people and trying to help people out of poverty. I was sad when he passed away in January 2016. He was a rare breed -- an honest politician.
It was very interesting to read of Dale's upbringing in poverty and the encouragement his mother and father gave him and how he was able to graduate from college and law school and become a lawyer and then position himself in the midst of personal and business triumphs and setbacks to run for Governor in 1970 as a virtual unknown with 1% name recognition when he entered the race and won and never lost another race and retired as one of most highly respected Senators to ever serve in that astute body.
The thing that stands out most in this book is Bumpers' wry and dry wit and self-deprecating sense of humor. He is not shy about admitting his fallibilities and is a very humble man, a trait not common to someone who served in politics for 28 years.
The main reason for my 4 stars instead of 5 was how Bumpers covered his career and life from 1974 when he was first elected to the Senate to 1999 when he offered the final defense in President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial. In the previous part of the book, I learned a lot about Dale's life and even governorship. I never would have known he hated being governor. I wish he had covered his Senate career in as much depth and detail as he covered his life before the Senate. I would have liked to have learned more about arguably the most important era of his life and the issues he tackled as a Senator.
Dale Bumpers was an anomaly in the State of Arkansas, in the fact that he was more liberal than most Arkansans yet was always popular and respected even when he advocated for ideas with which most Arkansans didn't agree. He had the ability to explain why he voted for something you didn't agree with in such a way where you not only respected him but would vote for him again. He truly cared about people and trying to help people out of poverty. I was sad when he passed away in January 2016. He was a rare breed -- an honest politician.
May 13, 2019
As politician memoirs go, former U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers' "The Best Lawyer in a One-Lawyer Town" delivers an interesting read. In January of 2003, I was working in New Hampshire on the Democratic presidential primary campaign of General (Ret.) Wesley K. Clark. A fellow Arkansan, Bumpers made the trip north to campaign on Clark's behalf. I had the good fortune of serving as his driver for the few days he spent with us. Like that experience, Bumpers' book mixes humor with policy and folksy stories with an intelligent analysis of the practical art of politics. There is an excellent chapter on his 1998 defense of President Bill Clinton during the Senate impeachment trial. If you want to learn from a master, I recommend reading this book.
February 11, 2019
This is probably the best memoir, of a person who held political office, that I have read. The focus though, is not really on his political career but he does discuss it. Thankfully, he keeps it brief but I also would not mind reading more about is life as governor and/or senator.
His life in small-town Arkansas does not sound like fun but there were people who had it much worse way back in his youth. One noticeable thing is that he mentions 'the blacks' a lot. I just point this out it shows his age, he was in advanced years when he wrote the book.
His life in small-town Arkansas does not sound like fun but there were people who had it much worse way back in his youth. One noticeable thing is that he mentions 'the blacks' a lot. I just point this out it shows his age, he was in advanced years when he wrote the book.
July 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this candid look at life in Arkansas through the eyes of Senator Bumpers as well as his journey from the Governor’s mansion to the halls of Congress. My favorite moment of the book was, when someone was advocating for a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality, Dale Bumpers, a Charleston, Arkansas native, remarked that some folks don’t even have boots or money for boots. I really appreciated how the book followed his very humble beginnings and remarked on the wealth disparities (that still exist today) in Arkansas. Overall, great read!
September 21, 2011
Dale Bumpers shares some great stories in this book, particularly about his childhood & his father who was obviously a very important figure to him. However, I did feel for a long a little short-changed when it came to recounting stories of his time as Governor of Arkansas and his 24 years in the US Senate. Certainly there were tales but the book did seem to skip quite quickly through this period which was dissapointing. Having said that it was still a generally enjoyable read.
February 27, 2012
A wonderful, witty book by a democratic senate and, of course, lawyer. He made the closing argument in Clinton's impeachment trial, which made me pick up this book. Highly recommended!
September 14, 2012
Wonderful wit, humor and southern storytelling style
January 11, 2021
I was raised until I finished the second grade in Charleston, and most of my family lived there. Bumpers description of growing up there is quite accurate, and the rascal named names! He was a very respected man there.
I found out some things I hadn't know from this book. J.D. Rainey, whom he talks about defending from a murder charge, was the man who owned the dry goods store. I had never heard of the invoice incident not have I found anyone else that does. He mentioned my family in the third chapter. I knew that uncles and cousins were well known for fighting, but never knew that any of them were in knife fights. I never knew that Charleston was the first town in the former Confederacy to integrate it's schools.
This book gives great insight into what it was like growing up in a small southern town back then, especially in Charleston. I know that it is accurate, though he grew up long before me, because his accounts match with those of my parents and grandparents.
Quite an enjoyable book!
I found out some things I hadn't know from this book. J.D. Rainey, whom he talks about defending from a murder charge, was the man who owned the dry goods store. I had never heard of the invoice incident not have I found anyone else that does. He mentioned my family in the third chapter. I knew that uncles and cousins were well known for fighting, but never knew that any of them were in knife fights. I never knew that Charleston was the first town in the former Confederacy to integrate it's schools.
This book gives great insight into what it was like growing up in a small southern town back then, especially in Charleston. I know that it is accurate, though he grew up long before me, because his accounts match with those of my parents and grandparents.
Quite an enjoyable book!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews