The Dynamic Dominion: Realignment and the Rise of Two-Party Competition in Virginia, 1945-1980

by Frank B. Atkinson

The Dynamic Dominion tells the dramatic story of Virginia's political transformation from the Second World War to the Reagan Revolution. The cradle of American democracy ― and thus of the democratic movement that is sweeping the globe today ― the venerable Old Dominion has emerged again in the second half of the 20th century as a dynamic political pace setter for the nation.

In 1945, Virginia was a one-party, one-faction state under the aristocratic rule of conservative Democratic Senator Harry F. Byrd and his famed "Byrd organization." From his perch as the uncontested leader of the state that led the south, Virginia's Byrd became a regional symbol, a congressional kingpin, and a national power. With its political system and culture static, Virginia's voice was heard nationally mostly in dissent, as it had been for a century.

Within a few decades, emerging two-party competition and an unprecedented party realignment combined to place the rapidly changing commonwealth in the national vanguard. Well before Republican parties throughout the South became competitive, Virginia's Republicans in the 1970s compiled the most impressive winning streak of any state party in the country. They did it by constructing a coalition of rural conservative Democrats and suburban Republicans ― the same coalition that Ronald Reagan assembled nationwide in 1980, ushering in the Reagan Revolution.

As told in The Dynamic Dominion , the Virginia story contains all the excitement, drama, conflict, and intrigue of a fast-paced thriller. It is a story of triumph and tragedy, celebrities and statesmen, heroes and scoundrels ― of shifting party loyalties and makeshift coalitions, hard-fought campaigns and razor-close elections ― of ambition and cynicism alongside sacrifice and idealism. Best of all, the tale is true. It is the fascinating story of contemporary democracy flourishing in Virginia . . . the place where it was born.

Genres: Government

472 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 1991

Reviews

[Charles Conner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows a clear line of causation between the Byrd Machine of Virginia's Jim Crow Period to the modern competitive democracy of the 90s. The book is not a comprehensive policy book about the plans of gubernatorial administrations; Linwood Holton's gubernatorial agenda gets a chapter and, even then, doesn't dominate the chapter. The book discusses how trends, campaigns, and personalities changed the Commonwealth. It is buoyed by the fact that much of the research for the book was done through testimonials; looking back at the book, the only group of people that Atkinson was unable to interview were Byrd, Byrd Organization members of the 40s and 50s, Colonel Pickens Miller, and Ted Dalton. The interviews are illuminating and will become more valuable with the passage of time. This work illuminates the Commonwealth's political history and, as the title states, makes it dynamic in the reader's mind. The best chapter's in my estimation, were the three that capped off the 70s between the Ted Dalton victory to the Richard Obenshain tragedy. This is a must-read for observers of Virginia politics and most likely the seminal work on Virginia's political development in the latter half of the 20th century.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting review of the political history of Virginia from a one-party machine to a state with two competitive parties, but not griping writing.