The Dynamic Dominion: Realignment and the Rise of Virginia's Republican Party Since 1945

by Frank B. Atkinson

The Dynamic Dominion tells the dramatic story of Virginia's political transformation since the Second World War. The cradle of American democracyóand thus of the democratic movement that is sweeping the globe todayóthe venerable Old Dominion has emerged again in the second half of the 20th century as a dynamic political pacesetter for the nation.
Virginia today has become a national bellwether, studied by political analysts and strategists in both parties for clues to the direction of the nation.

Genres: Government

534 pages, Hardcover

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.