Crusading Liberal: Paul H. Douglas of Illinois

by Roger Biles

A lifelong crusader for society's powerless, Senator Paul Douglas championed reform and helped to bring civil rights issues to the forefront of mid-twentieth-century American politics. During his eighteen years in the U.S. Senate, his advocacy of liberal causes brought him national recognition. In the eyes of many, Douglas embodied the very ideals of the "Great Society."

A man of conscience and a stubborn defender of his core principles, Douglas was nonetheless a patient legislator, and his fight to ensure equal rights for African Americans lasted more than a decade. His fierce independence won public respect but often strained relationships with key party leaders, including Harry Truman, Adlai Stevenson, and Lyndon Johnson.

Covering the full span of Douglas's life—from his youth and early work at Hull House in Chicago to his leadership in the Senate—Crusading Liberal illuminates the life and times of the man Martin Luther King Jr. called "the greatest of all senators." This highly readable biography illustrates the struggle to provide equal opportunity and protection under law to all Americans.

266 pages, Hardcover

First published August 9, 2002

About the author

Roger Biles is Professor Emeritus of History at Illinois State University.