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Senator Mansfield: The Extraordinary Life of a Great American Statesman and Diplomat
A spellbinding biography of one of the most powerful and dignified men ever to come to DC—Senator Mike Mansfield.
Mike Mansfield's career as the longest serving majority leader is finally given its due in this extraordinary biography. In many respects, Mansfield's dignity and decorum represent the high-water mark of the US Senate: he was respected as a leader who helped build consensus on tough issues and was renowned for his ability to work across the aisle and build strong coalitions. Amazingly, he would have breakfast every morning with a member of the opposing party.
Mansfield was instrumental in pushing through some of the most influential legislation of the twentieth century. He was at the helm when the Senate passed landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the creation of Medicare, and the nuclear test ban treaty. Mansfield played a crucial role in shaping America's foreign policy, corresponding with JFK about his opposition to the growing presence of the US in Southeast Asia. As ambassador to Japan, his conversations with Cambodia and China paved the way for Nixon's historic trip to China in 1972.
Mike Mansfield's career as the longest serving majority leader is finally given its due in this extraordinary biography. In many respects, Mansfield's dignity and decorum represent the high-water mark of the US Senate: he was respected as a leader who helped build consensus on tough issues and was renowned for his ability to work across the aisle and build strong coalitions. Amazingly, he would have breakfast every morning with a member of the opposing party.
Mansfield was instrumental in pushing through some of the most influential legislation of the twentieth century. He was at the helm when the Senate passed landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the creation of Medicare, and the nuclear test ban treaty. Mansfield played a crucial role in shaping America's foreign policy, corresponding with JFK about his opposition to the growing presence of the US in Southeast Asia. As ambassador to Japan, his conversations with Cambodia and China paved the way for Nixon's historic trip to China in 1972.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 11, 2007
I first met Mike Mansfield in Whitefish, MT while on a recruiting trip for Rocky Mountain College. When I went to pay for my breakfast I was told that the Senator had paid. Later I was involved in the Democratic Party in Billings and had contact often with him as well as other State and National leaders. On one trip to DC I visited Mike in his Majority Leader Office. He was a gracious host and showed me a special room dedicated to the memory of John F. Kennedy. When the College awarded him an honorary doctorate I suggested that it me a Doctor of Humanities. He already had enough LLD"s, and had just pushed through the Amendment to give 18 year olds the vote. The President of Rocky asked me to write the comments awarding the degree and I, as Registrar, got to place the hood on his shoulders.
August 15, 2020
An amazing book about a brilliant man.
February 21, 2008
Mike Mansfield was a remarkable statesman. One that we only wish would be in our political system today. Very good information and research done by the author. Mike Mansfield, an 8th grade dropout, went on to become one of the most prominent men to serve the people of the United States. This is a must read for all History Buffs.
July 13, 2019
For whatever reason Mike Mansfield never wanted to tell his own story. He had an innate modesty
that both friends and foes respected. We are lucky that in his 90s he sat down with author Don
Oberdorfer for a series of interviews that are the basis for this book.
What an extraordinary life this man had. He was born in New York City in 1903 of recent Irish
immigrant parents and lost his mother in 1907. His father sent him west to Montana to live with an
uncle and by all accounts he was a tough kid. Underage at 14 he lied about his age and enlisted in
the Navy and had sea duty during part of World War I when his age was discovered and he was discharged. After that he did first a two year hitch in the army and then enlisted in the marines.
Three branches of the armed services, not many do that.
In the marines he saw service in the Phillipines and in China and developed an interest and passion
for the Far East. He worked his way through the University of Montana eventually becoming a
professor of Far East studies. And he developed an interest in politics becoming in 1943 one of
Montana's two Representatives. That lasted for 10 years as Mansfield ran for the Senate against
ultra-rightwing Republican Zales Ecton. Like colleagues John F. Kennedy and Stuart Symington in
1952, Mansfield ousted a GOP incumbent in the year the public liked Ike.
Mansfield whom I remember well from my younger days was a tall pipe smoking professorial type
and a voice of calm and reason. By 1957 he was made the number 2 guy in the Senate as Majority
Whip to Lyndon Johnson. He was the good cop in that arrangement because Johnson while more
effective than anyone else in that position could be heavy handed.
IN 1961 with Johnson now Vice President Mansfield became Majority Leader and was that until he
retired from the Senate in 1977. The longest serving tenure in that position he was never even
challenged in his party caucus such was the respect he had. He had JFK's total confidence and
when Kennedy died he made a most eloquent speech during the Senate services.
The Johnson relationship was something different altogether. Mansfield who initially thought the
Diem brothers would get a handle on South Vietnam turned opponent in the mid 60s. He was regarded as one of the Senate experts on Asia and his voice carried weight. At the same time Mansfield was the one put through the programs of LBJ's Great Society. Much as Johnson disliked
what Mansfield was doing on Vietnam he needed him for his domestic agenda.
Things were a bit different with Republicans Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Nixon and Mansfield
worked together when possible, but neither trusted the other probably with good reason. Nixon did
work with Mansfield on the China trip as Mansfield was a Far East expert. Mansfield himself went
to Peking. With Ford the two were colleagues from Congress and they got along well even being
from different parties. It was a different less partisan world then.
Mansfield retires after four terms in the Senate and President Jimmy Carter made him Ambassador
to Japan. A dream assignment for someone with interests in the Far East. When Carter was defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1980, Mansfield was ready to be replaced by a Republican appointee.
Didn't happen. When Mansfield went to meet with Reagan and debrief him the two actually hit it
off. Reagan decided Mansfield was to stay and he did for the 8 years Reagan was president.
Mansfield lived to be 98 years old dying in 2001. He was in fact the last WW1 veteran to serve in
Congress. This is a good book about a modest man who maybe should have tooted his own horn
a bit.
that both friends and foes respected. We are lucky that in his 90s he sat down with author Don
Oberdorfer for a series of interviews that are the basis for this book.
What an extraordinary life this man had. He was born in New York City in 1903 of recent Irish
immigrant parents and lost his mother in 1907. His father sent him west to Montana to live with an
uncle and by all accounts he was a tough kid. Underage at 14 he lied about his age and enlisted in
the Navy and had sea duty during part of World War I when his age was discovered and he was discharged. After that he did first a two year hitch in the army and then enlisted in the marines.
Three branches of the armed services, not many do that.
In the marines he saw service in the Phillipines and in China and developed an interest and passion
for the Far East. He worked his way through the University of Montana eventually becoming a
professor of Far East studies. And he developed an interest in politics becoming in 1943 one of
Montana's two Representatives. That lasted for 10 years as Mansfield ran for the Senate against
ultra-rightwing Republican Zales Ecton. Like colleagues John F. Kennedy and Stuart Symington in
1952, Mansfield ousted a GOP incumbent in the year the public liked Ike.
Mansfield whom I remember well from my younger days was a tall pipe smoking professorial type
and a voice of calm and reason. By 1957 he was made the number 2 guy in the Senate as Majority
Whip to Lyndon Johnson. He was the good cop in that arrangement because Johnson while more
effective than anyone else in that position could be heavy handed.
IN 1961 with Johnson now Vice President Mansfield became Majority Leader and was that until he
retired from the Senate in 1977. The longest serving tenure in that position he was never even
challenged in his party caucus such was the respect he had. He had JFK's total confidence and
when Kennedy died he made a most eloquent speech during the Senate services.
The Johnson relationship was something different altogether. Mansfield who initially thought the
Diem brothers would get a handle on South Vietnam turned opponent in the mid 60s. He was regarded as one of the Senate experts on Asia and his voice carried weight. At the same time Mansfield was the one put through the programs of LBJ's Great Society. Much as Johnson disliked
what Mansfield was doing on Vietnam he needed him for his domestic agenda.
Things were a bit different with Republicans Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Nixon and Mansfield
worked together when possible, but neither trusted the other probably with good reason. Nixon did
work with Mansfield on the China trip as Mansfield was a Far East expert. Mansfield himself went
to Peking. With Ford the two were colleagues from Congress and they got along well even being
from different parties. It was a different less partisan world then.
Mansfield retires after four terms in the Senate and President Jimmy Carter made him Ambassador
to Japan. A dream assignment for someone with interests in the Far East. When Carter was defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1980, Mansfield was ready to be replaced by a Republican appointee.
Didn't happen. When Mansfield went to meet with Reagan and debrief him the two actually hit it
off. Reagan decided Mansfield was to stay and he did for the 8 years Reagan was president.
Mansfield lived to be 98 years old dying in 2001. He was in fact the last WW1 veteran to serve in
Congress. This is a good book about a modest man who maybe should have tooted his own horn
a bit.
June 1, 2019
Like many of my books this one has a limited audience. But if you’re interested in congressional politics then this is a very interesting and well done book. Mansfield was a giant in the history of the Senate, albeit a quiet one. The book covers fascinating times in the 1950s through the 80s. And Mansfield was a low-key (but key) player throughout these times. His life was worth a book and this one does him justice.
July 8, 2022
Talk about an extraordinary life. 50 plus years of government service including three branches of the military, the House, Senate, and the diplomatic corps. While his leadership certainly wasn't perfect, it wouldn't hurt to have a few more Mike Mansfields in office.
October 15, 2016
This is a definitive work on Mansfield. I liked a lot of the stuff on his early life in the Butte mines and how he got his start. There's good stuff on how he managed to get himself through college. Moving on, I like how he worked against the buildup to Vietnam. We get excellent information on his friendship with Kennedy.
I skipped a lot of the later-60s and 70s stuff in this book, myself. I did appreciate that Oberdorfer looked into Mansfield's time with Goldman Sachs, as that company really screwed Montana with 1997's deregulation.
Supposedly Mansfield was just an adviser to Asia and hardly did anything. "I don't know why they pay me," he said at one point. He only had the job for a few years in the 90s, but I feel it's important as this firm is pure evil.
Anyways, good history with everything you'll want to know.
I skipped a lot of the later-60s and 70s stuff in this book, myself. I did appreciate that Oberdorfer looked into Mansfield's time with Goldman Sachs, as that company really screwed Montana with 1997's deregulation.
Supposedly Mansfield was just an adviser to Asia and hardly did anything. "I don't know why they pay me," he said at one point. He only had the job for a few years in the 90s, but I feel it's important as this firm is pure evil.
Anyways, good history with everything you'll want to know.
May 30, 2015
A brilliantly written biography that left me largely unimpressed with its subject, which is contrary to its objective.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews