What do you think?
Rate this book
Keep Swinging: A Memoir of Politics and Justice
The story of how the son of a coal laborer of limited means fueled his journey to becoming a successful business man and politician through self-drive and a desire for change and the betterment of his country.
Joseph L. Bruno is a small town American success story. As the son of immigrants, he worked his way out of Depression-era Glens Falls, NY, served in the United States Army in Korea, and as the leader of the Senate Republicans in New York, became one of the three most powerful men in the state. During his fourteen years in the Senate, he forged coalitions, achieved compromises, and brought together feuding legislative factions for the common good.
Senator Bruno represents a rare form of politician, one who knows that when the race is over, you have to shake hands with your opponent and govern, in order to provide a better quality of life for the people you represent.
Within these pages you will meet household names like Rudy Giuliani, Russell Simmons, Hillary Clinton, Al D’Amato, Donald Trump and Eliot Spitzer—and see them as you never have before—in the hallways where decisions are made and in behind the scenes conversations amongst friends and opponents.
In this brand new autobiography, Senator Bruno reminds us all that you never know what life has to offer next. In the face of adversity all you need to do is Keep Swinging .
Features color and black and white photo insert.
Joseph L. Bruno is a small town American success story. As the son of immigrants, he worked his way out of Depression-era Glens Falls, NY, served in the United States Army in Korea, and as the leader of the Senate Republicans in New York, became one of the three most powerful men in the state. During his fourteen years in the Senate, he forged coalitions, achieved compromises, and brought together feuding legislative factions for the common good.
Senator Bruno represents a rare form of politician, one who knows that when the race is over, you have to shake hands with your opponent and govern, in order to provide a better quality of life for the people you represent.
Within these pages you will meet household names like Rudy Giuliani, Russell Simmons, Hillary Clinton, Al D’Amato, Donald Trump and Eliot Spitzer—and see them as you never have before—in the hallways where decisions are made and in behind the scenes conversations amongst friends and opponents.
In this brand new autobiography, Senator Bruno reminds us all that you never know what life has to offer next. In the face of adversity all you need to do is Keep Swinging .
Features color and black and white photo insert.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published November 29, 2016
4 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 6, 2022
“I hope that my experience can help people,” former New York state Senator Joseph Bruno writes in his opening preface. Bruno and his ghostwriter, Peter Golden explained, “it is in the spirit of assisting others that (they) put together (his) story, hoping in some small way reading about (Bruno’s) successes and failures might help the reader.”
Bruno and Golden point out that “what is missing today (are) politicians who understand that they are elected not to be self-served, but to provide a better quality of life for the people who elected them and that sometimes takes the willingness to listen and compromise.”
Bruno notes here that he has “lived long enough to see a vanishing America.” Bruno still remembers a nation that “once upon a time . . . celebrated the ideals of hard work, self-reliance, honesty, essential decency.” It was an America where journalists “attempted to get their facts straight” and “left opinions to editorial writers.” It was a nation in which the “justice system (was) committed to the notion of fairness. Public grandstanding by prosecutors and judges was considered indecent.” In that America, Bruno observes, there was “a political system based on opponents seeking common ground and compromising in order to solve problems.”
In summary, Bruno’s other reason for telling his story was the federal government’s three-year investigation of him and the five-year court battle that followed. That gave Bruno “a close look at a legal system overwhelmed by uncontrolled prosecutorial discretion and a judge who many thought enabled the prosecution.”
Within these 265 pages, Bruno and Golden document “tales of corruption (which) are legendary.” Thirteen out of the last fourteen chapters of Bruno’s “memoir of politics and justice” take place in and around the James T. Foley United States Courthouse in Albany, New York. It is here in Courtroom Six Bruno is tried on an “eight-count, thirty-five-page indictment that basically claimed (Bruno) had deprived the citizens of (the) state of (New York) of honest services.”
Seventy-two witnesses and 4,239 pages of their testimony later, Bruno’s first trial ended in a not guilty verdict on five counts. Yet the federal government was not done yet with Bruno. After he successfully appealed his conviction on two counts of accepting gifts, two years later, the 32-year veteran of the New York Senate was indicted again, this time for allegedly taking $440,000 in bribes and kickbacks from a former business associate. Can you say, “double-jeopardy?” Maybe Bruno could’ve avoided both trials. Prior to his first court appearance, “The FBI kept suggesting to (Bruno’s attorney) that (he) come in and tell them which (New York) legislators were breaking the law.” In other words, the federal agency was allegedly offering a deal. They wanted Bruno to become their confidential informant: their spy. Bruno writes, “The feds’ attitude was that I knew where the skeletons were buried, and if (he’d) help them dig some up, they’d leave (Bruno) alone.”
This reviewer’s takeaway? In the words of the authors, “Keep Swinging” proves beyond any reasonable doubt that politics is “a butt-ugly business.”
Bruno and Golden point out that “what is missing today (are) politicians who understand that they are elected not to be self-served, but to provide a better quality of life for the people who elected them and that sometimes takes the willingness to listen and compromise.”
Bruno notes here that he has “lived long enough to see a vanishing America.” Bruno still remembers a nation that “once upon a time . . . celebrated the ideals of hard work, self-reliance, honesty, essential decency.” It was an America where journalists “attempted to get their facts straight” and “left opinions to editorial writers.” It was a nation in which the “justice system (was) committed to the notion of fairness. Public grandstanding by prosecutors and judges was considered indecent.” In that America, Bruno observes, there was “a political system based on opponents seeking common ground and compromising in order to solve problems.”
In summary, Bruno’s other reason for telling his story was the federal government’s three-year investigation of him and the five-year court battle that followed. That gave Bruno “a close look at a legal system overwhelmed by uncontrolled prosecutorial discretion and a judge who many thought enabled the prosecution.”
Within these 265 pages, Bruno and Golden document “tales of corruption (which) are legendary.” Thirteen out of the last fourteen chapters of Bruno’s “memoir of politics and justice” take place in and around the James T. Foley United States Courthouse in Albany, New York. It is here in Courtroom Six Bruno is tried on an “eight-count, thirty-five-page indictment that basically claimed (Bruno) had deprived the citizens of (the) state of (New York) of honest services.”
Seventy-two witnesses and 4,239 pages of their testimony later, Bruno’s first trial ended in a not guilty verdict on five counts. Yet the federal government was not done yet with Bruno. After he successfully appealed his conviction on two counts of accepting gifts, two years later, the 32-year veteran of the New York Senate was indicted again, this time for allegedly taking $440,000 in bribes and kickbacks from a former business associate. Can you say, “double-jeopardy?” Maybe Bruno could’ve avoided both trials. Prior to his first court appearance, “The FBI kept suggesting to (Bruno’s attorney) that (he) come in and tell them which (New York) legislators were breaking the law.” In other words, the federal agency was allegedly offering a deal. They wanted Bruno to become their confidential informant: their spy. Bruno writes, “The feds’ attitude was that I knew where the skeletons were buried, and if (he’d) help them dig some up, they’d leave (Bruno) alone.”
This reviewer’s takeaway? In the words of the authors, “Keep Swinging” proves beyond any reasonable doubt that politics is “a butt-ugly business.”
October 13, 2017
Joe Bruno was first elected the year I was born. Growing up in Rensselaer county, it didn't get much bigger than Joe Bruno. I wasn't expecting great literature, but the political workings of Albany fascinate me. It was not a good book, and I didn't expect the crude language. At the end though, I found myself extremely angry that a judge can behave that way and get away with it. The political system, in Albany and our country, is severely broken. I feel that any illusion I still had about the balance of power between the three branches of government has been shattered. I did really appreciate the explanation of the title and have to say it's a great motto to live by.
September 9, 2020
This memoir of the great state senator Joe Bruno was a real page turner. I very much enjoyed the behind the scenes look at how politics work in Albany. After reading Senator Defrancesco’s book last year I was inspired to find another like it. While this book was written prior to it, the books paid well together. A worthwhile read for any fans of New York State Politics.
May 6, 2021
Surprisingly good book.
March 6, 2017
great read about Senator Joe Bruno and his life from the very beginning, growing up in a poor family of 8 in Glens Falls, his schooling and struggle to make his way out and what he learned about hard work, opportunity and never giving up, against all odds. Loved this book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews