The Dean: The Best Seat in the House

by John David Dingell

A candid memoir of the past eighty years in American politics, as told by the longest-serving congressman in history

Congressman John D. Dingell first came to Washington, DC, in 1933 at the age of six, when his father was elected to the Congress, and became a House page boy at eleven. Dingell has devoted his entire life to public service and has witnessed and helped shape most of the important political events that profoundly changed America over the last nine decades. Rife with wisdom born of unparalleled experience and filled with the caustic candor that has made him a living legend on “the Twitter Machine,” The Dean is the inside story of the greatest legislative achievements in modern American history and of the tough fights that made them possible.

Here Dingell looks back at his life at the center of American government and vividly describes the political currents that swirled through Congress and the nation. At the age of fifteen, Dingell was in the House Chamber on December 8, 1941, and personally heard President Roosevelt declare it “a date which will live in infamy.” Almost a quarter century later, he presided over the House when Medicare was passed and led the health care reform effort in the House of Representatives from his first term in 1955 through the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, when President Obama invited Dingell to sit at the table when the bill was signed into law.

Congressman Dingell worked closely alongside some of the most legendary names in American politics, including Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Barack Obama; Vice Presidents Hubert Humphrey and Joseph Biden; Senator Ted Kennedy; and House Speakers Sam Rayburn and John McCormack. And though he is a lifelong, proud Democrat, Dingell built lasting bipartisan friendships with Republican leaders such as Presidents Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush, Secretary of State James Baker, and Senator Alan Simpson.

And in a scathingly powerful afterword, Dingell addresses our nation’s future in the wake of an unprecedented attack on all our democratic institutions. He presents a persuasive defense of government, reminding us how it once worked honorably and well across the aisle, and offers hope for how it can do so again. By sharing his personal story as a descendant of immigrants, Dingell also reminds us of this country’s founding promise to remain a beacon of liberty to the entire world. The Dean is essential reading for all who love this country as deeply as John D. Dingell does.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Memoir, American History, Biography Memoir

327 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2018

Reviews

[Denny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with The Dean mainly because it isn't at all what I was expecting, which as the book jacket synopsis claims is "the inside story of the greatest legislative achievements in modern American history and of the tough fights that made them possible." No. It is most certainly not that. Perhaps the overblown hyperbole of that claim should've put me on alert, but the rest of the synopsis had me convinced I was going to learn the nitty-gritty details of all the bipartisan wrangling Mr. Dingell accomplished to get his beneficial legislation passed.

The Dean hardly deals with that at all. Yes, Dingell does spend some time writing about some of the laws he got passed and who helped him. But what this book boils down to is nostalgic puffery as an old, privileged, powerful American male (he was 92 when he died just a few months after this book was published) reflects misty-eyed through rose-tinted glasses and with the help of an equally jaded and almost as old coauthor at his long life and career of public service and declares that all he's lived and done was good. Except for the new breed of young, selfish, greedy lawmakers who have no knowledge of or concern with how to work together to pass good laws to help the poor & underprivileged like Dingell and his daddy before him did.

To his credit, Dingell did a whole lot of good for a whole lot of Americans for a really long time during his 59-year, 11-month career in Congress. I have no doubt that an experienced, competent, unbiased biographer will someday publish an excellent, objective Dingell biography, maybe even with a multi-volume career retrospective to accompany it. But The Dean is neither. I wish I had spent the 5 days it took me to read it on something else.

[Argum · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Dingell was my Congressman and I was proud to have the opportunity to vote for him at least once when the redistricting made me part of his district. His Twitter is legendary for good reason. But more than that The Dean is what public service is supposed to be and this book details that so well. It was particularly timely release in that one foreword was written by his friend Bush 41 who died just days before it's release. The language of compromise and true stories of friendships across the aisle were told in this book and at the funerals of the former President. It is laugh out loud funny it many places, even at things you normally can't find a way to laugh at in this current regime, but also tells a broader story of the history that Mr. Dingell has lived and shaped. My politics align quite well with my favorite Congressman, but I think anyone could enjoy his stories of times gone by. An American Hero and an example to us all of true public service. He speaks his mind for what he believes to be right, damn the consequences, also something lacking in today's political climate where only expedient comments are made. Thank you Mr. Dingell for everything and especially writing it all down for us to enjoy and learn from.

UPS comes about 6 pm and I had to force myself to save the last two chapters for the next day because it was too good to stop reading, but wanted to savor the experience. I sent so many snippets to friends and family because it was so great (not that they dont get frequent updates from his Twitter).

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I didn't know much about Rep. Dingell other than his being the longest-serving member of Congress, so I was interested in learning more about his life and his nearly 60 years in the House. If you are an American history/political buff, this book definitely does not disappoint in those regards. The list of historical events he was present for is just mind-boggling.

Like most memoirs, there are corny moments, but those are to be expected. I was glad to see how ahead of his time he was on so many issues, though on some issues, particularly gun rights/control, I was disappointed, and he didn't do a great job explaining his views on that. But overall I would have been happy to have him as my congressman, since it's clear he truly cared about his constituents. He (and his father before him) dedicated their careers to the interests of working people, particularly expanding access to health care.

If you read no other part of the book, I suggest that you read the section at the end of the epilogue, where Dingell provides his list of suggestions for how to pull the country out of the hellhole it's currently in. For his entire career, Dingell had no problem speaking his mind, and that is still true here (particularly in his suggestion to Abolish the Senate! Bold but thought-provoking). I'm glad that Rep. Dingell recorded his thoughts in this book, as he is an important figure in our nation's history.

[Michael Stetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There’s no way in hell we’ll be crazy enough to elect this orange son of a bitch.”

[Rebecca Altneu · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I am not from Michigan (nor the Midwest) and thus up until a couple of years ago when he popped up on Hilary Clinton's twitter feed I never knew who John Dingell was. Lo and behold I very quickly realized I was missing out and followed him until his death a couple of months ago. His passing inspired me to read this book. I overall enjoyed it especially when he made wisecracks which he did frequently because I kind of felt like he wrote in those moments how he would post on twitter. The book overall was really interesting if for no other reason I feel like I now know more about how Congress works (and has evolved) and we are lucky enough to have a written account from someone who lived through seeing the Civil Rights movement as well as the Affordable Care Act come in to law. If this does not truly amaze you I don't know what will. Was he a bit long winded in points? Yes. But I would recommend. Also it's very clear he didn't like Trump which I mean who does anyway....

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best thing I've read this year.

[Andrew Figueiredo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more time that passes, the more I appreciate political memoirs. Of course, when I heard that John Dingell was writing one, I knew I had to read it. Unsurprisingly, it did not disappoint. Dingell is a fantastic storyteller with the power to inspire laughter, hope, and outrage (at the current administration) in a relatively short book.

He ties the story of his father’s time in Congress to his own and then his wife’s in a way that displays the Dingell family’s true devotion to American politics. His lengthy, distinguished career provides a bevy of stories and chunks of wisdom. From FDR to Watergate to the Tea Party to Trump, it’s a great trip through history. Dingell’s commitment to goals like universal healthcare and his never-ending fight for the vulnerable are made very clear. The only downside comes in his solutions for American democracy, which seem a little disproportionate in nature to the problems we face. Overall, with his recent passing, “The Dean” is one of the best newer memoirs out there. I highly recommend this to others seeking to learn more about how politics was and is in America.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am ashamed to admit that I didn’t know who The Dean was until I started seeing his hilarious and witty tweets frequently retweeted onto my timeline. I started following him and as I learned about his history (thank you Wikipedia) I also grew to feel an affection for him as Twitter’s wise and witty grandpa. Although I knew he could and would not live forever, I felt a profound and personal loss when he passed recently.

Reading this has been the perfect fill to that void. For those that also enjoyed his tweets, you will recognize his voice on every page. For those that love American history, you will find this an enjoyable read providing an up close perspective on most major events of the past 100 years. And for those that are genuinely worried about Trump and his destruction of our country, you will find a voice of reason and hope and guidance as to how to get back on track. He and his father (and now his wife) have blessed our country with a commitment to social justice legislation that has no match.

You’ll also enjoy all of his many creative digs and insults of the Orange Clown that only Congressman Dingell could dream up in a way that will make you laugh while acknowledging the serious trouble we are in. If nothing else, read it for that.

[Vince Tuss · Rating 3 out of 5]

At its best with Dingell’s recollections about family and D.C. At its worst when it uses transcripts or other quotes material. But it was a lively read, mostly if you are interested in politics.

[Jamie Slate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learn how John Dingell, the longest serving member of Congress that there ever was and ever will be, came to run the Congress floor, controlling policy for anything that ‘moved, burns, or is sold.’

Meet the Dingells, the progressive political dynasty that came up alongside the Roosevelts and the Kennedys—and will likely outlast them all.

John Dingell’s politically-oriented biography Celebrates his family origin: moving over from Poland to take job openings left by freed slaves, and moving up to a place of prominence in the American political system through devoted public service.

While sick in bed with tuberculosis, a young John Dingell Sr, inspired by the writings of Theodore Roosevelt, decided that he would become a member of Congress. And that’s exactly what he did.

Dingell Sr railed against the big banks of the Great Depression era, and worked tirelessly to realize a dream that is still in the making—universal healthcare. He was standing next to FDR as Social Security was signed into law.

Dingell Jr served 60 years in Congress (even more if you count his years serving in the youth page program). In that time he continued his family’s fight for healthcare, playing the game of politics back in a time before “compromise” became a dirty word. It is no coincidence that Dingell Jr was beside president Obama as the Affordable Care Act was signed into law.

His life story includes insights and anecdotes that are fascinating because they are so poignant and coming from a true political insider.

SOME OF MY FAVORITE NUGGETS:

On the theme of compromise: “Progress never follows a straight line.”

“you can do extraordinary things when you talk about them in ordinary ways."

“You can accomplish most of what you want if you don't mind letting other people take the credit for it.”

“looking for the good in everyone makes it possible to find allies in the strangest places”

“Knowing when the time is right to make some thing an issue with a hard skill to learn. Yet it's how I was able to get a lot done, especially on the environment. You eventually learn to watch for when the bastards are distracted and then sneak things through when they're not looking.”

“Banketeering” a nice term for criminal bank profiteers.

Teabaggers — A fitting name for members of the Tea Party

As a lawyer (or any service provider): “when the person paying you here's your amount, laugh out loud, and quickly says, "you bet!" You've almost certainly left a lot of money on the table.”

In response to modern GOP members: “I’d just say shame on them, but you can't shame these characters. They're right out of the Wizard of Oz, one of the first movies I ever saw it as a kid. They've got no brains and they've got no hearts. They definitely haven’t the courage to stand up to the flying monkeys who foot their campaign bills.”

SHOCKING HEALTHCARE FACT: “Fully 1/3 of 18 million young men who have been drafted were suffering from previously undiagnosed (and therefore untreated) illnesses that prevented them from serving their country.”

EVIL LOBBYING: Where the AMA killed healthcare reform, the Dingell-Murray-Wagner bill: “The American medical Association fought back hard, fully aware that the cost of any change to the status quo of “pay to play” healthcare would come out of its well lined pockets.

Reflection on the Clinton Care.He announced it two months before saying what was in the bill. Giving the opposition time to kill it in the cradle.

When grilling people: “never ask a question you don't already know the answer to”

Strong framing which destroys voter ID laws: “today's voter ID laws represent merely a poll tax under a new name. Poll taxes and voter ID laws both require voters to pay money to the government in order to exercise their constitutional right to vote.”

Republicans’ claims of voter fraud: in-person voter fraud in the United States is rarer than hens teeth. Their voter ID laws are a solution to a problem that does not exist"

Eloquent way of referring to ‘the people’: “consumers, investors, and the American public”

There are so many more golden nuggets of wisdom and humor in there. BUT you’re going to have to read for yourself if you want to get a mental picture of how grown men expressed enthusiasm in a time before the high five was invented!


CONCLUSION
I’m certainly glad I read this book, and would recommend it to anybody who wants to get a deeper look into how American politics work, and also to get a review of US legislative history through the perspective of a Congress insider. In his 60 years of public service John Dingell was a workhorse, not a show horse, so I’m grateful that he spent his final years to leave this book behind for future generations. And on that topic, one last quote.

“Children are 25% of our population and 100% of our future”

[Andrew Dittmar · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Dingell did a lot of good in his time in the House of Representatives. He played integral roles in significant bills that have done a great deal for the people of the United States.

But it is hard to talk about his legacy right now without pointing out Dingell's relentless support of gun rights and the National Rifle Association. In 2014, when he announced his retirement, and in 2019, when he died, reflections on his political career recognized that Dingell, with six decades in Congress, had played an outsized role in the seeming intractability of the gun issue of the United States. It is to his wife's credit that she had challenged her husband's legacy in this regard, but in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas shooting just days ago, my feeling of generosity is limited.

It is also worth recognizing that Dingell's support of the auto industry has furthered the seeming intractability of the United States' dependence on fossil fuels.

Every political figure is a mix of the good and the bad; even the most admired and beloved have messy moments in their history that a full reckoning of their career must acknowledge.

As a political memoir, this book is intermittently successful. Occasionally it is illuminating, even inspiring. Occasionally it is frustrating, because there does seem to be that frustrating graduation eyes syndrome, reflecting on when everything was all hunky-dory and you could disagree without being disagreeable. Perhaps there is some validity to that, yet Dingell doesn't seem to fully recognize the anti-democratic trend that the Republican Party has demonstrated. Indeed, I question if this would have remained his perspective had he been alive for the 2020 election and its aftermath.

Dingell undoubtedly witnessed extraordinary history. His remembrances of everything from the declaration of war in 1941 to the signing of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 demonstrate the vastness of his experience, the moments and relationships he shared with history-makers of wide repute.

This book works best, though, as a loving tribute from a son to his father. Dingell clearly not just loved his father, but admired and respected him. There are moments that are incredibly touching as a 90-year-old man reflects on his deceased father, gone some 60 years now.

I have to admit that I was supportive of Debbie Dingell's primary challenger, Solomon Rajput, in the 2020 election; this was less out of animosity toward Dingell as opposed to my hopes that Rajput, a 28-year-old progressive Muslim medical student, would better represent my progressive mindset in Congress. Yet, reading this, and learning more of the Dingell family as a whole, I am impressed and grateful to them for their service.

I do hope, though, that a scholarly biography is written on Dingell, without personal bias and a wide-ranging view at his many successes and failures.

[Philip Clapham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good but not great. It suffered from bad editing. For instance, the same quote from FDR was used twice within thirty pages near the end of the book. Also there was too many and too long of quotes in general.

Ok, that said, I enjoyed the book because it was about John Dingell, who was a great American. I really enjoyed reading about his ancestors early days in America and his father’s life. And one of the first chapters is his personal perspective and memory of being in the House of Representatives when FDR gave his “day that lives in infamy” speech and the House voted to go to war with Japan. That was really a great chapter.

The book started out good, the best chapters were those about his father’s younger years and his own younger years. But as the book went on, the chapters had a less focused narrative. Although some very nice historical factoids and anecdotes were sprinkled in still. But most of the chapters in the middle and end of the book lacked a focused story, for example the chapters about civil rights and oversight. I blame the coauthor for this as well as any editors.

A positive aspect that I did love was that I could hear Dingell’s voice throughout the book. He has a hilarious crassness at times that is recognizably dated language so you know you’re listening to the words of an old man. Reminded me of talking to old men that are family friends or WW2 veterans at the VA hospital where I’ve worked in the past.

In the end, being from Michigan, i enjoyed reading about this special American from my home state and I learned a few things along the way and I enjoyed the Epilogue where he suggests abolishing the Senate chamber. And I appreciated the strong pointed rebuke of DJT and company.

I don’t give the book a strong recommendation but I like John Dingell now even more than i ever have after the past few years reading his hilarious and truthful takes on the Twitter machine. He is already missed.

I can loan you this book if you’d like.

[Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Dingell served as a representative of southeast Michigan in the House for 50+ years, chaired the Energy and Commerce Committee for a number of years, and was a champion for civil rights, healthcare, clean air and water, and oversight. I admittedly didn't know a whole lot about him until his famous twitter account caught my attention, where he generally had interesting and witty sayings and commentary on the current state of political affairs and Michigan and Detroit sports. Of course I knew that he had served for a long time, but I didn't quite understand his impact. I learned a bit more about him over the years and particularly as his health deteriorated until many were convinced his days were numbered.

That said, this was an enjoyable book to read, part memoir, part autobiography, part history, and part political commentary, all with Dingell's unique tongue and witticisms. He was in the House chamber as a page when FDR expressed grief over Pearl Harbor and his expectation that Congress would declare war on Japan, through the passage of the Affordable Care Act by President Obama.

One of the common themes Dingell touched on was how compromise and bipartisanship have become dirty words in recent years, how things "used to get done" and don't anymore in the everlasting gridlock state.

In the end, he proposes 3 overarching themes to get America on track. 1) Respect one another again. This one is obviously easier said than done, but he frequently refers to the fact that some of his best friends in Congress were Republicans, that they had personal relationships, and because that were often able to engage in meaningful debates. 2) Remove the outsized influence of smaller states by abolishing the Senate and the Electoral College. He argues that because there are 2 senators from each state, any meaningful legislation can be blocked by an effective minority of the population. And, of course, 2 of our most recent presidents were elected without the popular vote. 3) Remove the influence of money in politics, which kind of goes without saying.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

"After eighty years of living in Washington, DC, if I've learned one thing, it's that elected officials are supposed to be there as servants of the public interest, not of their self-interest, or of partisan ideology."

Starting with Rep. John Dingell's days as a House page boy, "The Dean" gives an inside look at how the U.S. government really works - exclusive access directly from the man who spent decades in Washington DC. Dingell's dedication to his country jumps off the pages.

Holding the records for longest-ever serving congressman in American history and the longest-serving Dean of the House, Dingell has so much knowledge to share, while always maintaining his personality. He was front row for so many important moments in U.S. history - including FDR's "a date which will live in infamy" speech, the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the signing of the Affordable Care Act - and he gives details on it all. Dingell not only recounts these times, but also shares takeaways on how the US government should be serving its people.

And as Dingell succeeded his father for his congressional seat, "The Dean" also covers his father's time in office - a nice tribute.

RIP, Mr. Dingell. The country could really use your wisdom right now.

(Also, my edition of "The Dean" misspells Dingell's name on the spine...)

[Dave Whitman · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a long time resident of Southeast Michigan, I was always aware of Dingell (and loved his Twitter presence), but didn't know much about him, so not long after he passed away, I was inspired to check out this book. The first section of this book that shares the history of his family is outstanding. I was very interested to read about the struggles that helped shape what kind of person he was. Unfortunately, I found the rest of the book to be a little dull and kind of scattered. It didn't seem to have any real order to it and the long quotes of speeches from the House floor were not very compelling. Also, I know he didn't think much of Trump (and I'm right there with him), but he kept going back there over and over and over again, which I found to be pretty tiresome.
A great man with a great story...I just wish it would have been told in a more interesting way.

[Carlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started out reading the hardback, then switched to the audiobook (these days, I just don't have the patience to read written words), and gave up after (the audiobook version of) page 134.

I wanted to like this book - I find the House of Representatives pretty interesting and thought this would be a good chance for a glimpse behind the curtain, so to speak. The first part of the book focuses primarily on John Dingell Sr. (the father of the author) and how he got to Congress. That part was all fine and well, but when we move into the career of John Dingell the son and up to present day, the biting partisan tone was just too much at this time. Maybe it'll be better in 50 or 100 years when it'll be "history".

[Ymar Solamo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for every freshman rep before they take their oath. Dingell led such a deep life of public service. He was a page when Roosevelt made his day of infamy speech. He was a staunch defender of the 2nd Amendment. He was at the signing of the ACA.

Any who hope to follow him should be rightly fearful of being able to measure up to his example. But that should be their great ambition. And anyone who fails to and leaves the House only to join the ever growing ranks of Washington lobbyists should only feel the deepest shame.

It also left me wondering if I was wrong about Ford. He humanizes him in a way that makes me want to learn more about him and his administration.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Dingell was there when FDR addressed a joint session of Congress following Pearl Harbor, he witnessed the signing into law of such bills as Medicare and the Civil Rights Act, and he was sat next to Barack Obama when he signed the Affordable Care Act into law. Dingell played a role in so many important moments in US political history! This was a really great memoir from one of my all time favourite US politicians. There were parts of this that literally made me laugh out loud and others that were incredibly poignant. It's also sprinkled with excerpts of speeches Dingell gave or heard or were relevant to the book which I felt added to getting the point across.

[Anuj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as Rep Dingell represented my hometown state in US congress for my whole life, and he unfortunately passed away recently.

The book has great stories of of him and his fathers service, anecdotes inspires partisanship, and how getting the job done in congress. Ultimately gave 3 stars as it felt like the conclusion was unrelated to the book and many anecdotes were just elaborated for too long.

Read this if you are a government buff or want to learn more about Dingell. Otherwise, go to his twitter profile instead to learn his thoughts in a more efficient way.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chairman Dingell's autobiography is enormously entertaining and readable. He places his career squarely in the legacy of his father, who crusaded for national health insurance, bank regulation, and many other sensible goals. The book is much more of a personal reflection than recitation of accomplishments on legislation and oversight (about which he could have filled at least three books) and as such this serves as an inspiring memoir about the importance to our republic of public service by honorable citizens.

[Daniel Dolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Dingell's autobiography should be a must read for each new member of congress. His family's story is an American story of rags to public service. As one of the longest serving members of Congress, Dingell offers sage advice on how to restore civility to Washington politics and surprising ideas on how to reform our government to better reflect the demographic changes occurring this century. A friend recommended this book and I am glad that I took his advice and took the time to read it. You will be too.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Dingell was a page in the House and heard President Roosevelts 1941 declaration.The first half of this book is an amazing look at our congress through his long career. All the experiences, his and his Dad's are unique to the long serving Dingell's. The second half is good.The reader will find the topics all too familiar. There is no love lost, as you would suspect to the present President.

[Tom Grover · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a colorful memoir from an individual who had a front row seat to history in the House of Representatives from FDR to Donald Trump. John Dingell bemoans the absence of civility in the Trump era and yet throws as many Trump-esque insults at Trump as anyone else. The book overwhelmingly focuses on FDR/Truman and Trump, but leaves most of the intervening decades untouched. This was a lost opportunity.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history from a first hand observer. Super fortunate to have all this family history finally written down. My boys will read this book and do will there kids, God willing.

Captures his voice very acutely. It was said at his funeral that you remember all your conversations with him. This book is like everything you wanted to ask in one 300-page listening session.

[idgiethreadegoode · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a class, it was pretty engaging and interesting most of the way through. Some questionable side tangents, but it wasn’t a difficult read and it served its purpose for the class (understanding and analyzing congress).

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for every new freshman representative, all parties.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd like him to elaborate on the "Abolish the Senate" idea that was kind of thrown in at the end there in the epilogue, but I love John Dingell and loved his book.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Front-row seat to 20th and 21st century American history, funny, sad, infuriating, uplifting

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book by a great man. A.

[Matthew Stetz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honor and privilege to be represented by a Dingle for my entire life.