Coping: on the practice of government

by Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Essays by the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. The central theme of each essay is how to frame the problems facing politicians correctly, how to identify what is really at stake. Lucidly written, it will enlighten both the political scientist and the general reader who is interested in how the American government functions.

430 pages, Unbound

Published January 1, 1975

About the author

Daniel Patrick “Pat” Moynihan was an American politician and sociologist. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the United States Senate for New York in 1976, and was re-elected three times (in 1982, 1988, and 1994). He declined to run for re-election in 2000. Prior to his years in the Senate, Moynihan was the United States' ambassador to the United Nations and to India, and was a member of four successive presidential administrations, beginning with the administration of John F. Kennedy, and continuing through Gerald Ford.

Reviews

[Charles Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never expected this book to engage, challenge and connect so much for me regarding the past 60 years of public policy and culture. Written by perhaps the only human being present in so many positions during the upheavals, decisions and policy discussions of the time. This book, written by perhaps the grandest political thinker of his time, has not been reviewed at all in Goodreads, which is a mystery to me. His other books, including his famous (infamous) “Beyond the Melting Pot”, are reviewed in depth, but this, the capstone of his early career in public service is almost unknown. A pity for each chapter, representing different speeches he made during 1960-1973, are a kind of microscope into the issues of the day from a public policy perspective and, amazingly for a book that is now almost 50 years old, a stone cold predictor of the same currents and problems still afflicting our body politic and culture. I can’t imagine ANYONE today, certainly not a Democrat, writing such a volume today.

He begins his Introduction on the very first page with a quote from Ecclesiastes 1:18; “For in much wisdom is much grief and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow...” Moynihan continues..”this dictum seems more fitted to our time; and education is more and more a matter of coming to terms with this less optimistic vision.”

With chapters on “Bosses and Reformers”, “ The Case for A Family Policy”, “The Crisis in Welfare”, “The Education of the Urban Poor”, “The New Racialism”, “Liberalism and Knowledge”, “On Universal higher Education”, and “The Presidency and the Press”, Moynihan tackles issues that were already emergent and impacting American politics and culture in the 1960s, offering analysis and prescriptions that were radical s much as they were original. Such prescriptions if offered today would result in his banishment from polite, even impolite society. Yet, his view, grounded in the purpose and title of the sub-title of the book, “On the practice of governing”, is focused on problem solving which as he saw it from his vantage point in the 60’s and early 70’s, was being replaced by programmatic solutions to issues rather than policy grounded in facts, analysis and ultimate outcomes.

An amazing volume that should be read by any political leader interested and truly committed to the public good rather than points on a scoreboard. And, as well to any American who thinks that the issues and problems of our time are unique, special and impossible to solve. Read this and weep, for the solutions are there if only we know the questions to ask.