Rough Edges

by James Rogan

James Rogan was born to a single mother cocktail waitress who later raised her four children on welfare and food stamps, and who ended up as a convicted felon. His bartender father abandoned his mother and him before his birth. Despite growing up in San Francisco's hardscrabble Mission District, he became a political and history aficionado as a young boy, and he once convinced former President Harry S Truman to help him with his homework. But Rogan traveled in a tough circle of friends, and after years of borderline delinquency, he ended up expelled from high school. After that, he worked at a variety of low-end jobs, from porn theater bouncer to bartender at both a Hollywood Sunset Strip female mud wrestling bar and a Hell's Angels hangout. Along the way, a young Arkansas lawyer with whom he had a chance 1978 meeting urged him to continue his education, study law, and consider entering politics in the future.
In time, Rogan scrapped his way through college and law school, and then he worked as a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney prosecuting killers in the elite Hardcore Gang Murder Unit. Later, he became a state court judge, the majority leader of the California State Assembly, and a United States congressman from Southern California. In 1998, as a Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee, his colleagues selected him to help lead the impeachment and prosecution of President Bill Clinton-the same Arkansas lawyer who advised him to go into law and politics two decades earlier.
Rough Edges is a rarity among Washington tales. It is full of outrageous stories, wild humor, pull-no-punches candor, and downright fun. Told in Rogan's engaging and frank voice, his story is certainly the most freewheeling-and the most honest-political memoir ever written.

Genres: Nonfiction

ebook

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the great privilege of being a student of Congressman (and now Judge) James E. Rogan. Regardless of one's ideology, each student in his course liked Congressman Rogan quite a lot. I took his trial advocacy course at Chapman University School of Law. What I noticed is that he is authentic and has a great deal of integrity. Unlike many professors in a lot of universities, Congressman Rogan was down to earth, was more than willing to share his thoughts, and was quite insightful. I would say that every person left his course being a far better potential attorney, regardless of what grade they received.

I did not read "Rough Edges" until after I had finished the course. I wish I had read it before I took Congressman's Rogan's course, because his life is so fascinating, and also, because of the great deal of integrity that he has held throughout his life. Rogan's story is an inherently American story. Since America does not have rigid class boundaries (that is, people are able to move in between classes due to our dynamic economy), Rogan was able to move from being raised by a welfare mother to going to college and law school on his own. Rogan could have chosen to become a "victim" and believe that the American dream was closed to him. Instead, he dreamed of a better life, and despite the hardships that he faced (as expressed in detail in the book), he never considered any of them permanent.

I also feel that I relate quite strongly to many of Mr. Rogan's stories. For one thing, I did quite poorly in high school as well. I did not enjoy going to class and received failing grades in a great deal of my courses. Second chances are, however, available in America. I went to a community college, received excellent grades, and went to UCLA. I later went on to law school as well. Rogan relishes proving his detractors wrong--such as the high school principal who says he will "find him" if he cuts class (he never does find Rogan or even look for him) and his law school dean who says "law school isn't for everyone." We have all had to confront individuals who thought we were unable to do something. It is quite an exciting experience to read about a man who would not listen to the nay-sayers and decided for himself that he would pursue his dreams. The fact that he has accomplished all of them shows the remarkable flexibility and dynamic nature of our free-market economic system. It also shows that Mr. Rogan has been impervious to negativism. He refused to back down from his dreams and, through his determination, he was able to reach his goals.

I would also note that this book is not really about the Clinton impeachment trial or about the specific details about Rogan's four years in Congress. Mr. Rogan states in the book that he will write another book on this topic, which I look forward to reading about.

I will also note that this has to be the best political autobiography that I have read in a long time. Most lawyers and, in particular, politicians who are lawyers, do not know how to write for a mainstream audience. James Rogan does know how to do so, though. In fact, I would say that his writing is superb and is quite captivating.

I am truly grateful that I have been able to take a course with such an honorable man. I gained a lot of knowledge of the law from both his course and the book. Thanks, Judge Rogan!

[Jeff Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Rogan is a terrific story teller, and this book is full of story after story! It's a quick and fun read!