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Law's Religion
by Benjamin L. BergerPrevailing stories about law and religion place great faith in the capacity of legal multiculturalism, rights-based toleration, and conceptions of the secular to manage issues raised by religious difference. Yet the relationship between law and religion consistently proves more fraught than such accounts suggest. In Law's Religion, Benjamin L. Berger knocks law from its perch above culture, arguing that liberal constitutionalism is an aspect of, not an answer to, the challenges of cultural pluralism. Berger urges an approach to the study of law and religion that focuses on the experience of law as a potent cultural force.Based on a close reading of Canadian jurisprudence, but relevant to all liberal legal orders, this book explores the nature and limits of legal tolerance and shows how constitutional law's understanding of religion shapes religious freedom. Rather than calling for legal reform, Law's Religion invites us to rethink the ethics, virtues, and practices of adjudication in matters of religious difference.
Law's Sacrifice: Approaching the Problem of Sacrifice in Law, Literature, and Philosophy
by Brian W. Nail Jeffrey A. EllsworthThis volume examines the relationship between law and sacrifice as a crucial nexus for theorizing the dynamics of creation, destruction, transcendence, and violence within the philosophical and legal discourse of western society. At a time of populist political unrest, what philosophical and theoretical resources are available for conceptualizing the discontent that seems to emanate from practically every sphere of society? What narrative strategies have been employed within literary, theological, philosophical, and legal discourse to tame or mystify human violence? Engaging with the work of preeminent theorists of sacrifice, such as Georges Bataille, René Girard, Giorgio Agamben, and Jacques Derrida this collection examines from an interdisciplinary perspective the sacrificial logic that characterizes the cultural and political dynamics of law in society. The book will be of interest to students and scholars in the field of legal theory and philosophy.
The Laws That Shaped America: Fifteen Acts of Congress and Their Lasting Impact
by Dennis W. JohnsonFor better and sometimes for worse, Congress is a reflection of the aspirations, wants, and priorities of the American people. It reflects the kaleidoscope of special interests and unselfish service to others, of favors sought and sacrifices made. During each two-year session of Congress, thousands of pieces of legislation are proposed, many hundreds are given serious consideration, but far fewer are eventually enacted into law. Most enactments have limited impact, affect few, and are quietly forgotten in the flow of legislative activity. However, a small number of laws have risen to the level of historical consequence. These are the laws that have shaped America, and they are the subject of this book. Which pieces of legislation were the most significant for the development of the nation? Which have had an immediate or lasting impact on our society? Which laws so affected us that we could not imagine how our lives would be without them? Dennis W. Johnson vividly portrays the story of fifteen major laws enacted over the course of two centuries of American democracy. For each law, he examines the forces and circumstances that led to its enactment--the power struggles between rival interests, the competition between lawmakers and the administration, the compromises and principled stands, and the impact of the legislation and its place in American history.
Law's Trace: From Hegel to Derrida
by Catherine KelloggLaw's Trace argues for the political importance of deconstruction by taking Derrida’s reading of Hegel as its point of departure. While it is well established that seemingly neutral and inclusive legal and political categories and representations are always, in fact, partial and exclusive, among Derrida’s most potent arguments was that the exclusions at work in every representation are not accidental but constitutive. Indeed, one of the most significant ways that modern philosophy appears to having completed its task of accounting for everything is by claiming that its foundational concepts – representation, democracy, justice, and so on – are what will have always been. They display what Derrida has called a "fabulous retroactivity." This means that such forms of political life as liberal constitutional democracy, capitalism, the rule of law, or even the private nuclear family, appear to be the inevitable consequence of human development. Hegel’s thought is central to the argument of this book for this reason: the logic of this fabulous retroactivity was articulated most decisively for the modern era by the powerful idea of the Aufhebung – the temporal structure of the always-already. Deconstruction reveals the exclusions at work in the foundational political concepts of modernity by ‘re-tracing’ the path of their creation, revealing the ‘always-already’ at work in that path. Every representation, knowledge or law is more uncertain than it seems, and the central argument of Law's Trace is that they are, therefore, always potential sites for political struggle.
Lawyering for the Rule of Law
by Yoav DotanLawyering for the Rule of Law introduces a new model of government lawyering in which government lawyers function as an ancillary mechanism that enables the court to expand its influence on policy-making within the political branches by forming out-of-court settlements. It discusses the centrality of government lawyers with regard to judicial mobilization and the enforcement of social reforms through adjudication, and sheds light on particular functions of government lawyers as adjudicators and facilitators of institutional arrangements. It also discusses the ethical and professional dilemmas of government lawyers in judicial review and the relationship between lawyers' professional morality and outcomes in litigation.
Lawyers, Guns, and Money
by Carol X. VinzantThis inspiring book, Lawyers, Guns, and Money by Carol X. Vinzant, recounts the heroic efforts of Tom McDermott, a lawyer and victim of the infamous Colin Ferguson rampage on the Long Island Railroad, to take on the gun industry. He is among the leaders of an innovative and promising strategy to circumvent the NRA's political power and courts constrained by interpretations of the Second Amendment. Through civil action he hits the gun companies where it hurts most: the bottom line. Making insurance difficult for manufacturers to get, he has helped reduce the number of cheap hand guns, "Saturday Night Specials," often used in crime. This is a riveting account of tragedy turned into action, and how the law can be used to defend victims rather than enrich corporations.
Lawyers in Conflict and Transition (Cambridge Studies in Law and Society)
by Kieran McEvoy Louise Mallinder Anna BrysonCountries undergoing or recovering from conflict and authoritarianism often face profound rule of law challenges. The law on the statute books may be repressive, judicial independence may be compromised, and criminal justice agencies may be captured by powerful interests. How do lawyers working within such settings imagine the law? How do they understand their ethical obligations towards their clients and the rule of law? What factors motivate them to use their legal practice and social capital to challenge repressive power? What challenges and risks can they face if they do so? And when do lawyers facilitate or acquiesce to illegality and injustice? Drawing on over 130 interviews from Cambodia, Chile, Israel, Palestine, South Africa, and Tunisia, this book explores the extent to which theoretical understandings within law and society research on the motivations, strategies, tactics, and experiences of lawyers within democratic states apply to these more challenging environments.
Lay and Expert Contributions to Japanese Criminal Justice: Legal Outsiders
by Erik HerberThis book examines the little or not previously researched roles and contributions of non-legal professionals in Japanese criminal justice against the background of recent social and legal changes that either gave birth to or affected the roles played by these "outsiders". On the basis of a wealth of primary and secondary sources, including meeting records of policy makers and practitioners, surveys, interviews and court verdicts, the book zooms in on forensic psychiatrists’ role in the disappearance of criminally insane defendants from Japanese criminal courts; social workers’ new role in diverting a growing number of elderly, mentally disturbed repeat offenders from prison; the therapeutic dimension added to Japanese criminal justice proceedings with the introduction of a system of victim participation as well as the increasingly important role of forensic scientists’ contributions, notably DNA evidence, in Japanese courts. Finally, it examines lay judges’ contributions to sentencing practices as well as how these lay judges make sense of the other outsiders’ contributions. On the basis of very recent social and legal developments the book provides an original contribution to understandings of Japanese criminal justice, as well as more general socio-legal debates on the role of extra-legal knowledge in criminal justice. The book will be of value within BA and MA level courses on and to students and researchers of Japanese law and society as well as comparative criminal justice and socio-legal theory.
Lay Them to Rest: On the Road with the Cold Case Investigators Who Identify the Nameless
by Laurah NortonTake a fascinating deep dive into the dark world of forensic science as experts team up to solve the identity of an unknown woman by exploring the rapidly evolving techniques being used to break the most notorious cold cases. Fans of true crime shows like CSI, NCIS, Criminal Minds, and Law and Order know that when it comes to &“getting the bad guy&” behind bars, your best chance of success boils down to the strength of your evidence—and the forensic science used to obtain it. Beyond the silver screen, forensic science has been used for decades to help solve even the most tough-to-crack cases. In 2018, the accused Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo, was finally apprehended after a decades-long investigation thanks to a very recent technique called forensic genealogy, which has since led to the closure of hundreds of cold cases, bringing long-awaited justice to victims and families alike. But when it comes to solving these incredibly difficult cases, forensic genealogy is just the tip of the iceberg—and many readers have no idea just how far down that iceberg goes. For Laurah Norton, forensic science was always more of a passion than anything else. But after learning about a mishandled 1990s cold case involving missing twins, she was spurred to action, eventually creating a massively popular podcast and building a platform that helped bring widespread attention and resources to the case. LAY THEM TO REST builds on Laurah&’s fascination with these investigations, introducing readers to the history and evolution of forensic science, from the death masks used in Ancient Rome to the 3-D facial reconstruction technology used today. Incorporating the stories of real-life John & Jane Does from around the world, Laurah also examines how changing identification methods have helped solve the most iconic cold cases. Along the way readers will also get to see Laurah solve a case in real time with forensic anthropologist Dr. Amy Michael, as they try to determine the identity of &“Ina&” Jane Doe, a woman whose head was found in a brush in an Illinois park in 1993. More than just a chronicle of the history of forensics, LAY THEM TO REST is also a celebration of the growing field of experts, forensic artists, and anthropologists (many of whom Laurah talks to in the book), who work tirelessly to bring closure to these unsolved cases. And of course, this book asks why some cases go unsolved, highlighting the &“missing missing,&” the sex workers, undocumented, the cases that so desperately need our attention, but so rarely get it. Engrossing, informative, heartbreaking, and hopeful, LAY THEM TO REST is a deep dive into the world of forensic science, showing readers how far we&’ve come in cracking cases and catching killers, and illuminating just how far we have yet to go.
Layered Global Player
by Henri De WaeleLayered Global Player offers a concise but thorough overview of the principles of EU external relations law. By closely examining the role of the European Union on the global scene, it aims to provide a systematic overview of the relevant rules and competences, reflecting the legal developments in their historical and political context. The book contains up-to-date analyses of topics such as the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the Common Security and Defence Policy and the Common Commercial Policy. Moreover, it devotes specific attention to the EU's external powers with regard to the environment, fundamental human rights and development cooperation. It also includes a dedicated chapter exploring the relations with neighbouring countries, as well as one that elucidates the complex interplay between rules of domestic, European and international provenance. Overall, this book couples an innovative design with comprehensive coverage and an engaging style of writing. Its compactness and accessibility enable readers to master the main features of this dynamic field of law with ease, making it an indispensible resource for scholars and practitioners alike.
Lázaro Cárdenas: Un mexicano del siglo XX
by Ricardo Pérez MontfortLos años que definieron una vida y una idea de patria. En este segundo tomo de Lázaro Cárdenas. Un mexicano del siglo XX, se relata el periodo central en la vida del General: aquél que transformó nuestro país y lo catapultó a la historia. Los años de su sexenio (1934-1940) y de su encargo como secretario de la Defensa Nacional -durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, ni más ni menos- son analizados con una prosa rigurosa y ágil por Ricardo Pérez Montfort, quien desmonta mitos del michoacano, de la Expropiación Petrolera, de su visión de la política y de su existencia tras Los Pinos. Así, en este tomo II de la biografía más documentada de Cárdenas del Río se presentan las coordenadas imprescindibles para entender el México de hoy, sus luchas y contradicciones.
Lázaro Cárdenas. Un mexicano del siglo XX
by Ricardo Pérez MontfortLa biografía definitiva sobre un hombre que transformó un país. El nombre Lázaro Cárdenas se convirtió en una alegoría. Es inevitable que al pronunciarlo se piense en la expropiación petrolera, la Revolución de 1910, la construcción del México moderno, la idea de soberanía y la noción misma de lo heroico. Pero esa metáfora encubre toda la complejidad de Lázaro Cárdenas del Río, un hombre de carne y hueso que tuvo una vida inaudita, trepidante y asombrosa, plena de sutilezas y claroscuros. En esta obra, Ricardo Pérez Montfort -uno de los mayores investigadores del expresidente- relata sin cortapisas la vida del michoacano, con brillante fluidez explica las motivaciones que lo guiaron y contextualiza las decisiones de quien tal vez sea uno de los políticos mexicanos más reconocidos pero más desconocidos, más alabados pero más envueltos en mitos. En este primer tomo de Lázaro Cárdenas. Un mexicano del siglo XX, se profundiza en los años de formación del general: su infancia y juventud, su participación en la Revolución mexicana, sus inicios en la política y su meteórico ascenso en los pasillos del poder: en resumen, los hechos que configuraron al hombre que cambiaría México.
Lázaro Cárdenas. Un mexicano del siglo XX (El hombre que cambió al país #Volumen 2)
by Ricardo Pérez MontfortLa biografía definitiva sobre un hombre que transformó un país. El nombre Lázaro Cárdenas se convirtió en una alegoría. Es inevitable que al pronunciarlo se piense en la expropiación petrolera, la Revolución de 1910, la construcción del México moderno, la idea de soberanía y la noción misma de lo heroico. Pero esa metáfora encubre toda la complejidad de Lázaro Cárdenas del Río, un hombre de carne y hueso que tuvo una vida inaudita, trepidante y asombrosa, plena de sutilezas y claroscuros. En esta obra, Ricardo Pérez Montfort -uno de los mayores investigadores del expresidente- relata sin cortapisas la vida del michoacano, con brillante fluidez explica las motivaciones que lo guiaron y contextualiza las decisiones de quien tal vez sea uno de los políticos mexicanos más reconocidos pero más desconocidos, más alabados pero más envueltos en mitos. En este primer tomo de Lázaro Cárdenas. Un mexicano del siglo XX, se profundiza en los años de formación del general: su infancia y juventud, su participación en la Revolución mexicana, sus inicios en la política y su meteórico ascenso en los pasillos del poder: en resumen, los hechos que configuraron al hombre que cambiaría México.
The Lazarus Heist: Based on the No 1 Hit podcast
by Geoff WhiteBASED ON THE NO 1 HIT PODCAST: THE LAZARUS HEIST They have been accused of causing mayhem in Hollywood with 2014's infamous Sony hack.They're allegedly behind WannaCry, a cyber-attack which brought the NHS to a dangerous standstill.And it has been claimed that they have stolen more than $ 1bn in an international crime spree.They are the Lazarus Group, a shadowy cabal of hackers accused of working on behalf of the North Korean state.From the streets of Dhaka to the casinos of Macau to the secretive capital of Pyongyang, this shocking story uncovers the secret world of the Lazarus Group, their victims and those who have tried - and so far, failed - to stop them.'Madly intriguing' Guardian'You'll never see North Korea the same way again' Oliver Bullough, Moneyland'One of the most incredible cyber-espionage stories I've ever heard' Jamie Bartlett, The Missing Crypto Queen'Pacy and eye-popping' Tom Burgis, Kleptopia
Lazarus Rising: A Personal and Political Autobiography
by John HowardJohn Howard spent decades under media scrutiny, and while his credentials as a political leader, devoted family man and sports tragic are beyond dispute, in this autobiography he reveals much more about himself. In Lazarus Rising, Howard traces his personal and political journey, from childhood in the post-World War II era through to the present day, painting a fascinating picture of a changing Australia. We see the youngster who had to overcome serious deafness and who latched onto the family passion for current affairs and politics. From school debating, to a legal career, to the Liberal Party and life with Janette, it all seemed such a natural progression. Yet no one would say that Howard had it easy; not when his own colleagues sidelined him . . . twice. An economic radical and social conservative, John Howard's ideology united many Australians and divided just as many others. Long before he attained the role of prime minister, he first had to convince his fellow Liberals that he was the man they needed. To do that, he had to tough it out; it took several attempts and many years biding his time. When he finally got his turn to take on the ALP, he proved wrong all his doubters, and showed a whole nation that it had been a mistake ever to underestimate John Howard. He led the Liberal Party to victory in four elections and became the second-longest-serving PM in the nation's history.Lazarus Rising is history seen through the eyes of the ultimate insider; an account of a 30-year political career. No prime minister of modern times has reshaped Australia and its place in the world as forcefully as John Howard. As part of his reform agenda he privatized Telstra, dismantled excessive union power and compulsory trade union membership, instituted the unpopular Goods and Services Tax, and established the ‘work for the dole' scheme. Then there are the insights into political leadership and character, the stuff that drives history. Without his deep reserves of resilience - and the support of a strong wife and loving family - there would have been no Prime Minister John Howard walking the world stage. He tells us how he responded on issues vital to Australia, such as gun control, the aftermath of 9/11, Iraq and the rising tide of asylum-seekers. He also shares his thoughts on his former Treasurer and leadership aspirant, Peter Costello, and the Rudd-Gillard debate.Lazarus Rising takes us through the life and motivations of John Howard and through the forces which have changed and shaped both him and the country he led for 11 years.
The Laziness Myth: Narratives of Work and the Good Life in South Africa
by Christine JeskeWhen people cannot find good work, can they still find good lives? By investigating this question in the context of South Africa, where only 43 percent of adults are employed, Christine Jeske invites readers to examine their own assumptions about how work and the good life do or do not coincide. The Laziness Myth challenges the widespread premise that hard work determines success by tracing the titular "laziness myth," a persistent narrative that disguises the systems and structures that produce inequalities while blaming unemployment and other social ills on the so-called laziness of particular class, racial, and ethnic groups. Jeske offers evidence of the laziness myth's harsh consequences, as well as insights into how to challenge it with other South African narratives of a good life. In contexts as diverse as rapping in a library, manufacturing leather shoes, weed-whacking neighbors' yards, negotiating marriage plans, and sharing water taps, the people described in this book will stimulate discussion on creative possibilities for seeking the good life in and out of employment, in South Africa and elsewhere.
LBJ: The Mastermind of the JFK Assassination
by Phillip F. NelsonLBJ aims to prove that Vice President Johnson played an active role in the assassination of President Kennedy and that he began planning his takeover of the U.S. presidency even before being named the vice presidential nominee in 1960. Lyndon B. Johnson's flawed personality and character traits, formed as a child, grew unchecked for the rest of his life as he suffered severe bouts of manic-depressive illness. He successfully hid this disorder from the public as he bartered, stole, and finessed his way through the corridors of power on Capitol Hill, though it's recorded that some of his aides knew of his struggle with bipolar disorder. After years of researching Johnson and the JFK assassination, Phillip F. Nelson conclusively shows that LBJ had an active role in JFK's assassination, and he includes newly-uncovered photographic evidence proving that Johnson knew when and where Kennedy's assassination would take place. Nelson's careful and meticulous research has led him to uncover secrets from one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in our country's history.
LBJ
by Randall WoodsFor almost forty years, the verdict on Lyndon Johnson's presidency has been reduced to a handful of harsh words: tragedy, betrayal, lost opportunity. Initially, historians focused on the Vietnam War and how that conflict derailed liberalism, tarnished the nation's reputation, wasted lives, and eventually even led to Watergate. More recently, Johnson has been excoriated in more personal terms: as a player of political hardball, as the product of machine-style corruption, as an opportunist, as a cruel husband and boss. In LBJ, Randall B. Woods, a distinguished historian of twentieth-century America and a son of Texas, offers a wholesale reappraisal and sweeping, authoritative account of the LBJ who has been lost under this baleful gaze. Woods understands the political landscape of the American South and the differences between personal failings and political principles. Thanks to the release of thousands of hours of LBJ's White House tapes, along with the declassification of tens of thousands of documents and interviews with key aides, Woods's LBJ brings crucial new evidence to bear on many key aspects of the man and the politician. As private conversations reveal, Johnson intentionally exaggerated his stereotype in many interviews, for reasons of both tactics and contempt. It is time to set the record straight. Woods's Johnson is a flawed but deeply sympathetic character. He was born into a family with a liberal Texas tradition of public service and a strong belief in the public good. He worked tirelessly, but not just for the sake of ambition. His approach to reform at home, and to fighting fascism and communism abroad, was motivated by the same ideals and based on a liberal Christian tradition that is often forgotten today. Vietnam turned into a tragedy, but it was part and parcel of Johnson's commitment to civil rights and antipoverty reforms. LBJ offers a fascinating new history of the political upheavals of the 1960s and a new way to understand the last great burst of liberalism in America. Johnson was a magnetic character, and his life was filled with fascinating stories and scenes. Through insights gained from interviews with his longtime secretary, his Secret Service detail, and his closest aides and confidants, Woods brings Johnson before us in vivid and unforgettable color.
LBJ and Mexican Americans: The Paradox of Power
by Julie Leininger PyciorAs he worked to build his Great Society, Lyndon Johnson often harkened back to his teaching days in the segregated "Mexican" school at Cotulla, Texas. Recalling the poverty and prejudice that blighted his students’ lives, Johnson declared, "It never occurred to me in my fondest dreams that I might have the chance to help the sons and daughters of those students and to help people like them all over this country. But now I do have that chance—and I’ll let you in on a secret—I mean to use it." This book explores the complex and sometimes contradictory relations between LBJ and Mexican Americans. Julie Pycior shows that Johnson’s genuine desire to help Mexican Americans—and reap the political dividends—did not prevent him from allying himself with individuals and groups intent on thwarting Mexican Americans’ organizing efforts. Not surprisingly, these actions elicited a wide range of response, from grateful loyalty to, in some cases, outright opposition. Mexican Americans’ complicated relationship with LBJ influenced both their political development and his career with consequences that reverberated in society at large.
LBJ and the Presidential Management of Foreign Relations (An Administrative History of the Johnson Presidency)
by Paul Y. HammondIn this insightful study, Paul Y. Hammond, an experienced analyst of bureaucratic politics, adapts and extends that approach to explain and evaluate the Johnson administration’s performance in foreign relations in terms that have implications for the post–Cold War era. The book is structured around three case studies of Johnson’s foreign policy decision making. The first study examines economic and political development. It explores the way Johnson handled the provision of economic and food assistance to India during a crisis in India’s food policies. This analysis provides lessons not only for dealing with African famine in later years but also for assisting Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The second case study focuses on U.S. relations with Western Europe at a time that seemed to require a major change in the NATO alliance. Here, Hammond illuminates the process of policy innovation, particularly the costs of changing well-established policies that embody an elaborate network of established interests. The third case study treats the Vietnam War, with special emphasis on how Johnson decided what to do about Vietnam. Hammond critiques the rich scholarship available on Johnson’s advisory process, based on his own reading of the original sources. These case studies are set in a larger context of applied theory that deals more generally with presidential management of foreign relations, examining a president’s potential for influence on the one hand and the constraints on his or her capacity to control and persuade on the other. It will be important reading for all scholars and policymakers interested in the limits and possibilities of presidential power in the post–Cold War era.
LBJ and the Presidential Management of Foreign Relations (An Administrative History of the Johnson Presidency)
by Paul Y. HammondIn this insightful study, Paul Y. Hammond, an experienced analyst of bureaucratic politics, adapts and extends that approach to explain and evaluate the Johnson administration’s performance in foreign relations in terms that have implications for the post–Cold War era. The book is structured around three case studies of Johnson’s foreign policy decision making. The first study examines economic and political development. It explores the way Johnson handled the provision of economic and food assistance to India during a crisis in India’s food policies. This analysis provides lessons not only for dealing with African famine in later years but also for assisting Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The second case study focuses on U.S. relations with Western Europe at a time that seemed to require a major change in the NATO alliance. Here, Hammond illuminates the process of policy innovation, particularly the costs of changing well-established policies that embody an elaborate network of established interests. The third case study treats the Vietnam War, with special emphasis on how Johnson decided what to do about Vietnam. Hammond critiques the rich scholarship available on Johnson’s advisory process, based on his own reading of the original sources. These case studies are set in a larger context of applied theory that deals more generally with presidential management of foreign relations, examining a president’s potential for influence on the one hand and the constraints on his or her capacity to control and persuade on the other. It will be important reading for all scholars and policymakers interested in the limits and possibilities of presidential power in the post–Cold War era.
LBJ and Vietnam: A Different Kind of War (An Administrative History of the Johnson Presidency)
by Herring George C.Decades later, the Vietnam War remains a divisive memory for American society. Partisans on all sides still debate why the war was fought, how it could have been better fought, and whether it could have been won at all. <P><P> In this major study, a noted expert on the war brings a needed objectivity to these debates by examining dispassionately how and why President Lyndon Johnson and his administration conducted the war as they did. Drawing on a wealth of newly released documents from the LBJ Library, including the Tom Johnson notes from the influential Tuesday Lunch Group, George Herring discusses the concept of limited war and how it affected President Johnson's decision making, Johnson's relations with his military commanders, the administration's pacification program of 1965-1967, the management of public opinion, and the "fighting while negotiating" strategy pursued after the Tet Offensive in 1968.
LBJ and Vietnam: A Different Kind of War (An Administrative History of the Johnson Presidency)
by George C. Herring&“[A] compelling analysis . . . A solid addition to our understanding of the Vietnam War and a president.&” —Publishers Weekly The Vietnam War remains a divisive memory for Americans—partisans on all sides still debate why it was fought, how it could have been better fought, and whether it could have been won at all. In this major study, a noted expert on the war brings a needed objectivity to these debates by examining dispassionately how and why President Lyndon Johnson and his administration conducted the war as they did. Drawing on a wealth of newly released documents from the LBJ Library, including the Tom Johnson notes from the influential Tuesday Lunch Group, George Herring discusses the concept of limited war and how it affected President Johnson&’s decision making, Johnson&’s relations with his military commanders, the administration&’s pacification program of 1965–1967, the management of public opinion, and the &“fighting while negotiating&” strategy pursued after the Tet Offensive in 1968. This in-depth analysis, from a prize-winning historian and National Book Critics Circle Award finalist, exposes numerous flaws in Johnson&’s approach, in a &“concise, well-researched account&” that &“critiques Johnson's management of the Vietnam War in terms of military strategy, diplomacy, and domestic public opinion&” (Library Journal).
LBJ & Mexican Americans: The Paradox of Power
by Julie Leininger PyciorAs he worked to build his Great Society, Lyndon Johnson often harkened back to his teaching days in the segregated "Mexican" school at Cotulla, Texas. <P><P>Recalling the poverty and prejudice that blighted his students' lives, Johnson declared, "It never occurred to me in my fondest dreams that I might have the chance to help the sons and daughters of those students and to help people like them all over this country. But now I do have that chance--and I'll let you in on a secret--I mean to use it." <P> This book explores the complex and sometimes contradictory relations between LBJ and Mexican Americans. Julie Pycior shows that Johnson's genuine desire to help Mexican Americans--and reap the political dividends--did not prevent him from allying himself with individuals and groups intent on thwarting Mexican Americans' organizing efforts. Not surprisingly, these actions elicited a wide range of response, from grateful loyalty to, in some cases, outright opposition. Mexican Americans' complicated relationship with LBJ influenced both their political development and his career with consequences that reverberated in society at large.
LBJ’s 1968: Power, Politics, and the Presidency in America's Year of Upheaval
by Kyle Longley1968 was an unprecedented year in terms of upheaval on numerous scales: political, military, economic, social, cultural. In the United States, perhaps no one was more undone by the events of 1968 than President Lyndon Baines Johnson. <P><P>Kyle Longley leads his readers on a behind-the-scenes tour of what Johnson characterized as the 'year of a continuous nightmare'. Longley explores how LBJ perceived the most significant events of 1968, including the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr and Robert Kennedy, and the violent Democratic National Convention in Chicago. His responses to the crises were sometimes effective but often tragic, and LBJ's refusal to seek re-election underscores his recognition of the challenges facing the country in 1968. As much a biography of a single year as it is of LBJ, LBJ's 1968 vividly captures the tumult that dominated the headlines on a local and global level. Analyzes the crisis management style of a President; Features modern continuities in policymaking and political discourse, providing readers with a better understanding of the ongoing debates in today's political sphere; Highlights the challenges facing a president after five years of almost non-stop change and a rising conservative backlash.