Henry M. Jackson: A Life in Politics

Henry (Scoop) Jackson was an unusual politician, in that even his rivals recognized his special integrity and decency. There are many who felt that America lost a great opportunity when his Presidential bids were rejected by the Democratic party. I remember his courageous stands in defying the Soviet Union and helping Soviet Jewry achieve freedom. His strong stance in opposing Soviet tyranny played a role in the Reagan Administration's toppling of 'The Empire of Evil'. He left the scene far too early, and to this day he is much missed by those who believe in, and care for fundamental American ideals of freedom.

There is no doubt that here in Washington state, the U.S. Senate tandem of Henry "Scoop" Jackson and Warren Magnuson were a valuable asset to Washington's - and the nation's - development in the 20th century. So much of our state's infrastructure, institutions, and industries can be credited to these political heavyweights. But yet, so little had been written about their immense legacies up until a couple of years ago. First we got a decent bio of Magnuson written by Shelby Scates. But then came this book - "Henry M. Jackson: A Life In Politics" - which is an outstanding portrait of the man and the legacy.The author's main focus in this work is the profound and unquestioned effect Sen. Jackson had on U.S. foreign policy. The book brilliantly delves into Jackson's evolution from simple legislator to foreign policy guru. Much attention is made to Jackson's stances on a variety of foriegn policy issues, including his infamous battles with Henry Kissinger over the issues of detente, Soviet dissidents, and pro-Israel issues. Jackson proved a great foil for - and perhaps huge thorn in the side of - Dr. Kissinger, but with time and further examination, their debates likely benefitted U.S. foreign policy in the long run.Make no mistake: while there is much on Jackson's foreign policy expertise, this is a solid biography of the man in total. We get a good look at his upbringing in and around Everett, his entry into politics, his failed presidential bids, and - eventually - his sudden and surprising death in the early '80's. Also included are the events at the infamous 1960 Democratic convention, where Jackson was very nearly chosen as JFK's running mate.All in all, this is a very fair and solid biography, presenting an excellent look at the life of Sen. Jackson. This should be a must-read for political-junkies. Those of a conservative/Republican ideology should also make it a must-read, because it is made very evident how much of the current Republican stances on foreign policy were founded by Henry Jackson. It has been said of "Scoop" Jackson that he was "the last good Democrat". For the citizens of Washington state, that is unquestioned and still lamented to this day. For the nation, the realization of this statement is slow to develop, but hopefully with this book, "Scoop"'s legacy will be recognized with the respect and stature that it truly is.

"Henry Jackson ranks high in the pantheon of American legislators." So opens Robert Kaufman's richly detailed biography of Senator Scoop Jackson, whose career in Congress spanned nine presidents from FDR to Reagan. He compares Jackson favorably to legislative titans such as Clay, LaFollette and Taft, who were "at once revered and reviled, never attained the presidency, but nevertheless had a decisive impact on history."Scoop Jackson was the last of the liberal Democrats in the New Deal-Fair Deal tradition, who combined a passion for government activism in economic affairs with strident, unremitting anti-communism. Jackson used his stature and influence in the Senate to oppose detente and the concilliatory policies vis-a-vis the Soviets of Nixon, Kissinger, Ford and Carter. Kaufman quotes Howard Baker as saying: "Jackson did not allow us to lose the Cold War during the 1970s, so that Reagan's policies could win the Cold War in the 1980s."Indeed, many key actors in Reagan's foreign policy team, Kaufman observes, were Jackson disciples -- Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Richard Perle, Elliott Abrams, Edward Rowny, etc., etc.. These pro-defense-spending, fiercely anti-communist hawks were disaffected by the increasingly dovish policies of the Democratic party in the 1970s.Although he did not live to see the final US victory in the Cold War, Jackson was prescient in foreseeing how US policies could hasten the collapse of the Soviet Union.