The Class of '74

Starred review from April 15, 2018

In the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, voters swept 75 newly elected Democratic representatives into office. Known as Watergate Babies, these freshmen lawmakers set out to reform House rules, both formal and customary, that limited the effectiveness of junior representatives. The seniority system allowed committee chairs to exert a stranglehold on legislation they opposed. These young and occasionally brash representatives refused to watch the old go-along-to-get-along way of doing business continue. These rule changes would later be used to great effect by the Republican, and increasingly conservative, minority to push their own agenda and thwart Democratic initiatives. In his first book, former chief of staff for Nancy Pelosi, Lawrence (visiting professor, Univ. of California, Washington Ctr.) adroitly tells the story of these representatives. Having worked in the House for nearly 40 years, Lawrence brings to bear his expertise on the inside workings of the House while maintaining a balanced and critical tone. His experience allowed him unprecedented access to many of the former representatives to help him paint a complete and detailed portrait of this freshman class. VERDICT Readers interested in politics and the roots of our current, often partisan system, will find much to enjoy in this insightful book.--Chad E. Statler, Westlake Porter P.L., Westlake, OH

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2018

In the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, voters swept 75 newly elected Democratic representatives into office. Known as Watergate Babies, these freshmen lawmakers set out to reform House rules, both formal and customary, that limited the effectiveness of junior representatives. The seniority system allowed committee chairs to exert a stranglehold on legislation they opposed. These young and occasionally brash representatives refused to watch the old go-along-to-get-along way of doing business continue. These rule changes would later be used to great effect by the Republican, and increasingly conservative, minority to push their own agenda and thwart Democratic initiatives. In his first book, former chief of staff for Nancy Pelosi, Lawrence (visiting professor, Univ. of California, Washington Ctr.) adroitly tells the story of these representatives. Having worked in the House for nearly 40 years, Lawrence brings to bear his expertise on the inside workings of the House while maintaining a balanced and critical tone. His experience allowed him unprecedented access to many of the former representatives to help him paint a complete and detailed portrait of this freshman class. VERDICT Readers interested in politics and the roots of our current, often partisan system, will find much to enjoy in this insightful book.--Chad E. Statler, Westlake Porter P.L., Westlake, OH

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 1, 2018
A compelling account of a vital era in the history of the U.S. Congress.Presidential historians are ubiquitous. They can earn a level of semi-fame (and exalted status) by writing books on topics that are neither especially new nor underexplored. Meanwhile, congressional historians, who write about a government branch that is every bit as important--and possibly more so, since legislation, after all, originates in Congress--do not enjoy anywhere near the same measure of fame. In this significant book on the massive (and overwhelmingly Democratic) freshman class of the House of Representatives that won election in November 1974, Lawrence, who worked in the House for 38 years, including eight as the chief of staff for Nancy Pelosi, serves up a timely reminder of why we need more prominent histories of the complex business that goes on in the Capitol. The author provides a fine rendering of the so-called "Watergate Babies"--a term Lawrence avoids as condescending--and the way that they helped to reform the House by challenging the rules of seniority and some of the procedures that they perceived as anti-democratic impediments to passing legislation. Lawrence argues that at least some of these changes would backfire on the Democrats when the Republicans and Newt Gingrich took over the House in the wake of the 1994 elections. Writing about Congress is unquestionably challenging. There are hundreds of individuals and no one giant figure who can bend the branch to his or her will, and the procedures are Byzantine and complicated. Yet Lawrence, who combines the lived experience of working in Congress with the academic credentials to provide scholarly ballast, successfully navigates these choppy waters, telling a complicated story while making convincing arguments about the significance of the 94th Congress. The epilogue offers brief biographies of each of the members of the "Class of 1974."An essential work of congressional history.

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