In frank, a candid and witty political memoir, barney frank relates his journey from the outskirts of new york city to bostons city hall and the massachusetts legislature, and then to the u. We had a new champion, and the best we could ever hope for. Barney frank he is the first member of congress to enter a samesex marriage while serving in office. He has been married to jim ready since july 7, 2012. A life in politics from the great society to samesex. Former representative barney frank, a liberal mainstay, offers his views. House of representatives 198120 and was one of the first openly gay members of congress.
Its all politics in his new memoir, frank describes how early in politics he feared people would draw inferences if. According to stuart weisbergs 2009 biography barney frank. He talks with steve bertrand on books about his life in washington, the religious freedom law in indiana, aaron scho. Not many congressmen are worthy of a book, but stuart weisbergs carefully. He is one of the most powerful chairmen in the house today, backed by the trust of not only house. Colin woodard is author of four books including american nations. In memoir, barney frank assesses his long tenure and the changing world around him. Barney frank looks for the bright side of trumps win. Barney frank on why white men dont vote for democrats. A life in politics from the great society to same sex marriage by barney frank farrar straus and giroux ny 2015 this is an insightful biography by a loud, funny, vituperous politician who decided early on to go into a field where, if anyone ever found out he was gay, he would be out on his ear. Born barnett frankhe legally changed his name to barney in the 1960she was raised in a jewish workingclass family in new jersey. Political memoirs often deploy ghost writers, lawyers and consultants to help the author homogenize the past and move mistakes to the passive voice. Dodd received a heros welcome during a visit to the consumer financial protection bureau, the watchdog agency created as part of the 2010 financial regulation. Barney frank is an interesting person to do a film about.
Barney frank is the only one whose public remarks have been collected in a book of quotations frank talk. Barney franks frank wins the publishing triangles randy shilts award for gay nonfiction. There were two ways in which i was different from the other guys, he writes in frank. In this installment of valerie jackson in conversation, we speak to former u. Dodd frank act books, law air date 053020 robert kaiser discusses the dodd frank act along with its authors, barney frank and chris dodd. How did a disheveled, intellectually combative gay jew with a thick accent become one of the most effective and funniest politicians of our time. Barney franks career in congress spanned enough time and elevated him to enough prominence that most of the significant american political figures from the last four decades flitted through it, playing some part. Frank retired from congress in 2012, after three decades of representing massachusettss fourth.
A mainstay in the house of representatives since 1981, he has come to be known for his talent as a legislator, his zeal for verbal combat, his imposing intellect, and a quick wit that both disarms and entertains other lawmakers. A life in politics from the great society to samesex marriage is his account of americas transformation. The crossgenerational politics of barney frank the atlantic. Growing up in bayonne, new jersey, the fourteenyearold barney frank made two. Frank is funny, dropping his best oneliners into the narration at frequent intervals. Barney frank was the smartest, funniest, and one of the most effective members of congress. You can see i am getting old, but there is one thing that i have found improves with age and that is the pleasure of being able to say, i told you so, former congressman barney frank. Barney frank was born on march 31, 1940 in bayonne, new jersey, usa.
How did a disheveled, intellectually combative gay jew with a thick new jerseymassachusetts accent become one of the most effective politicians of his time. The majority of the barney frank collection documents his u. Of the four hundred and thirtyfive members of the house of representatives, barney frank is the only one whose public remarks have been collected in a book of quotations frank talk. What so plainly animates barney frank and this book is making his case for how politics and issue advocacy should be practiced. Barney frank talks congress, the financial crash, and the wizard of oz with the atlantic. Harvard book store and harvard college democrats welcome former massachusetts congressman barney frank for a discussion of his memoir, frank.
Barney frank, now an msnbc commentator, represented the fourth district of massachusetts for nearly five decades and chaired the house financial services committee. Barney frank at university book store seattle youtube. March 16, 2015 in his new memoir, frank describes how early in politics he feared people would draw. The records include correspondence with barney frank concerning difficulties caused by amtraks last minute violation of its contract with organizers in new york city and boston, massachusetts. Lewis was born to a jewish family in 1937 in jersey city, new jersey. Mar 16, 2015 barney franks journey from closeted to an openly gay member of congress fresh air. A life in politics from the great society to samesex marriage is his account of americas transformationand the tale of a truly momentous career. Former congressman barney frank lives up to his name in his new memoir, frank. He resolved to make a career out of the first attraction and to keep the second a secret. Growing up in bayonne, new jersey, the fourteenyearold barney frank made two vital discoveries about himself.
May 24, 2018 a lot of people heard what barney frank said about the new banking law. Barnett frank born march 31, 1940 is an american former politician. To those who warned of the risks in the new policies, congressman frank replied in 2003 that critics exaggerate a threat of. He then gave the story to the washington times for nothing, in hopes of getting a book contract. He is a regular commentator on msnbc and lives near portland, maine, with his husband. She attended radcliffe college, the former womens college within harvard university in cambridge, massachusetts, but did not graduate. Leading the struggle for personal freedom and economic fairness over nearly five decades in congress, barney frank is widely considered one of the smartest, funniest, and most influential. Congress, where he played a vital role in the struggle for personal freedom and. But not many people have lived a life like barney frank s, and in this book he draws back the curtain for us in a number of interesting ways.
Cassidys depiction, warren writes that from april on, barney fought like a tiger to keep the consumer agency in the financial reform package. Nov 23, 2016 barney frank, long known as americas crankiest liberal, is actually not feeling too bad. How did a disheveled, intellectually combative gay jew with a thick accent become one of the most effective and funniest. Barney is one of the guys who give other gay dudes inspiration to get out there, be successful, come out of the closet and to join dating sites like men nation. National issues covered include financial reform, gay rights, the housing crisis, immigration reform, military spending, and environmental protection.
Barney has a new book out, and i know i will be picking it up soon. Apr 04, 2015 former congressman barney frank lives up to his name in his new memoir, frank. Barney frank never finished his dissertation in political science, but this book is better than the typical annual output of the entire profession taken together. A lot of people heard what barney frank said about the new banking law. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive. I really never knew who barney frank was but thought this book would be. A history of the eleven rival regional cultures of north america. Jun 25, 2015 barney has a new book out, and i know i will be picking it up soon. He is the state and national affairs writer at the portland press heraldmaine sunday telegram. Did barney franks coming out kill chance to be first. He is a regular commentator on msnbc and divides his time between a home with his husband near portland, maine, and his apartment in newton, massachusetts.
In a survey conducted by washingtonian magazine, barney frank was rated the smartest, funniest, and most eloquent member of congress. His last romance with a woman was a nearly twoyearlong affair with irishamerican catholic kathleen sullivan, a boston school committee member and the daughter of former new england patriots owner billy sullivan, that began in 1974. Ive read two books in my life that i read as manuals, and one was caro on lyndon johnson as minority leader. Check out profiles of barney frank from the new yorker and new york magazine. A life in politics from the great society to samesex marriage, frank reveals how he decided to come out of the closet as a gay man, the impact that decision had on his political career, and his subsequent efforts to advance lgbt rights along with other progressive causes.
Born and raised in bayonne, new jersey, frank graduated from harvard college and harvard law school. Barney frank discusses time in congress, new book, gay rights. The story of americas only lefthanded, gay, jewish. Since, in his usual way, barney frank gets right to the point in his new memoir, i will too. He is an actor, known for graves 2016, out in the lineup 2014 and right of passage. The belated revelation comes from reckless endangerment, a new book about the financialindustry meltdown by new york times reporters gretchen morgensen and joshua rosner.
Barney frank project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. A life in politics from the great society to samesex marriage by barney frank. What so plainly animates barney frankand this bookis making his case for. Growing up in bayonne, new jersey, barney frank made two vital. We learned last week that representative barney frank had lobbied executives at fannie mae in the early 1990s to give his companion herb moses a job. He was voted the most brilliant member of congress by his peers and many would also have considered him one of the most cantankerous. A life in politics from the great society to samesex marriage.
At the age of 14, barney frank experienced a pair of epiphanies. A new book about barney frank solidifies, and provides color to, what hill insiders already know. Barney frank looks back on his three decades in the house. Mar 24, 2015 barney frank, now an msnbc commentator, represented the fourth district of massachusetts for nearly five decades and chaired the house financial services committee. Discover the best books online or at your local bn bookstoreshop over 6 million books and 4. Growing up in bayonne, new jersey, barney frank made two vital discoveries about himself. Barney franks retirement two years ago, congress lost not just a 16term member of the house but also one of the most idiosyncratic, influential and entertaining people to serve there. Former representative barney frank dma talks about his memoir frank. Elizabeth warrens ally by barney frank the new york. Barney frank, who looks like barney rubble and talks like a speededup will rogers, was keeping something from usnot just, for a long time, his sex life, but his hidden formation as a professor. He resolved to make a career out of the first and to keep the second a secret. Mar 15, 2015 barney franks career in congress spanned enough time and elevated him to enough prominence that most of the significant american political figures from the last four decades flitted through it. Barney frank has 14 books on goodreads with 2144 ratings. The title of the book suggests the basis for the widespread interest.
Mar 27, 2020 barney frank, american democratic politician who served in the u. Barney frank, author of 1972 marijuana bill, tells ccc. Jeffrey toobin talks to barney frank about the election of donald trump and the future of the democratic party. With barney on board, the agency wouldnt be left at the station like someones unclaimed baggage. In this candid and witty political memoir, barney frank relates his journey from the outskirts o. She is the older sister of former united states congressman barney frank. Barney frank represented the fourth congressional district of massachusetts for more than three decades and chaired the house financial services committee from 2007 to 2011. House of representatives from massachusetts from 1981 to 20. Enter your new information and click on save my changes. Barney frank resurfaces, to the dismay of bernie sanders.
Barney frank s new book, which he promoted thursday night before a packed auditorium at the university of minnesota, is titled frank, which is not only his last name but one of the author. Its all politics in his new memoir, frank describes how early in politics he feared people would draw inferences if he supported gay rights. President trump argues that dodd frank has been a disaster. From the battle over aids funding in the 1980s to the 2008 financial crisis, barney frank played a key role, and in this feisty and often moving memoir, he candidly discusses the. Barney frank retired from congress more than three years ago, but the trailblazing jewish gay politician has not retired from public life. The story of americas only lefthanded, gay, jewish congressman weisberg, stuart on. This film captures all the sides of barney and showcases his rapier wit and sense of humor which made him so well liked and sometimes feared. He talks with steve bertrand on books about his life in washington, the religious freedom law in indiana, aaron schock and more. A lot of people heard what barney frank said about the new.
A democrat, frank served as chairman of the house financial services committee 20072011 and was a leading cosponsor of the 2010 doddfrank act, a sweeping reform of the u. A life in politics from the great society to samesex marriage, in which he recounts his life and political career. But the proponents of the law rarely, if ever, mentioned that frank is not just the author. The story of americas only lefthanded, gay, jewish congressman, frank dated women in an effort to deny his homosexuality. Barney frank has surfaced as a new flashpoint in the battle between bernie sanders and establishment democrats, winning a powerful. In a survey conducted by washingtonian magazine, barney frank was rated the smartest. But barney frank, one of the authors of the law, believes the real disaster would.