Overview

Known by mobsters as “the man who couldn’t be bought,” Brendan Byrne led New Jersey into a new era when he won the state’s gubernatorial election by a landslide in the wake of political corruption scandals. A former prosecutor and judge, Byrne was soon condemned as “one-term Byrne,” the inept politician who few thought would risk the humiliation of standing for a second term. Yet Byrne surprised both friend and foe alike by pulling off the state’s most remarkable political comeback, winning re-election and leaving a legacy of preserving the vast resources of the Pinelands, enacting the state’s first income tax and comprehensive school financing reform, developing the Meadowlands, approving casino gambling in Atlantic City, and initiating strong environmental controls to combat pollution.

Full Product Details

Author:   Donald Linky
Publisher:   Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
Imprint:   Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 16.00cm , Height: 3.30cm , Length: 23.60cm
Weight:   0.875kg
ISBN:  

9781611477429

ISBN 10:   1611477425
Pages:   480
Publication Date:   13 October 2014
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Introduction Chapter 1: The Byrnes and the Brennans of Essex County: Beginnings Chapter 2: The War: I was lucky. Chapter 3: Returning Home: I've always wanted to be a lawyer. Chapter 4: The Public Career Begins Chapter 5: The 1973 Election: The Man Who Couldn't Be Bought. Chapter 6: 1973 Transition: It will all be uphill from here. Chapter 7: The First Term: If you win one, you're great. If you don't, you're not. Chapter 8: The Income Tax: I'm going to burn in hell-but not for the income tax. Chapter 9: Atlantic City: Keep your filthy hands out of Atlantic City. Chapter 10: The Re-election: One-term Byrne. Chapter 11: The Second Term Chapter 12: The Pinelands: It was on no political party's agenda. Chapter 13: Public Transportation and the Creation of New Jersey Transit Chapter 14: The 1981 Election and Leaving Office: A sense of what's important. Chapter 15: Return to Private Life: The Elder Statesman of New Jersey. Endnotes Bibliography Index

Reviews

Reviewing Brendan Byrne's tumultuous governorship through the lens Donald Linky provides, one is reminded that contemporary and historical judgments do not necessarily mesh. Byrne emerges from these pages not as a dilettante in politics, nor merely a 'good' governor, but as a courageous, visionary leader, who made tough choices, took the hits that came with them, and persisted in finding ways to reach his objective. . . . [I]n making his case for Byrne as an admirable chief executive, Linky draws on compelling evidence that he was in fact that. . . .[The book is] above and beyond a valentine to the grand old man of New Jersey politics, a significant contribution to New Jersey political history. * New Jersey Studies * With his unique combination of vision and toughness, his trademark sense of humor, and no small dose of political courage, he worked as Governor with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to enact meaningful reforms that benefit New Jersey to this day. -- Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States Brendan Byrne was a personal friend, a good governor, and one of the finest men I have ever known. -- Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States Jacksonian in governing, Seinfeldian in holding an audience, Damon and Pythianesue in friendship, and no 90-pound weakling in standing up to any bully out to develop the Pines or build an access ramp to the New Jersey Turnpike through lovely Koming Township. ... Brendan Byrne ... is his own man when it comes to integrity, kindness, wisdom, wit, a stingless sense of humor, and speaking softly with not a trace of carrying a big stick. -- Jim Lebenthal In all of his work as Governor of New Jersey, Brendan Byrne demonstrated through his actions what it means to be a public servant: a public official willing to make the tough choices for the good of the State, no matter what the personal consequences. His story is truly a profile in political courage leavened by clear expression and a sense of humor that unfortunately cannot be replicated. -- Paul Volcker, American economist and former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board

With his unique combination of vision and toughness, his trademark sense of humor, and no small dose of political courage, he worked as Governor with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to enact meaningful reforms that benefit New Jersey to this day.- -- Bill Clinton, Former President of the United States In all of his work as Governor of New Jersey, Brendan Byrne demonstrated through his actions what it means to be a public servant: a public official willing to make the tough choices for the good of the State, no matter what the personal consequences. His story is truly a profile in political courage.- -- Jim Lebenthal Jacksonian in governing, Seinfeldian in holding an audience, Damon and Pythianesue in friendship, and no 90-pound weakling in standing up to any bully out to develop the Pines or build an access ramp to the New Jersey Turnpike through lovely Koming Township. ... Brendan Byrne ... is his own man when it comes to integrity, kindness, wisdom, wit, a stingless sense of humor, and speaking softly with not a trace of carrying a big stick.- -- Paul Volcker, former Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System Jacksonian in governing, Seinfeldian in holding an audience, Damon and Pythianesue in friendship, and no 90-pound weakling in standing up to any bully out to develop the Pines or build an access ramp to the New Jersey Turnpike through lovely Koming Township. ... Brendan Byrne ... is his own man when it comes to integrity, kindness, wisdom, wit, a stingless sense of humor, and speaking softly with not a trace of carrying a big stick.- -- Jim Lebenthal

With his unique combination of vision and toughness, his trademark sense of humor, and no small dose of political courage, he worked as Governor with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to enact meaningful reforms that benefit New Jersey to this day. -- Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States Brendan Byrne was a personal friend, a good governor, and one of the finest men I have ever known. -- Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States Jacksonian in governing, Seinfeldian in holding an audience, Damon and Pythianesue in friendship, and no 90-pound weakling in standing up to any bully out to develop the Pines or build an access ramp to the New Jersey Turnpike through lovely Koming Township. ... Brendan Byrne ... is his own man when it comes to integrity, kindness, wisdom, wit, a stingless sense of humor, and speaking softly with not a trace of carrying a big stick. -- Jim Lebenthal In all of his work as Governor of New Jersey, Brendan Byrne demonstrated through his actions what it means to be a public servant: a public official willing to make the tough choices for the good of the State, no matter what the personal consequences. His story is truly a profile in political courage leavened by clear expression and a sense of humor that unfortunately cannot be replicated. -- Paul Volcker, American economist and former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board

Author Information

Donald Linky served as counsel to the governor and director of the Governor's office of policy and planning in the administration of Governor Brendan Byrne. He has practiced law with major law firms, is a former visiting professor at Rutgers University, and is coeditor of The Governors of New Jersey: Biographical Essays.

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