DO NICE GUYS RUN FOR CONGRESS?

Manzullo shares experiences from 20 years as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

When the author was born in 1944, the small town of Rockford, Illinois was “the machine-tool center of the world.” Four years later, his father, Frank, opened a small grocery store, which he kept until 1953, when the arrival of a supermarket siphoned off his customers. The author’s father would allow people to buy groceries on credit when they needed it, and even helped find people jobs and places to live; it was an early lesson in empathy that the author took to heart. It would later be reflected in Manzullo’s battles in support of small businesses after he won election to Congress decades later. But first, he attended American University in Washington, D.C., during which time he worked as an aide to Republican Congressman John B. Anderson, who later ran for president as an independent. Next was law school at Milwaukee’s Marquette University, and in 1977, he opened his own practice as a lawyer in Oregon, Illinois. One year later, he added a side business, purchasing 40 acres of land and opening a small cattle operation. Later, in 1993, Manzullo was standing in the U.S. Capitol, swearing loyalty to the Constitution as a freshman Republican member of Congress from Illinois. As the book’s title suggests, this is a collection of low-key stories culled from Manzullo’s vast accumulation of personal notes, supplemented by Congressional transcripts and articles written by or about him during his 10-term tenure. Discussions of legislative skirmishes provide an inside peek into how the sausage is made, although his in-the-weeds style may be a bit wonky for casual readers. Manzullo is a self-described conservative Republican, but many who don’t share his politics will appreciate his persistent advocacy for seeking compromise, both within his own party and outside it. His wistfulness for a time of general civility is touching, albeit a bit rose-colored, and provides a counterpoint to today’s chaotic political arena. (Several photos from Manzullo’s personal life and career are included.)

An often engaging look at a legislator’s life despite a lack of drama.