Books by "John Augustine Ryan"
8 books found
The president of the United States traditionally serves as a symbol of power, virtue, ability, dominance, popularity, and patriarchy. In recent years, however, the high-profile candidacies of Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and Michelle Bachmann have provoked new interest in gendered popular culture and how it influences Americans' perceptions of the country's highest political office. In this timely volume, editors Justin S. Vaughn and Lilly J. Goren lead a team of scholars in examining how the president and the first lady exist as a function of public expectations and cultural gender roles. The authors investigate how the candidates' messages are conveyed, altered, and interpreted in "hard" and "soft" media forums, from the nightly news to daytime talk shows, and from tabloids to the blogosphere. They also address the portrayal of the presidency in film and television productions such as Kisses for My President (1964), Air Force One (1997), and Commander in Chief (2005). With its strong, multidisciplinary approach, Women and the White House commences a wider discussion about the possibility of a female president in the United States, the ways in which popular perceptions of gender will impact her leadership, and the cultural challenges she will face.
A joint debate upon the right or wrong of socialism.
George G. Higgins and the Quest for Worker Justice
by John J. O'Brien
2005 · Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
George G. Higgins and the Quest for Worker Justice: The Evolution of Catholic Social Thought in America is a comprehensive and fascinating examination of the Catholic Church's involvement in social issues from the late 19th to the end of the 20th century through the lens of the life, career, writings, and ministry of the legendary Monsignor Higgins. Inspiring to both the clergy and laity, Msgr. George G. Higgins put a human face on the institutional commitments of the Church, advocated the role of the laity, remained loyal to the vision of the Second Vatican Council, and took the side of the working poor in his movement with organized labor. Much more than a limited biography, author John O' Brien offers a sweeping history of the "social questions" facing America over the past 100 years, the thought behind one of the leading figures in the worker justice movement, and a moving application of the rich heritage of Catholic Social Thought.
This book is part of our history, one that has slipped from memory in the passage of time. The story of Nick Coleman, one of his generations most inspired leaders, while overdue, is still worth telling, and surely it carries important lessons for us now. Walter F. Mondale In January 1973, Nick Coleman became the fi rst Democrat in 114 years to lead the majority in the Minnesota Senate. He provided the vision and leadership required to enact the Minnesota equivalent of Lyndon Johnsons social and economic programs known as the Great Society. This was the high tide of liberal politics in Minnesota, the crest in voter support that also sent Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy, and Walter Mondale to national prominence. For the Good of the Order chronicles Nick Colemans role in the legislative cauldron that resulted in Minnesota being recognized throughout the country as the state that works. Despite spirited political challenges, these remarkable achievements resulted from genuine collaboration from both sides of the aisle. Moreover, the debate over these initiatives helped raise Minnesotas legislative branch to coequal status with the executive. Sadly, they also marked the beginning of the demise of civility, respect, and compromise among lawmakers. Coleman was an Irish-American, and proud of his heritage. His talent for leadership was surely enhanced by his Celtic wit and view of the world. No caricature of the Irish pol, however, Coleman used his verbal gifts and charm to offer reasons why a hesitant colleague could safely follow him when votes were needed for controversial bills. He led from the front, especially when debate was most intense, and unfl inchingly took the fi ercest fi re from adversaries. When Nick Coleman left the political arena in 1981, a wave of conservatism was sweeping the country. Since his departure, much of the agenda Coleman fought so hard to accomplish has been diluted or reversed. Nevertheless, his legacy remains an inspiration to all who believe that a society should be judged by how it treats its weakest and least powerful. Perhaps Hubert Humphrey voiced this belief most succinctly when he said, ...the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life: the sick, the needy and the handicapped. Those were the people Nick Coleman fought forand never forgot.