Mr.Chairman

James L. Merriner covered Chicago and national politics for more than two decades as political editor of the Chicago Sun-Times and the Atlanta Constitution. He was the James Thurber Journalist in Residence at Ohio State University in 1996. Merriner is coauthor of Against Long Odds: Citizens Who Challenge Congressional Incumbents.

Reading Mr. Merriner's rollicking account is what I imagine it would be like to be a guest at a Polish-American picnic in Chicago, being regaled with stories-some admiring, some damning-about big Joe Rusty's cocky kid. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Merriner's detailed, colorful and anecdotal reports of life and politics in Chicago's old 32nd Ward. - Washington Times Merriner ""paints Rostenkowski as a dealmaker who worked hard for special interests, whether it was a 288 million dollar tax break in 1984 for 333 Chicago options traders, tax breaks to finance a new Comiskey Park, or 200 million dollars in advantages for Commonwealth Edison. He details Rostenkowski's crimes and leaves no doubt that many serious misdeeds were at stake, not just the usual congressional corruption of favors-for-donations that Rostenkowski dealt with on an everyday basis at Ways and Means. As Merriner puts it, 'Dan Rostenkowski all but wore a sign around his neck that flashed I want power.""' - Chicago Sun Times