A life in politics from the great society to samesex marriage, in which he recounts his life and political career. After just completing david axelrods overly cautious autobiography, it was refreshing to read franks take no prisoners bio. 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 served as a us congressman from 198120 and chairman of the house financial services committee from 20072011. He then gave the story to the washington times for nothing, in hopes of getting a book contract. 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. Handoutreuters franks own intertwined political and personal odysseys add up to a remarkable story. Barney frank says doddfrank specifically protected cfpb. He talks with steve bertrand on books about his life in washington, the religious freedom law in indiana, aaron scho.
A life in politics from the great society to samesex marriage is his account of americas transformationand the tale of a truly momentous career. The story of americas only lefthanded, gay, jewish. 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. Barney frank is one of the most brilliant, effective. In a survey conducted by washingtonian magazine, barney frank was rated the smartest, funniest, and most eloquent member of congress.
Young state house news service, august 15, 2019, 10. Barney frank was all over the media, pointing the finger of blame at everybody else. Barney frank s 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. 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. Jonathan kirsch, jewish journal barney frank will be remembered as one of the hardestworking, quickestthinking, most effectiveand most. Stuart weisberg talked about his biography barney frank. The banking industry and its allies werent enthusiastic about this proposal. At the age of 14, barney frank experienced a pair of epiphanies. He is the first member of congress to enter a samesex marriage while servin.
Barney franks story is a snapshot of the thirtyyear period that began with his election and that of ronald reagan in 1980. Nov 23, 2016 barney frank, long known as americas crankiest liberal, is actually not feeling too bad. Doddfrank act books, law air date 053020 robert kaiser discusses the doddfrank act along with its authors, barney frank and chris dodd. President trump argues that doddfrank has been a disaster. As a stellar graduate student at harvard, he completed all the requirements for a ph. House of representatives 198120 and was one of the first openly gay members of congress born barnett frankhe legally changed his name to barney in the 1960she was raised in a jewish workingclass family in new jersey. While in congress, frank worked to adjust americas spending priorities to reduce the deficit by providing less funding for the military, thereby protecting funding for important qualityoflife needs at home. The spouting off without any political repercussions. Barney frank looks for the bright side of trumps win. I was the first member of congress, voluntarily, to come out as gay. A life in politics from the great society to samesex. Frank is an intimate, courageous, and revealing book about what the political landscape looks like from his unique perspective.
Oct 31, 2015 barney franks political career reminds us of where pragmatism and compromise can succeed, but also where it can fail, with dangerous consequences. Born barnett frankhe legally changed his name to barney in the 1960she was raised in a jewish workingclass family in new jersey. Barney frank is well known for being well spokeneven when hes yelling. Barney frank the coauthors of the 2010 doddfrank act, a law aimed at making banks safer in order to protect consumers and the. He talks with steve bertrand on books about his life in washington, the religious freedom law in indiana, aaron schock and more. Barney frank wants you to vote, already the barnes. A life in politics from the great society to samesex marriage. He is one of the most powerful chairmen in the house today, backed by the trust of not only house. A life in politics from the great society to same sex marriage by barney frank. Barney frank the coauthors of the 2010 doddfrank act, a law aimed at making banks safer in. And i do think that perspective of starting out thinking that i was never going to be able to be influential on this great thing called government, this powerful societal force, because i was gay, and ending up being influential in what had no longer been a powerful. Former representative barney frank dma talks about his memoir frank. Barney franks political career reminds us of where pragmatism and compromise can succeed, but also where it can fail, with dangerous consequences.
But barney frank, one of the authors of the law, believes the real disaster would come from dismantling this key wall street reform law. I really never knew who barney frank was but thought this book would be interesting. Barney frank represented the fourth congressional district of massachusetts for nearly five decades, and chaired the house financial services committee from 2007 to 20. Growing up in bayonne, new jersey, the fourteenyearold barney frank made two vital discoveries about himself. To tim geithner, barney frank, and chris dodd, the first task was to repair the banking system and beef up the existing regulatory regime to prevent another blowup. The way he came out was legendary simply telling a reporter, yeah, so what. Stuart weisbergs biography of barney frank is not just definitive.
He is the first member of congress to enter a samesex marriage while serving in office. I learned a lot about what was going on the years he was in office like dont. But barney frank, one of the authors of the law, believes the real disaster would. May 30, 2019 barney frank was a massachusetts state representative 19721980. Marz 1940 in bayonne, new jersey ist ein us amerikanischer politiker demokratische partei. If he were twenty years older or younger, another person would have played his role on the national stage. This is the full transcript of the barney frank interview that ran in the april 23, 2012 issue of new york magazine. This book is a mashup of memoir and political analysis of the period in which he served. Handoutreuters frank s own intertwined political and personal odysseys add up to a remarkable story. Feb 07, 2017 president trump argues that dodd frank has been a disaster. He left in 1968 to become chief assistant to mayor kevin white of boston. Barney frank, long known as americas crankiest liberal, is actually not feeling too bad.
As barney frank makes clear in this cnn interview with chris cuomo this morning, the doddfrank legislation that created the consumer financial protection bureau created a fiveyear term and a mandatory successor for the director specifically. Frank retired from congress in 2012, after three decades of representing massachusettss fourth. Sam frank died at the age of fiftythree, while barney was an undergraduate at harvard, and barney took a year off to help resolve the familys tangled financial affairs. According to stuart weisbergs 2009 biography barney frank. When financial analyst maria bartiromo asked congressman frank who was responsible for the financial crisis, he. Barney frank was one of the featured guests in the annual gay pride parade on market street in san francisco in 2014. Barney frank author barney frank represented the fourth congressional district of massachusetts for nearly five decades, and chaired the house financial services committee from 2007 to 20. Barney frank was a congressman from southeastern massachusetts for quite some time as well as being a gay man. Barney frank is one of the first congressmen to come out as gay, having come out in 1987, after already having served congress for seven years and having been reelected.
His last romance with a woman was a nearly twoyearlong affair with irishamerican catholic kathleen sullivan, a boston school committee member and the daughter. What so plainly animates barney frankand this bookis making his case for how politics and issue advocacy should be practiced. Barney frank, original name barnett frank, born march 31, 1940, bayonne, new jersey, u. There are many local families who have had barney painting passed down to them from their parents and grandparents who knew the artist and. The story of americas only lefthanded, gay, jewish congressman. Apr 04, 2015 former congressman barney frank lives up to his name in his new memoir, frank. Frank, barney, a representative from massachusetts. House of representatives 198120 and was one of the first openly gay members of congress.
A new book about barney frank solidifies, and provides color to, what hill insiders already know. The story of americas only lefthanded, gay, jewish congressman, frank dated women in an effort to deny his homosexuality. Mar 27, 2020 barney frank, american democratic politician who served in the u. Barney frank has 14 books on goodreads with 2170 ratings. Barney frank left and his partner james ready posed during their wedding reception. A life in politics from the great society to samesex marriage is his account of americas transformation. Barney frank left came out of the closet in 1987 when he was in a relationship with herb moses right. Barney franks journey from closeted to an openly gay member of congress fresh air. Jonathan kirsch, jewish journal barney frank will be remembered as one of the hardestworking, quickestthinking, most effectiveand most quotablecongressmen in our nations history.
Aug 15, 2019 barney frank, author of 1972 marijuana bill, tells ccc. Mar 16, 2015 barney frank left came out of the closet in 1987 when he was in a relationship with herb moses right. 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. March 16, 2015 in his new memoir, frank describes how early in politics he feared people would draw. Former congressman barney frank lives up to his name in his new memoir, frank. 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. There were two ways in which i was different from the other guys, he writes in frank. Barney frank makes vito corleone sound like henry higgins. Barney frank looks for the bright side of trumps win the. 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. 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. Barney frank, author of 1972 marijuana bill, tells ccc. Jun 04, 2015 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.
Mar 16, 2015 barney franks journey from closeted to an openly gay member of congress fresh air. I dont have to do a lot of preparation, says frank, who represented massachusettss 4th congressional district from 198120. In 2012, frank married jim ready, becoming the first member of. And i do think that perspective of starting out thinking. Folks who know about him would probably not be surprised at the folksy nature of the writing style. 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. Inside the secret world of the supreme court someone once said to me, barney frank talks very fast. Sep 11, 2009 in a survey conducted by washingtonian magazine, barney frank was rated the smartest, funniest, and most eloquent member of congress.
Barney 18621954 auburns american impressionist there are still quite a few people living today in auburn and the finger lakes who knew frank barney though he died in 1954. The story of americas only lefthanded, gay, jewish congressman university of massachusetts press. Elizabeth warrens ally by barney frank the new york. Barney franks career in congress spanned enough time and elevated him to enough prominence that most of the significant american political. Not many congressmen are worthy of a book, but stuart. Dodd frank act books, law air date 053020 robert kaiser discusses the dodd frank act along with its authors, barney frank and chris dodd. Former representative barney frank, a liberal mainstay, offers his views. He is a graduate of both harvard college 1962 and harvard law school 1977. Barney frank was a massachusetts state representative 19721980. 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 satisfactions, fears, and grudges that come with elected office. Amid calls for an investigation, frank asked the house ethics.
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