Description
Book SynopsisIn 1974, at the age of thirty-two, Les AuCoin became the first Democrat to win a US House seat in Oregon's First District. He was one of the post-Watergate reformers who shook up Congress. In this collection of life stories, AuCoin traces his unlikely rise from a fatherless childhood in Central Oregon to the top ranks of national power.
Trade ReviewLes was an amazing congressman. Now he shows that he's a master storyteller, too. This gripping personal history is sprinkled with humor and suspense and lyrically told." - Pat Schroeder, former US Congresswoman, presidential candidate, and president of the Association of American Publishers
"Once upon a time in American politics, there was room on Capitol Hill for spirited compromise, principled Republicans, and champions of the have-nots. Les AuCoin lived to write about them, and damn well." - Steve Duin, longtime
Oregonian columnist
"
Catch and Release is evidence of AuCoin's writing talent as well as his powers of observation. In this memoir, he exudes a sense of purpose that startles us, because we live in an era defined by cynicism, indecent values and greed." - Steve Forrester, former publisher,
The Daily Astorian"Our understanding of politics and politicians is vastly improved when a legislator shares his inner-most recollections of his work in Congress. Such asscounts are rare outside the occasional prominent party leader. Their value is immeasurably heightened when the writer is a perceptive and gifted writer. Les AuCoin's
Catch and Release is a memoir that all students and scholars of Congress will value for honesty, acument, and skillful storytelling." - John A. Lawrence, author of
The Class of '74: Congress After Watergate the Roots of Partisanship"A brilliant memoir, timely and relevant. Historical figures great and not so great come alive on these evocative pages. Fascinating." - Robert J. Mrazek, award-winning author of
And the Sparrow Fell,
A Dawn Like Thunder, and other books
