The Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law, partnered with the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, welcomed Kathryn McGarr, author of the new book, The Whole Damn Deal: Robert Strauss and the Art of Politics, on December 1, 2011. Strauss Center Director, Francis J. Gavin, introduced McGarr and facilitated a conversation about her book.
Photos of the event can be found here.
Gavin began the discussion by asking how McGarr chose to write about Strauss Center’s namesake, Robert S. Struass. Strauss is McGarr’s great uncle, and she decided to write about him during a graduate school class she took during her studies at Columbia University because she thought his story was “worth telling.”¬ù McGarr negotiated with Strauss to maintain editorial control of the book, but still received his input throughout her research process.
McGarr discussed Strauss’ time as the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. When he came into leadership, the Democratic Party was split between the old guard conservative Democrats and the new idealistic wing of the Party. Strauss worked to get Democrats past their differing opinions on certain issues and unify them as one party again. Under Strauss’ leadership, the Democrats took back the presidency with the election of President Jimmy Carter.
Gavin also asked McGarr why there is not a “Bob Strauss”¬ù today who brings people together and works with both political parties. McGarr believes it is a combination of two variables. First, Strauss has an extremely dynamic personality that is hard to replicate. According to McGarr, every political player at Strauss’ time of power wanted to be around him, regardless of whether they agreed with him or were in the same political party. Second, it is less feasible now for politicians to reach across the aisle. According to McGarr, the 24-hour news cycle of today has made it more difficult for politicians to work with the other party, because their constituents will find out and penalize them for it.
McGarr attributed Strauss’ success in so many different roles from Chairman of the DNC to U.S. Trade Representative to Ambassador of the Soviet Union, to his adaptability, awareness of his weaknesses, and ability to always select a team of knowledgeable people to work with him.
Gavin closed by asking McGarr what Strauss’s best accomplishments are. McGarr believes Strauss is most proud of his family, the Carter election victory, and the trade bill he helped to get approved in Congress.
Questions from the audience included what were McGarr’s favorite stories on Strauss that represented his key beliefs, and what kind of relationship Strauss had with former President, Ronald Reagan and former First Lady, Nancy Reagan.
A reception and book signing followed the presentation.