Mo

Library Journal

Veteran political reporters and University of Arizona professors Carson and Johnson recount the life, times, and political legacy of Morris K. Udall (1922-98), who became a political hero to many liberal Democrats during his 30-year congressional career. Udall's loss of an eye at age six, combined with his height as an adult, he was a towering 6'5'' differentiated him from an early age and likely contributed to his drive to succeed, a force that shaped his life in both negative and positive ways. His enormous energy and workaholic behavior undermined his first marriage, which ended in divorce, and his second marriage, which ended with his wife's suicide. But it also propelled Udall to leadership in reforming the House of Representatives in the early 1970s. Even though this Young Turk's challenge to his party's House leadership failed, he made an even bolder attempt to claim his party's 1976 presidential nomination. Ultimately, it took Parkinson's disease to thwart "Second Place Mo's" ambition. Throughout his entire life, Udall won over his opponents and built a national following with his decency, work, and sense of humor. Political junkies will enjoy this readable biography, which merits a paperback edition for classroom use. Highly recommended. William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Booknews

Carson and Johnson (both, journalism at the U. of Arizona) paint a picture a former U.S. Congressman Udall as a workaholic who was willing to champion unpopular causes from campaign finance reform to opposition to the Vietnam war. They thematically chronicle the Arizona Democrat's 30-year stint in the U.S. Capitol and look at his unsuccessful 1968 bid for the Democratic nomination for President. They also examine more personal aspects of Udall's life such as his estrangement from his family due to his devotion to his work and his battle with Parkinson's disease. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

From The Critics

This meticulously researched and scholastically outstanding biography of Morris Udall follows his life and political times, focussing on his career, his 30-year congressional history, and his radical challenges to seniority systems. Recommended for anyone studying contemporary American politics in general and House/Senate politics in particular, Mo is a "must" for the legions of Mo Udall supporters and admirers.

Kirkus Reviews

Carson and Johnson (both Journalism/Univ. of Arizona) have assembled a great many facts about Udall, who died in 1998, but facts alone don't illuminate a life. Their narrative covers decades of recent political history without supplying the historical context and analysis necessary to make sense of the parade of information. As a result, it's difficult to appreciate the magnitude of Udall's many achievements, which range from his environmental legislation to his role in reforming the congressional seniority system. The authors' lack of perspective is evident in their treatment of Udall's ancestors, youth, and early adulthood, which are of marginal interest to anyone other than family members or Arizona history buffs yet occupy one-quarter of the book's text. Carson and Johnson interject such profound personal events as Udall's divorce and his second wife's suicide into discussions of political events without warning or elaboration. Full chapters about Udall's private life and sense of humor are tacked on towards the end but fail to flesh out this portrait. Instead, the congressman comes across as a self-centered, somewhat unsympathetic figure, which is clearly not the intention of the authors, who knew and respected him. Their subject would have been far better served had they focused exclusively on the key themes of his professional career. The publisher no doubt hoped to preserve the legacy of one of the university's best-known alumni, but this unfocused effort is simply not adequate for that purpose. (16 halftones, not seen)