The Last Great Senate

Ira Shapiro's "The Last Great Senate" offers a compelling look at the U.S. Senate during its progressive zenith in the late 1960s and 1970s, a period marked by extraordinary legislative achievements. This narrative history focuses on the statesmen—including iconic figures like Ted Kennedy, Howard Baker, and Robert Byrd—who, alongside President Jimmy Carter, navigated America through a tumultuous era. Shapiro masterfully portrays the Senate as an ensemble cast, showcasing their ability to transcend partisanship and overcome procedural hurdles to tackle monumental challenges such as the Panama Canal treaty, the rescue of New York City, and the Chrysler bailout. Far more than a historical account, the book draws parallels to contemporary political gridlock, with a prefatory update addressing the Senate's struggles since 1980, including the Trump presidency. Shapiro's profound admiration for the institution shines through, providing an "antidote to cynicism" and inspiring hope that the Senate can reclaim its role as the nation's mediator, as Walter F. Mondale once envisioned.