The education of a senator

by Everett McKinley Dirksen

Recently discovered in the archives of the Dirksen Congressional Center, this is the memoir Senator Dirksen was writing at the time of his death in 1969 - and his gravel-voiced warmth and wisdom come through on every page. Covering the years of his boyhood through his election to the Senate in 1950, The Education of a Senator reveals the foundation of a great public servant in the making. Although Dirksen was often criticized for changing his position, his admirers viewed his flexibility as an asset: a willingness to adapt thoughtfully to changing realities, instead of holding on to rigid views based on outdated circumstances. By his eloquence and clear vision, Dirksen drew national attention for his leadership in Congress, particularly for his role in civil rights legislation.