"Governors' Mansions of the Midwest" explores the history of 12 prominent mansions in the Midwest. Liberman focuses on architectural history, from the houses' construction to various alterations made by later occupants to renovations of recent years.

Traces the history of Missouri from 1953 to 2003, highlighting key events, figures, and policies that impacted the state's development during that time.

In September 1868, the remains of Jacob and Nancy Jane Young were found lying near the banks of Indiana's White River. Suspicion for both deaths turned to Nancy Clem, a housewife who was also one of Mr. Young's former business partners. Wendy Gamber chronicles the life and times of this charming and persuasive Gilded Age confidence woman, who became famous not only as an accused murderess but also as an itinerant peddler of patent medicine and the supposed originator of the Ponzi scheme.

In his first term in office, Franklin Roosevelt helped pull the nation out of the Great Depression with his landmark programs. In November 1936, every state except Maine and Vermont voted enthusiastically for his reelection. But then the political winds shifted. Not only did the Supreme Court block some of his transformational experiments, but he also faced serious opposition within his own party. Conservative Democrats such as Senators Walter George of Georgia and Millard Tydings of Maryland allied themselves with Republicans to vote down New Deal bills. Susan Dunn tells the dramatic story of FDRÕs unprecedented battle to drive his foes out of his party by intervening in Democratic primaries and backing liberal challengers to conservative incumbents. Reporters branded his tactic a ÒpurgeÓÑand the inflammatory label stuck. Roosevelt spent the summer months of 1938 campaigning across the country, defending his progressive policies and lashing out at conservatives. Despite his efforts, the Democrats took a beating in the midterm elections. The purge stemmed not only from FDRÕs commitment to the New Deal but also from his conviction that the nation needed two responsible political parties, one liberal, the other conservative. Although the purge failed, at great political cost to the president, it heralded the realignment of political parties that would take place in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. By the end of the century, the irreconcilable tensions within the Democratic Party had exploded, and the once solidly Democratic South was solid no more. It had taken sixty years to resolve the tangled problems to which FDR devoted one frantic, memorable summer.

Glossy color photographs lavishly depict the residences of the governors of 44 states (six states do not have governor's mansions). Each state's mansion receives its own section picturing public and private rooms, exterior and grounds, and artworks and furnishings within. Text combines architectural description and attention to interior decoration with historical anecdotes and occasional reference to the lives of the residents; Keating, First Lady of the State of Oklahoma, assures us in her introduction that "First Families are people, too."Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This book examines the Democratic and Republican Governors Associations from their creation in the 1960s through the 2020 elections. The author argues that the creation of these partisan organizations marked an important moment in the nationalization of American party politics. Governors created these Associations along with party elites in Washington because they recognized that decisions being made in Washington increasingly affected decision-making in the states. Governors sought to contribute to the development of national partisan electoral strategies and policy programs through these organizations to benefit their own electoral fortunes and the standing of the national parties to which they belonged. Through organization building, governors of both parties contributed to the development of more nationally focused and programmatic parties despite being state-level elected officials.

"Celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the University of Missouri Press in 1958 by William Peden. Explores the importance of university presses to the dissemination of scholarship and looks to the future of book publishing. Includes lists of books in print and out of print as of 2008"--Provided by publisher.