University of Arkansas Press Publishes Book on Pivotal Decisions of 10 Arkansas Governors

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Defining Moments, by Robert L. Brown

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Press has just published Defining Moments: Historic Decisions by Arkansas Governors from McMath through Huckabee by Robert L. Brown ($19.95 paper). The book looks at pivotal moments in the tenure of Arkansas’ 10 post-war governors.

The governors and situations covered include Sid McMath’s bout with the Dixiecrats; Francis Cherry’s ploy to label his opponent a Communist; Orval Faubus’ decision to block integration at Little Rock Central High; Winthrop Rockefeller’s tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. on the Arkansas Capitol steps; Dale Bumpers’ battle against political corruption; David Pryor’s veto of the U.S. Corps of Engineers’ Bell Foley Dam; Frank White’s endorsement of Creationism; Bill Clinton’s decision to test public school teachers; Jim Guy Tucker’s bold solution for the Medicaid program and his resignation; and Mike Huckabee’s quest to consolidate the state’s high school districts.

Gov. Mike Beebe said of the book, “Bob Brown’s thorough research allows him to strike the right tone in giving readers an inside view of life in the governor’s office. Defining Moments combines informed historical content with a nuanced writing style that draws the reader into the work.” Mack McLarty, who served as White House chief of staff for President Clinton and wrote the foreword to the book, said, “With these profiles and vignettes, Justice Brown has assembled a lesson-book on leadership, and the difficulties of decision-making in the moments it matters most.”

Brown, who is an associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court and has been involved in Arkansas politics for 40 years, said he was inspired to write the book by John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage. He calls the effort a “labor of love” and recalls the state’s leaders (he worked with and/or knew all but Francis Cherry personally) distinctly and warmly.

Winthrop Rockefeller’s two terms were a watershed event in Arkansas history. He was not a good ol’ boy and did not try to be, which made his task of relating to some in government all the more difficult. I believe he wanted only what was best for the state. Ultimately, he succeeded,” Brown said. “And no one can match Dale Bumpers for ‘sit on the country store porch and slap your knee’ humor. He should have been a stand-up comic. He is that good. A close second was Frank White, who was boisterous and funny, especially as an emcee. Frank White could be just plain fun. Bill Clinton was as knowledgeable on policy issues as any governor we have had. And then there’s Mike Huckabee. His quips and imitations have had much of the country rolling in the aisles for the past three years. He is very quick. David Pryor had a deep reverence for the state’s history while in office and continues to foster that love for the Arkansas story today.”

“All of these men made difficult calls on tough issues,” Brown continued. “But I have to think the decisions on race that confronted McMath, Faubus and Rockefeller were in a different category since race was thought to be the third rail of southern politics in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s. McMath’s decision to stave off the Dixiecrat movement and fight for Harry Truman’s candidacy showed immense courage, and Rockefeller brought the state back to its senses with his major efforts on behalf of African Americans.”

Robert Brown will be discussing and signing his book at the Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock at noon on Dec. 1, and at the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies Legacies & Lunch Program in Little Rock on March 2, 2011, also at noon. He will also be appearing at the Arkansas Literary Festival in Little Rock in April 2011. Information on these events and more on Defining Moments may be found at www.uapress.com.