"Today the challenge of political courage looms larger than ever before.  For our everyday life is becoming so saturated with the tremendous power of mass communications that any unpopular or unorthodox course arouses a storm of protests such as John Quincy Adams--under attack in 1807--could never have envisioned.  Our political life is becoming so expensive, so mechanized and so dominated by professional politicians and public relations men that the idealist who dreams of independent statesmanship is rudely awakened by the necessities of election and accomplishment."

First edition of Kennedy's third and finest book which won the Pulitzer prize for biography in 1957.  Kennedy wrote the book during his freshman term in the Senate in 1954 and 1955 while recovering from back surgery. Kennedy identifies eight acts of political bravery and integrity by American Senators, including John Quincy Adams, Daniel Webster, and Sam Houston.  A fine copy beautifully bound.