The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 69, July 1965 - April, 1966 Page: 260
591 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Ideal Society: Philip Dru," (a look at House as the author of
Philip Dru: Administrator) the book in the main takes House's
life down to 1912.
Richardson's study is a fine one indeed and his thorough look
at Texas politics and political figures from the 188o's to about
1910 makes for interesting and entertaining reading. House did
play a major role, and "it is not possible to understand Texas
politics around the turn of the century without a knowledge of
House and his work." And during those years when so much
history was being made, much of it was directed from behind
the scenes by a "director of plays [House] who never took the
stage himself and avoided the klieg lights."
How was Colonel House, who eventually was regarded as the
best known private citizen in America, able to have so much
success with politics? Richardson feels it was because House
"stayed out of the public eye, content to let others take the
stage and win the plaudits or disfavor of the audience, while he
stayed back stage and directed the play." And House "did not
antagonize men; he never resorted to abuse and made few ene-
mies." He avoided clashes and did not spend his energies in
hopeless contests. He regarded himself as "a counselor, aide and
confidant, rather than a boss or an associate executive."
Was there ever another such man in American politics as
Edward M. House? Richardson observes:
Without pay or public recognition he worked for the chief
executive by the day, the month, and the year, often as hard as
the governor himself. He sought to do what was best for the gov-
ernor and asked but little for his own friends. It was in the main
the governor's friends he recommended for appointments, not his
own friends. It was the governor's political career that he was
seeking to strengthen, for he had no political career of his own apart
from the men he served. Even when he sustained the cause of his
friends, he did not complain when they were neglected by the
governor.
Why then did he continue thus year after year and administra-
tion after administration? First of all, the answer must be that he
liked the work, the voice in public affairs that it represented, the
appreciation of those he served and of the few other leaders who
knew about his accomplishments. ... He liked to be of use to the
commonwealth and that was the way he had of doing it.260o
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 69, July 1965 - April, 1966, periodical, 1966; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117144/m1/300/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.