Charlie Rangel came off the mean streets of Harlem for his first election to the U.S. House of Congress in 1970. Always fashionably attired, he is a charming man with a distinctively raspy voice and a sharp sense of humor. He is ever ready with quick and penetrating arguments for his views. Charlie seems to be all you can expect a congressman to be. By cultivating his congressional district, loyally voting for the liberal wing of the Democratic Party and long-suffering patience, Rangel ascended to the chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee in 2007, a top spot for congressional influence. With that prominence came greater visibility, media scrutiny and sad evidence of a less than honorable record of taking care of himself as well as his constituents. Forty years after his first election to Congress, Charlie Rangel's House colleagues censured him for ethical misconduct. Rangel called "Foul!" He said his entire record deserved consideration, not just his "sloppy mistakes" about his income taxes and financial records. Jack R. Van Der Slik, an accomplished congressional scholar, offers fair consideration in this political biography of the engaging, but sometimes slippery, successor to Harlem's Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Rangel came to the House as one of the "new breed," and has stayed long, perhaps too long, as an "old bull." No doubt Charlie Rangel faithfully served Harlem. He also served himself, but not always the best interests of the Americans who are not his constituents. But you be the judge. Written for a general audience as well as for students of politics, this book much about how well and badly Congress works and why it has become such a partisan arena. With an engaging, but disappointing central character, this "Greek tragedy" ends with a conclusion about Charlie Rangel-- "One is enough."
About the Author: A Note about the Author Jack Van Der Slik's teaching career extends from 1958 to 2006 in classes from junior high to doctoral studies, for courses in social studies, education and political science. His degrees are from Calvin College, B.A.; Western Michigan University, M.A.; and Michigan State University, M.A. and Ph.D. His affiliations have been with Bellflower Christian school, Denver Christian school, the Michigan Legislative Intern Program, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Calvin College, Trinity Christian College, the University of Illinois Springfield, Covenant College and Indian River State College. His administrative assignments included Associate Dean of Liberal Arts at S.I.U., Academic Dean at Trinity and Director of the Illinois Legislative Studies Center at UIS. Van Der Slik is the author or co-author of: Roll Call! Patterns of Voting in the Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention, 1975. American Legislative Processes, 1977. One for All and All for Illinois, 1995. Intruding on Academe 2001. Eisenhower: A 20th Century Hero in War and Peace, 2013 He is editor or co-editor of: American Politics: Research and Readings, 1970 Black Conflict with White America, 1970. Almanac of Illinois Politics, Vols. 1-5: 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1998. Politics in the American States and Communities, 1996. The National People's Congress of China, 2003. His essays, articles and reviews appear in a variety of journals, magazines and newspapers. He is professor emeritus of political studies and public affairs at the University of Illinois Springfield and resides in Orange City, Florida. Provide feedback to vanderslik.jack@uis.edu