PROFESSOR-POLITICIAN: AN EXAMINATION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER OF GLEN BROWDER A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty Of Jacksonville State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts With a Major in History By Cynthia Genieve Certain Jacksonville, Alabama August 8, 2008 1 2 PROFESSOR-POLITICIAN TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................................... 2 PROLOGUE ……………………….…………………………………………………………5 I. YOUNG GLEN ...................................................................................................................... 8 The Work Begins ............................................................................................................... Academic Ups and Downs .................................................................................................. College Man ........................................................................................................................ Becky .................................................................................................................................. II. DR. BROWDER ................................................................................................................. 23 Dr. Browder and His Students ............................................................................................ The JSU Mafia .................................................................................................................... Applied Theory ................................................................................................................... The Family Grows............................................................................................................... III. INTO THE FIRE ............................................................................................................... 54 Practical Game Plan ............................................................................................................ First Campaign .................................................................................................................... Politicking with George Wallace ........................................................................................ Professor-Politician on Goat Hill ........................................................................................ Hard History and Civics in the Heart of Dixie .................................................................... Personal Style of Quiet, Practical, Biracial Politics ............................................................ Saturday Morning Massacre ............................................................................................... Write-In History .................................................................................................................. Constitution Reform ............................................................................................................ Election Reform .................................................................................................................. Education Reform .............................................................................................................. End of the Term .................................................................................................................. IV. A REFORMER TAKES CHARGE ................................................................................ 104 Launching a Long-Shot Campaign ..................................................................................... A Strategy of Stealth……………………………………………………………………… Primary Squeaker and General Election Landslide............................................................. Moving to Montgomery ...................................................................................................... Setting the Stage for Election Reform ................................................................................ Crossover Controversy ........................................................................................................ Campaign Finance Disclosure ............................................................................................. 3 Voting Reforms ................................................................................................................... Digitizing the State‘s Business ............................................................................................ Enduring Impact .................................................................................................................. V. THE NATIONAL STAGE ............................................................................................... 145 Running for Congress ......................................................................................................... Moving to Washington ........................................................................................................ Walking Softly .................................................................................................................... Representing Alabama in Congress .................................................................................... Politics and Reform in Washington .................................................................................... Politicking with Bill Clinton ............................................................................................... Campaign Finance Revisited ............................................................................................... Freelancing for the Common Good ..................................................................................... Palm Sunday Tragedy ......................................................................................................... Reuniting Randolph County ................................................................................................ Unholy Fire ......................................................................................................................... The Congressman, the Boss ................................................................................................ VI. A BLUE DOG POINTS THE WAY ............................................................................... 185 Birth of the Blue Dogs ........................................................................................................ Difficult Contract ................................................................................................................ Coming Out Party ............................................................................................................... Smaller Slice for Alabama .................................................................................................. Browder‘s Dividend Plan .................................................................................................... Blue Dogs Start to Bark ...................................................................................................... Anticipating a Shutdown ..................................................................................................... Coalition Budget ................................................................................................................. Train Wreck ........................................................................................................................ Building Consensus at the Center ....................................................................................... VII. PLAYING DEFENSE ................................................................................................... 217 A Crash Course in National Security…………………………………………………….. Fighting for Fort McClellan.,,,,.……………………..……………….…………………… The Last Battle .................................................................................................................... Closure ................................................................................................................................ Toxic Legacy at Anniston Army Depot .............................................................................. Gulf War Syndrome ............................................................................................................ Looking Back ...................................................................................................................... VIII. UP OR OUT ................................................................................................................. 248 A Senate Seat Opens ........................................................................................................... Toe in the Water .................................................................................................................. In With Both Feet ................................................................................................................ 4 Strategy of Limited Resources ............................................................................................ Going Negative ................................................................................................................... Landslide Loss .................................................................................................................... Breaking Up the Team .......................................................................................................