An Uncommon Man: The Life & Times of Senator Claiborne Pell

by Miller, G. Wayne

• ISBN13: 9781611681864
• ISBN10: 1611681863
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-10-11
• Publisher: Univ Pr of New England

Summary

Claiborne Pell (1918-2009) was Rhode Island's longest serving U.S. senator, with six consecutive terms from 1961 to 1997. A liberal Democrat, Pell is best known as the sponsor of the Pell Grants. He was also the force behind the creation of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and a visionary in high-speed rail transportation and other areas. An early environmentalist and opponent of the Vietnam War, Pell left his mark on several treaties and peace initiatives. Born into the wealthy family that settled the Bronx, New York, Pell married Nuala O'Donnell, an heiress to the A&P fortune. He lived on the waterfront in exclusive Newport, Rhode Island, yet was a favorite of blue-collar voters. Frugal and quirky, he believed in ESP and UFOs, and was often seen jogging in a sports coat and shorts. Both his hard work and his personality left an indelible mark on this small but influential state. This lively biography was written with the cooperation of the senator's family, and with exclusive access to family records and the extensive archives at the University of Rhode Island.

Table of Contents

Prologue: A Cold Winter Day	p. 1
The Most Unlikely Candidate	p. 10
Only Child	p. 34
Land and Sea	p. 70
Vision	p. 101
History Making	p. 128
Heart and Soul	p. 188
Foreign Relations	p. 241
Life After	p. 286
Epilogue: The Shade of a Copper Beech	p. 296
Acknowledgments	p. 299
Author's Notes	p. 303
Index	p. 311
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