Humphrey and Me (Paperback)

Stuart H. Brody

ISBN 10: 1595801251 / ISBN 13: 9781595801258

Published by Santa Monica Press, Santa Monica, 2023

About this Item

Paperback. WINNER OF THE 2024 GRATEFUL AMERICAN BOOK PRIZE FOR BEST YOUNG ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION!Ray Elias is a precocious but withdrawn sixteen-year-old growing up in an affluent suburb of New York in the early sixties. Numbed by theassassination of President Kennedy, Ray chances upona TV documentary about the most recent presidential electionand is drawn to the ebullient senator from Minnesota, Hubert Humphrey, who unsuccessfully challenged John Kennedy for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1960.With the senator as his newfound hero, Ray fashions a mission for himself: make Humphrey Lyndon Johnson's running mate in 1964. To the amazement of his friendsand cynical father, Humphrey learns of Ray's plan to lobby the delegates and, impressed with his sincerity and ambition, takes Ray under his wing.Ray enters college as the senator is elected vice president, but the relationship unravels when Humphrey becomes an ardent public supporter of the Vietnam War, despite his personal belief in the war's futility. As the tension between them grows andtheir bond deteriorates, Ray is devastated by his loss of faith in Humphrey. However, he finds consolation for his disappointment in Ruth, a spirited classmate from theother side of the tracks who teaches him understanding and empathy.As Ray matures to young adulthood he reconnects with Humphrey-who has by now achieved a political revival and is mulling a fresh run at the presidency-and the two reconcile after Humphrey finallyacknowledges his breach of Ray's trust, and Ray forgives his former mentor.Loosely based on the author's real-life relationship with Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Humphrey and Meportrays the often highly emotional journey that comes withembracing our heroes, while set against the backdrop of the tempestuous political eras of the 1960s and '70s. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781595801258

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Humphrey and Me (Paperback)
• Publisher: Santa Monica Press, Santa Monica
• Publication Date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1595801251
• ISBN 13: 9781595801258
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

WINNER OF THE 2024 GRATEFUL AMERICAN BOOK PRIZE FOR BEST YOUNG ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION!

Ray Elias is a precocious but withdrawn sixteen-year-old growing up in an affluent suburb of New York in the early sixties. Numbed by the assassination of President Kennedy, Ray chances upon a TV documentary about the most recent presidential election and is drawn to the ebullient senator from Minnesota, Hubert Humphrey, who unsuccessfully challenged John Kennedy for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1960.

With the senator as his newfound hero, Ray fashions a mission for himself: make Humphrey Lyndon Johnson’s running mate in 1964. To the amazement of his friends and cynical father, Humphrey learns of Ray’s plan to lobby the delegates and, impressed with his sincerity and ambition, takes Ray under his wing.

Ray enters college as the senator is elected vice president, but the relationship unravels when Humphrey becomes an ardent public supporter of the Vietnam War, despite his personal belief in the war’s futility. As the tension between them grows and their bond deteriorates, Ray is devastated by his loss of faith in Humphrey. However, he finds consolation for his disappointment in Ruth, a spirited classmate from the other side of the tracks who teaches him understanding and empathy.

As Ray matures to young adulthood he reconnects with Humphrey—who has by now achieved a political revival and is mulling a fresh run at the presidency—and the two reconcile after Humphrey finally acknowledges his breach of Ray’s trust, and Ray forgives his former mentor.

Loosely based on the author’s real-life relationship with Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Humphrey and Me portrays the often highly emotional journey that comes with embracing our heroes, while set against the backdrop of the tempestuous political eras of the 1960s and ’70s.

About the Author

Stuart H. Brody is the author of The Law of Small Things: Creating a Habit of Integrity in a Culture of Mistrust (Berrett-Koehler 2019), teaches ethics at the University of Arizona, and is Senior Scholar at the Institute for Ethics in Public Life at the State University of New York. He speaks nationally on issues of public integrity.