Blaemire tells the story of the life and achievements of Indiana’s long serving and influential Senator Birch Bayh. Starting with his immigrant ancestors, Blaemire tells just the right amount of Bayh’s background for the reader to understand how the Senator became the man he was. I had no idea that prior to becoming a senator, Bayh grew award winning tomatoes, considered a career in professional baseball and endured an eventful shivaree. Blaemire also succinctly describes the local, national, and international milieu of the Senator’s times and how those times affected his work.
Bayh’s savvy in running his first “adult” political campaign for the nomination as Vigo County’s State Representative foretells the Senator’s future success as a public persona. He and Marvella visited each of the delegates to the nominating convention and won the votes of the county patronage employees. Throughout his career, the Senator analyzed situations, determined what needed to be done to prevail, and worked tirelessly to reach the desired conclusion.
Before reading the book, I was aware of his work on Title IX and the presidential succession amendment. However, I wasn’t aware of the importance of the Bayh-Dole Act which changed the law so that new and innovative ideas from universities became patentable. And, please note the title of the act which demonstrates Bayh’s ability to work with Republicans such as Senator Dole to promote the greater good of the nation.
Blaemire’s book is well researched, written in a readable style, and liberally embellished with pictures. Most of all, the author’s affection for Senator Bayh shines through loud and clear.
This book will make the perfect gift your political junkie friend (be they Republican or Democratic). Blaemire will be speaking on the Senator and signing his book at the Irvington Historical Society’s Bona Thompson Center, 5350 University Ave., on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 5 to 7 p.m.
