Desk 88

Eight Progressive Senators Who Changed America

By: Sherrod Brown

Narrated by: Leon Nixon, Sherrod Brown

Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

"Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown offers listeners both an insider's and a historical view of the workings of the U.S. Senate in this intriguing audiobook." (AudioFile Magazine)

Since his election to the US Senate in 2006, Ohio’s Sherrod Brown has sat on the Senate floor at a mahogany desk with a proud history. In Desk 88, he tells the story of eight of the Senators who were there before him.

Despite their flaws and frequent setbacks, each made a decisive contribution to the creation of a more just America. They range from Hugo Black, who helped to lift millions of American workers out of poverty, to Robert F. Kennedy, whose eyes were opened by an undernourished Mississippi child and who then spent the rest of his life afflicting the comfortable. Brown revives forgotten figures such as Idaho’s Glen Taylor, a singing cowboy who taught himself economics and stood up to segregationists, and offers new insights into George McGovern, who fought to feed the poor around the world even amid personal and political calamities. He also writes about Herbert Lehman of New York, Al Gore Sr. of Tennessee, Theodore Francis Green of Rhode Island, and William Proxmire of Wisconsin.

Together, these eight portraits in political courage tell a story about the triumphs and failures of the Progressive idea over the past century: in the 1930s and 1960s, and more intermittently since, politicians and the public have successfully fought against entrenched special interests and advanced the cause of economic or racial fairness. Today, these advances are in peril as employers shed their responsibilities to employees and communities, and a US president gives cover to bigotry. But the Progressive idea is not dead.

Recalling his own career, Brown dramatizes the hard work and high ideals required to renew the social contract and create a new era in which Americans of all backgrounds can know the "dignity of work".

©2019 Sherrod Brown (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

A Progressive History of Hope

I loved listening to my Senator’s scratchy voice, interspersed with professional narration. The accounts of other progressive senators from Desk 88 was fascinating and gave a hopeful outlook for progress to come. I recommend this book for historical buffs and students, but also for candidates and activists seeking to bring change for the common good! Thanks, Sen. Brown!

“Why I’m a Democrat, Explained”

Thank you Senator Brown! I would NEVER have called myself a “Progressive” until I listened to your book. I knew I was a Democrat, who felt that, even though, as a woman, I had become wealthy through hard work (and perhaps some luck), I could never “quite” explain my political beliefs to my Republican, retired military husband. We have lived respectfully for 57 years “in a house divided.” I did tease him, that because he traveled 3-6 months out of the year, I raised two Democrats! I came from a single mom household, with four children and no child support, who, when she finally retired at 70, received more money from Social Security than she did as a career credit manager of a car dealership where the owner “praised her to the Heavens.” Of course he did! When I heard you list all of the benefits and public benefits gained under Democratic “Progressives,” I was happy to learn I’d been on the right side all along. It gets better! In the last Presidential election, I told my husband that he needed to watch the Republican debates because Donald Trump was going to be the nominee. He laughed at me...until it happened! He did NOT like Hillary Clinton (as many military do not) and never had...but he VOTED for her! My children and I were so proud. I told him I hope he will listen to your book after he finishes “Anonymous.” Your book has so clearly helped me clarify why I care so much about climate change, race relations, good public education for all, equal pay for equal work, women’s rights, and more. My husband and I are old, but we still care passionately about the world we are leaving to our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Keep up the fight! Thank you.

Hope for Progressive Politics

Excellent political history. Senator Brown reveals the hipocracy of the conservatives and their deception of 🇺🇸

Loaded with interesing information

Sherrod Brown is the democratic senior senator from Ohio. He sits at desk number 88 in the Senate. He tells about the senators who have had the seat before him, such as: Senator Hugo Black; he had the desk from 1927 to 1937. Some of the other Senators that sat at this desk were George McGovern, Al Gore, Robert F. Kennedy and Theodore Green. Brown tells about each of the eight men and he works in information about himself. I was surprised at how many decades it took to stop child labor. Apparently, business and the Republicans fought every child labor law sent to the Senate. I found the information on Senator Lehman interesting. I sort of had the feeling I was in the Senate and the desk was talking to me. The book was interesting and well worth the read.

The book was twelve hours and forty-six minutes. Sherrod Brown and Leon Nixon do a good job narrating the book. Nixon is an actor and voice-over artist.

One of the best books I’ve ever listened to, and certainly the best book I’ve listen to during the Covid pandemic!

Wonderful politics, great history written in enjoyable style. Learned a lot about the individual senators the workings of the Senate and reaffirmed my commitment to progressive populism. Sherrod Brown’s great historian and one of the best senators this country has ever had. I hope he will strongly consider a run for the president in the future. If you call yourself a progressive, a populist, a liberal, or a democratic socialist you should read this book. And if you call yourself a conservative that are open to learning about the other side this would be a great book for you to read as well.

Thank you Senator for writing this wonderful entertaining well written and enjoyable Book. Audible ends every program with a Statement Dash “Audible hope you’ve enjoyed this program .“
I can assure you I certainly did in this case.

Reading this book makes me proud to be a former teacher, union organizer, elected official, national political party official and present employee of the Connecticut State Senate. It reaffirmed the lessons I learned at home and in union halls and in classrooms and in church that we are our brothers keeper that we have an obligation to take care of the least amongst us and governments rules to make lives better for everyone not just the wealthy and privileged.

Well written and read, love the history and lessons learned from desk 88

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, my wife wanted me to purchase it for her and I ended up listening to it first without being able to stop unless I had to. I love politics and history so for me this was a great experience of both, plus the added lessons Sherrod learned by those who sat at his desk before him and throughout his life was fantastic.

I’ve read or listened to other political books and this is by far my favorite, but so is Sharrod! I’m an Ohioan by chance and choice and he is my favorite Senator.

Inspiring stories to build a better nation

I found this book and the stories of those who have served at Desk 88 to be so inspiring and reassuring of the notion that while progress is rarely achieved in large doses, when we persevere to enact more and more progress, eventually we will be successful in our efforts to come closer to a more perfect union. I totally enjoyed this book!