As Texas Goes... (18 page)

Acknowledgments

N
ormally, this is my favorite part of writing a book—when you get to thank all the people who helped you along the way. In the case of this particular book, however, I got assistance, advice, support, and good information from so many incredibly smart and helpful people it’s a little embarrassing.

The idea for
As Texas Goes
. . .
came from Bob Weil at Liveright Publishing/W. W. Norton, who was also, to my incredible good fortune, my editor at every step along the road. Although it’s certainly true that without him the book would never have been written, I’d rather point out that without him the book would have been unreadable.

At the beginning of this project, Abby Livingston of
Roll Call
did me the enormous favor of recommending a fellow Texan, Annie Boehnke, as a researcher. Before she went off to pursue an advanced degree in architecture at Harvard, Annie got me through all the initial chapters, as well as the education section. I would not have survived her departure if it hadn’t been for another Texas native, the incomparable Amanda Sterling. Besides Annie and Amanda, I got invaluable research help from Sean Beherec, Alexa Garcia-Ditta, Rachael Greenberg, Isabella Moschen, and Katherine Stevens.

Thanks to James Haley for his suggestions and help with Texas history, to Bob Semple for doing the same when I got to the environment, and to Joe Nocera when it came to financial deregulation. Trish Hall got me through the first chapters, and special thanks to Evan Smith for reading the whole thing and for introducing me to Mimi Swartz and John Wilburn, who took me on an enlightening tour of Houston. It convinced me great cities can thrive without zoning, although I still don’t think I’d want a tire recapping business to set up shop on my block.

I cannot possibly thank all the Texans who were generous with their time and expertise. The whole project was inspired by a column that was inspired by a suggestion from Sylvia Acevedo, who has now been a source of information and ideas for two of my books. The very fact that I got to spend time with Paula and Nizar Djabbarah was an incentive to do the project. Many thanks to the hospitable people of Marfa, Texas, especially Tom Michael and Katherine Shaughnessy Michael. Also on the gracious-host-and-guide front, I am grateful to Jan Demetri, Mary Margaret and Ray Farabee, Bill Hobby, Steve Klineberg, Kathy and Don Mauro, John Mixon, and Jan Jarboe Russell. Thanks to all the amazing journalists I met in Texas, and the hundreds of others whose work I read and used shamelessly.

The people I interviewed who were quoted directly in the book are listed in the notes for each chapter, but please do not hold any of them responsible for my conclusions. Dozens of others also generously gave me their time, and the information they shared informs every page. I can’t name them all, but they know who they are, and I hope at least some of them will be pleased with the way this all came out.

Finally, thanks to Alice Martell, who has been way more than an agent for my entire book-writing career. And above all, to my beloved husband Dan, who really does put up with a lot.

NOTES

Except when otherwise noted, direct quotes are taken from interviews by the author. The names of interviewees are at the beginning of each chapter.

Prologue

3
“We didn’t”: Rick Perry, speech at Tea Party rally, Austin, April 15, 2009, available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbWz1RYGE3Q
.

4
“We’ve got a great”: Associated Press, “Colorful Quotes from Rick Perry Throughout the Years,”
Texas on the Potomac
(blog),
chron.com (
Houston Chronicle
online edition), August 2011.

4
“Man allegedly beat”: Gail Collins, “Day of the Armadillo,”
New York Times
,
November 2, 2011.

7
“Dead armadillos”: Ibid.

1: Remember the Alamo

Interviews: Frank Cahoon, James Haley, Stephen Harrigan, Jan Jarboe Russell, Karen Thompson.

12
“We are very”: “Governor says Texas is one state that could leave the union, though he’s not pushing it,” W. Gardner Selby and Jason Embry,
Austin American-Statesman
,
April 17, 2009.

12
Rasmussen poll: “Texas Secession Poll,”
Huffington Post
,
May 18, 2009.

13
to nominate Donald Trump: “WSJ/NBC Poll: Donald Trump No. 2,”
Los Angeles Times
,
April 7, 2011.

13
“Texans, more so”: Brian McCall,
The Power of the Texas Governor: Connally to Bush
(Austin: University of Texas Press, 2009), 58.

15
clause prohibiting atheists: Texas state constitution, Article 1, Section 4.

20
Bush . . . sent a copy of Travis’s letter: Don Van Natta,
First Off the Tee
, (New York: PublicAffairs, 2003), 280.

21
“donning the patriotic trappings”: Joe Holley, “Sen. Dan Patrick Goes Beyond Talk in the Legislature,
Houston Chronicle
, July 4, 2001.

21
“House Republicans felt”: Justin Sink, “House GOP Tax Cut Negotiator Says Debate Was Like ‘Reenacting the Alamo,’ ”
The Hill
,
December 22, 2011.

22
“Where did this idea”: Lou Dubose and Jan Reid,
The Hammer
(New York: PublicAffairs, 2004), p. 207; Gary Scharrer, “Legislator Questions Border Health,”
El Paso Times
, March 6, 2003.

22
Pamela Mann: James Haley,
Passionate Nation
(New York: Free Press, 2006), 187, 193.

24
Molly Ivins watched:
Molly Ivins Can’t Say That, Can She?
(New York: Vintage, 1991) 18.

2: Empty Places

Interviews: David Crossley, Tom Dunlap, Bill Hobby, Ray Kelly, Christopher King, Stephen Klineberg, Lois Kolkhorst, Bob Lanier, Martin Melosi, Tom Michael, John Mixon, Richard Murray, Wes Perry, Chris Steinbach, Tom Smith, Ronald Welch.

27
“the big empty”: Jake Silverstein, “Boy’s Life,”
Texas Monthly
,
June 2010.

28
“reckless and irresponsible”: Gary Scharrer, “Perry Vetos Texting While Driving Legislation,”
Houston Chronicle
, June 17, 2011; “Gov. Perry Vetoes HB242,” Office of the Governor, June 17, 2011.

28
Freedom and Liberty: Kevin D. Williamson, “Rick Perry’s Tenth Commandment,”
National Review
,
April 4, 2011.

28
“If you’ve got a car”: Glenna Whitley, “Texas Concealed Gun Laws Loosen,”
Dallas Observer
, October 25, 2011.

29
Bob Bullock: Dave McNeely and Jim Henderson,
Bob Bullock: God Bless Texas
(Austin: University of Texas Press), 121.

29
California has the most stringent gun laws: Statistics from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, quoted by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, available at:
http://www.tracetheguns.org/#/states/TX/exports/
.

29
nearly 15,000 guns: Statistic from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, quoted by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, available at:
http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/downloads/pdf/issue_brief_mexico_2010.pdf
.

30
“Studies show”: “Smith Supports Right-to-Carry Bill,” press release from Congressman Lamar Smith, November 16, 2011.

31
The Texas constitution: There have been 643 proposed amendments, 467 approved and 176 rejected.

31
in the constitution: William Earl Maxwell et al.,
Texas Politics Today
(Boston: Wadsworth, 2010), 52.

31
lobbyists far outnumber the legislators: “Austin’s Oldest Profession,” Texans for Public Justice, 2010.

32
“Texans know how”: Rick Perry, speech at Tea Party rally, Austin, April 15, 2009,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbWz1RYGE3Q
.

32
farmers in the Texas hill country: Robert Caro,
The Path to Power
(New York: Knopf, 1982), 528.

32
transfer of payments: Environmental Working Group, farm subsidy database.

32
One of the beneficiaries: R. G. Ratcliffe, “Will Subsidies to Farmer Perry Come Back to Haunt Presidential Hopeful Perry?”
Austin American-Statesman
,
August 7, 2011.

33
Thousands of doctors: Ralph Blumenthal, “In Houston Astrodome, Safe but Restless Refuge,”
New York Times
, September 4, 2005.

33
A year after Katrina: Amy Strahan, “Houston Tires of Katrina Evacuees as Crime Rises, Few Find Jobs,”
Bloomberg News
, August 24, 2006.

33
stupendous lack of enthusiasm: “Texas on the Brink,” Texas Legislative Study Group, February 2011, available at
http://texaslsg.org/texasonthebrink/?p=1
. See Appendix.

35
“raping and pillaging those hills”: Matt Dellinger,
Interstate 69: The Unfinished History of the Last Great American Highway
(New York: Scribner, 2010), p. 186.

38
“We don’t respond”: Kate Galbraith, “Drought-Plagued Midland, Texas, is Running Out of Water.”
Texas Tribune
,
April 22, 2011.

39
“I am rejoiced”: Davy Crockett, letter to his children, January 9, 1836, available at:
www.thealamo.org/battle/letter-Crockett.php
.

3: It’s My Party

Interviews: Frank Cahoon, Robert Caro, Joaquín Castro, Rodney Ellis, Jim Marston, Norman Ornstein, Bill Ratliff, Jan Jarboe Russell.

42
101 members: Dave Mann and Abby Rapoport, “Let’s Get This Party Started,”
Texas Observer
,
August 8, 2011.

43
As a drama: Dubose and Reid,
The Hammer
, 212.

45
“destroyed”: Peggy Fikac: “Nail Lid Shut: Senate’s Two-thirds Rule Dead,”
Houston Chronicle
,
June 20, 2011.

45
“a big hurricane”: McCall,
The Power of the Texas Governor
, 64.

45
“Well, I don’t have”: Ibid.,
68.

46
“Everyone wanted to let”: Mimi Swartz, “Ann Richards: How Perfection Led to Failure,”
Texas Monthly
,
October 1990.

46
“If it’s inevitable”: McCall,
The Power of the Texas Governor
, 98.

46
When Perry announced: Justin Elliott, “Have You Ever Had Sex With Rick Perry?”
Salon
,
August 18, 2011.

46
“hairy-legged lesbians”: McNeely and Henderson,
Bob Bullock
,
216.

47
“ain’t never done nothin’ ”: Charles Ashman,
Connally: The Adventures of Big Bad John
(New York: Morrow, 1974), 284.

47
Bullock endorsed George W. Bush: McNeely, and Henderson,
Bob Bullock
, 274.

47
“It’s the last copter”: Paul Burka, “Right Place, Right Time,”
Texas Monthly
,
February 2010.

47
Or a pitcher: Patrick Cox, “Not Worth a Bucket of Warm Spit,” George Mason University History News Network, August 20, 2008.

50
In 2010, Maine: “America Goes to the Polls,” Nonprofit Voter, 2010.

51
Tom DeLay: Dubose and Reid,
The Hammer
, 43–44.

52
Armey and DeLay: Michael Sokolove, “Dick Armey Is Back on the Attack,”
New York Times Magazine,
November 4, 2009.

52
“None that I can”: Dubose and Reid,
The Hammer
,
102.

52
“He was innocent”: Carl M. Cannon, Lou Dubose, Jan Reid,
Boy Genius
(New York: PublicAffairs, 2003), 44–5.

53
a fiend for privatization: ibid., 84–5.

54
“What’s a little pain”: Hilary Hylton, “Hammered: What Punishment Will Tom DeLay Get?
Time
,
November 25, 2010.

54
“Armey and FreedomWorks”: Sokolove, “Dick Armey Is Back.”

4: Financial Deregulation—the Texas Angle

Interview: Bill Black.

60
“What we have to share”: Phil Gramm, “Announcement of Candidacy,” February 24, 1995, available at:
http://edition.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/candidates/republican/withdrawn/gramm.announcement.shtml
.

60
“When I am on Wall Street”: Eric Lipton and Stephen Labaton, “A Deregulator Looks Back, Unswayed,”
New York Times
, November 16, 2008.

61
One historic state thrift: James O’Shea,
The Daisy Chain
(New York: Simon & Schuster, 1991), 62–66.

61
set their own interest rates: Norma Riccucci,
Unsung Heroes
(Washington DC, Georgetown University Press, 1995), 25.

62
The lawyer for the thrift’s: Martin Mayer,
The Greatest Ever Bank Robbery
(New York: Collier Books, 1992), 9.

62
the most profitable S & L: O’Shea,
The Daisy Chain
, 124.

63
no actual money: William K. Black,
The Best Way to Rob a Bank Is to Own One
(Austin: University of Texas Press, 2005), 107.

63
Dixon overcame that problem: Ibid., 108.

63
“It served as”: Ibid.

63
Dixon’s wife: Ibid., 109.

63
any long-term solvency: Riccucci,
Unsung Heroes
,
42.

63
requested more time: Black,
The Best Way
, 107.

64
told the committee: Irvin Molotosky, “House Committee Votes to Conduct Inquiry on Wright,”
New York Times
,
June 11, 1988.

64
The Ethics Committee: “Two Trials for Speaker Wright,”
New York Times
,
April 24, 1989.

64
Gingrich would eventually: John E. Young, “House Reprimands, Penalizes Speaker,”
Washington Post
,
January 22, 1997.

65
$4,775 per capita: Robert Bryce,
Cronies
(New York: PublicAffairs, 2004), 139.

65
The other memorable point: Gail Collins, “Dems Say: Go!”
Newsday
,
February 26,1995.

66
“all our poor people”: Lipton and Labaton: “A Deregulator Looks Back.”

66
he did indeed have a heart: Richard L. Berke, “Tough Texan: Phil Gramm,”
New York Times Magazine
, February 19, 1995.

66
“Some people look”: Lipton and Labaton, “A Deregulator Looks Back.”

67
threatened to destroy: Stephen Labaton, “Deal on Bank Bill was Helped Along by Midnight Talks,”
New York Times
, October 24, 1999.

67
reject requests: David Corn, “Foreclosure Phil,”
Mother Jones
, July/August 2008.

67
“We have learned”: Lipton and Labaton, “A Deregulator Looks Back.”

67
Gramm had a soft spot: Gary McWilliams, “The Quiet Man Who’s Jolting Utilities,”
Business Week
, June 9, 1997.

68
“Enron’s business model”: “Blind Faith: How Deregulation and Enron’s Influence over Government Looted Billions from Americans,” Public Citizen, December 2001, 3.

68
“As a single”: Berke, “Tough Texan.”

68
confidential e-mail: Eric Lipton, “Gramm and the ‘Enron Loophole,’ ”
New York Times
, November 14, 2008.

69
“large sophisticated”: “Blind Faith,” 12.

69
two of the five: Ibid., 11.

69
“between $915,000”: Ibid., 3.

69
inserted an amendment: Corn, “Foreclosure Phil.”

69
Michael Greenberger: Ibid.

70
Gramm later claimed: Lipton, “Gramm and the ‘Enron Loophole.’ ”

70
“Wholesale services” revenue: “Blind Faith,” 20.

70
Other firms: Cathy Booth Thomas, “The Enron Effect,”
Time
,
May 28, 2006.

71
Gramm became vice president: Lisa Lerer, “McCain Guru Linked to Subprime Crisis,”
Politico
, March 28, 2008.

71
The fault, he said: Lipton and Labaton, “A Deregulator Looks Back.”

71
“a nation of whiners”: Ibid.

5: No Child Left Behind

Interviews: David Anderson, Brenda Arredondo, Charles Barone, David Grissmer, Bill Hammond, Scott Hochberg, Sandy Kress, George Miller, Bill Ratliff, Paul Sadler, Barbara Wilson.

73
flyer: Gene B. Preuss,
To Get a Better School System
(College Station, TX: Texas A & M University Press, 1995), 28.

73
When World War Two began: Ibid., 69.

73
“We had the worst”: Patrick Cox and Michael Phillips,
The House Will Come to Order
(Austin: University of Texas Press, 2010), 56.

74
“committing an act”:
A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Education Reform
,
National Commission on Excellence in Education, 1983.

74
“It’s important”: Gail Collins, “Our Mister Bush,”
New York Times
, March 21, 2000.

74
“Not about education”: Ibid.