Who was Sam Ward? Scion of an honorable old family, brother of unassailably upright Julia Ward Howe, best friend of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, mathematician, linguist, California ’49er – and a spendthrift who squandered not one but several fortunes — Sam Ward was one of the most colorful men of an era crowded with larger-than-life personalities.
In an era when wave after wave of scandal uncovered congressmen who sold their votes and ruthless men who arrived in Washington with trunks full of cash with which to buy them, Sam Ward reigned unspotted as “King of the Lobby.” Author Kathryn Allamong Jacob’s thorough account shows how the “king” earned his crown through cookery and conversation at fabulous dinner parties and how this son of wealth and privilege helped to create a questionable profession in a city that then, as now, rested on power and influence. At his table the outlines of a new, modern lobby, a lobby easily recognizable today, took shape.
We at Wonders & Marvels have 5 copies of King of the Lobby as our giveaway. To enter, simply respond to this question by commenting before 11:59 p.m. January 26, 2010:
What pet cause would you lobby for?
Looking forward to your creative answers! Good luck. (Sorry, at this time, books can only be shipped to U.S. addresses. Don’t want to miss any giveaways? Just sign up here for email notifications each time we post a new one!
Don’t forget to check out our concurrent giveaway for Randi Hutter Epstein’s Get Me Out.
