Overview

Louisiana had the Longs, Virginia had the Byrds, Georgia had the Talmadges, and North Carolina had the Scotts. In this history of North Carolina's most influential political family, Rob Christensen tells the story of the Scotts and when they dominated Tar Heel politics. Three generations of Scotts—W. Kerr Scott, Robert Scott, and Meg Scott Phipps—held statewide office. Despite stereotypes about rural white southerners, the Scotts led a populist and progressive movement strongly supported by rural North Carolinians—the so-called Branchhead Boys, the rural grassroots voters who lived at the heads of tributaries throughout the heart of North Carolina. Though the Scotts held power in various government positions in North Carolina for generations, they were instrumental in their own downfall. From Kerr Scott's regression into reactionary race politics to Meg Scott Phipps's corruption trial and subsequent prison sentence, the Scott family lost favor in their home state, their influence dimming and their legacy in question. Weaving together interviews from dozens of political luminaries and deep archival research, Christensen offers an engaging and definitive historical account of not only the Scott family's legacy but also how race and populism informed North Carolina politics during the twentieth century.

Full Product Details

9781469651040

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Reviews

Christensen does an outstanding job of patching together what had to be hundreds of documents, letters and interviews to deliver a concisely written and thought-provoking historical account that is both rich in detail yet not overwhelming. He presents the story of the Scott political dynasty without editorial comment. In the best reporting tradition he places facts above commentary, providing just enough context to sharpen the clarity of sometimes murky events.--Burlington Times-News Longtime newspaper reporter Rob Christensen draws on media accounts, interviews, and oral histories to prepare a balanced assessment of these two political careers.--Choice A remarkable book about the Scott family and its influence on North Carolina progressive politics. . . . Christensen uses numerous primary sources, including family papers, diaries, letters, newspapers, oral histories, and government documents, as well as abundant secondary sources, to tell his engaging story. . . . [Which] provides fascinating insights into North Carolina's progressive politics in the twentieth century.--Journal of Southern History Compelling and exhaustively researched. . . . A lively political history.--North Carolina Historical Review

""A remarkable book about the Scott family and its influence on North Carolina progressive politics. . . . Christensen uses numerous primary sources, including family papers, diaries, letters, newspapers, oral histories, and government documents, as well as abundant secondary sources, to tell his engaging story. . . . [Which] provides fascinating insights into North Carolina's progressive politics in the twentieth century.""--Journal of Southern History ""Christensen does an outstanding job of patching together what had to be hundreds of documents, letters and interviews to deliver a concisely written and thought-provoking historical account that is both rich in detail yet not overwhelming. He presents the story of the Scott political dynasty without editorial comment. In the best reporting tradition he places facts above commentary, providing just enough context to sharpen the clarity of sometimes murky events.""--Burlington Times-News ""Compelling and exhaustively researched. . . . A lively political history.""--North Carolina Historical Review ""From the Jim Crow era of newsprint and lead type to the Black Lives Matter era and the internet age, Christensen offers readers a detailed, and often inside, look at the history of one of the South's most venerable media institutions--the Raleigh News and Observer. Those looking for the details of that story will find no better source than this excellent volume.""--Lee A. Craig, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Economics at North Carolina State University and author of Josephus Daniels: His Life and Times ""From Rob Christensen, the dean of North Carolina political reporters, comes this invaluable contribution, told through the lives and careers of the Scott family. The Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys is crisp, accessible, smart, and thoroughly researched--and essential reading for students of modern North Carolina.""--William A. Link, author of William Friday: Power, Purpose, and American Higher Education ""Longtime newspaper reporter Rob Christensen draws on media accounts, interviews, and oral histories to prepare a balanced assessment of these two political careers.""--CHOICE ""Over the past fifty years no one has written more authoritatively about North Carolina politics than Rob Christensen. His journalism has always been informed by a keen historical awareness. That sureness of historical and political touch has culminated in a superb study of the News and Observer and the Daniels family. Southern News, Southern Politics will be a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the dynamics of race and politics that have shaped liberalism in North Carolina from the 1890s to Donald Trump.""--Tony Badger, Emeritus Paul Mellon Professor of American History, Cambridge University ""Rob Christensen captures the spirit of the times in this captivating history of the Scott family. Anyone wanting to understand North Carolina politics and history should read this book.""--Tom Eamon, author of The Making of a Southern Democracy ""This beautifully written political biography . . . [is] an insightful and eminently readable examination of the Scott family's political legacy.""--Journal of American History ""While the Scott family is interesting in their own right, the book also provides significant insight on North Carolina politics throughout the 20th century, and how the policies and priorities of the Democratic and Republican parties and their voters have changed over time. . . . [H]ighly recommended.""--North Carolina Libraries

Christensen does an outstanding job of patching together what had to be hundreds of documents, letters and interviews to deliver a concisely written and thought-provoking historical account that is both rich in detail yet not overwhelming. He presents the story of the Scott political dynasty without editorial comment. In the best reporting tradition he places facts above commentary, providing just enough context to sharpen the clarity of sometimes murky events.--Burlington Times-News

Author Information

Rob Christensen is political columnist for the News and Observer in Raleigh.

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