A fitting tribute to a unjustly forgotten figure in American politics, who (in William Manchester's words) 'never won a single election; and yet changed the landscape of the american political system, all without sacrificing his integrity.' In one of many ironies, he lived his early life in Marion, OH; the same small town as Warren G. Harding. Harding's monuments are scattered about town; Thomas' a single historical marker in a parking lot. And yet, Thomas changed America. ( )

1922 Norman Thomas: The Last Idealist, W. A. Swanberg (read 30 Apr 1985) (National Book Award biography prize for 1977) I did not enjoy this book as much as I did the three Swanberg biographies I read before I read this one. Norman Thomas' life wasn't that interesting. He was born Nov 20, 1884, and died Dec 19, 1968. His social views were not objectionable, even though he lost his religious beliefs after being a minister for a time. ( )