An Evening With Ben Barnes, Thursday, April 27, 2006, at 6 p.m., LBJ Auditorium, 4:45 to 5:15 p.m., Barnes will sign books from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m.
“Tales of a Political Life, from LBJ to George W. Bush and Beyond”
Ben Barnes, former Lt. Governor of Texas and a Lyndon Johnson protégé, will pull no punches as he regales us with memories and insights from his book, Barn Burning, Barn Building: TALES OF A POLITICAL LIFE, FROM LBJ TO GEORGE W. BUSH AND BEYOND.
When Ben Barnes held office in Texas, the Democratic Party was at the height of its power. Barnes answers the question: How did Texas become Bush territory? He will also offer his take on current issues: independent candidates and the Governor’s race, Tom DeLay, education, immigration, and the future of politics in the Lone Star state.
“This is the almost incredible inside story from a principal player in one of the greatest political revolutions in our nation’s history. Ben Barnes tells in fascinating detail how Texas switched from a solidly Democratic state to one in the Republicans’ seemingly unshakeable grip.” - Walter Cronkite, former CBS News anchorman
At the age of 22, Barnes won a seat in the Texas House of Representatives. In 1965, at the age of 26, he was elected Speaker of the Texas House, the youngest Speaker in modern Texas history. In 1968, Barnes was elected Lt. Governor of Texas, and in 1970, Lyndon Johnson proclaimed that Barnes was destined to be the next U. S. President to come from Texas.
In Barn Burning, Barn Building: TALES OF A POLITICAL LIFE, FROM LBJ TO GEORGE W. BUSH AND BEYOND, Barnes tells an insider’s story of a great era in Texas politics. Using the lessons he learned in state politics, he calls for a return to bipartisan leadership in our country.
Since leaving public office, Barnes has been a businessman and civic leader. He is the Founder and Principal of Ben Barnes Group, LP, a business consulting and lobbying firm with offices in Austin and Washington, D.C.