• A Fork in the Democratic Road

    A Fork in the Democratic Road

    After Ike’s big win in 1952, Estes Kefauver and Hubert Humphrey had ideas for what the Democrats should do. They sought the same destination, but had very different routes to get there.

  • Some Things Never Change

    Some Things Never Change

    Kefauver’s critics claimed he would say anything to get elected. A brochure from his first Senate campaign shows that he was actually making the same case all along.

  • The Destruction of Coya Knutson

    The Destruction of Coya Knutson

    The trailblazing Minnesota Congresswoman defied the party establishment to support Kefauver. The party establishment responded by ruining her career.

  • Reckoning With Russell

    Reckoning With Russell

    Richard Russell was considered one of the great Senators of all time. He also led the Southern resistance to civil rights. How should he be remembered?

  • The People vs. The Big Few

    The People vs. The Big Few

    Throughout his career, Kefauver never lost touch with the people he served. A brochure from his final campaign proves it.

  • Too Much Democracy

    Too Much Democracy

    The press didn’t approve of Kefauver’s way of campaigning for President. Their criticism belied a deeper unease with the primary system.

  • Support Your Local Sheriff!

    Support Your Local Sheriff!

    The crime hearings earned Kefauver a reputation as a racket-buster. But that reputation obscured what he really tried to accomplish.

  • How Do You Solve A Problem Like Kefauver?

    How Do You Solve A Problem Like Kefauver?

    Kefauver’s Senate colleagues famously disliked him. But it wasn’t really personal – their dislike came from a deeper source.

  • How Adlai Really Won

    How Adlai Really Won

    Stevenson is remembered as the man who practiced a nobler brand of politics. A forgotten incident from the 1956 campaign tells a different story.

  • Portrait of a Lady

    Portrait of a Lady

    Lady Bird Johnson wasn’t just Lyndon’s wife – she was a key political adviser and an astute observer. Her comments about Kefauver show that she understood his immense political gifts – and what held him back.