Self-Destruction

The rise, fall, and redemption of U.S. Senator Daniel B. Brewster

By: John W. Frece

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Hardcover | 1 April 2023

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Hardcover
374 Pages

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22.86 x 15.24 x 2.54

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Hollywood-handsome Daniel B. Brewster had it all: inherited wealth, stellar education, combat Marine, prestigious horse farm, gorgeous and talented wife, and two young sons -- even a seat in the United States Senate. He was called "the Golden Boy of Maryland Politics." In 1964, as a stand-in for Lyndon Johnson in Maryland's Democratic Presidential Primary, Brewster defeated the segregationist George C. Wallace, a victory that was credited with clearing the way for congressional passage of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.

But then, debilitated by alcoholism, Brewster self-destructed. He lost it all -- a breathtaking descent into divorce, electoral defeat, a bribery scandal, financial collapse, and personal shame.

As a 20-year-old Marine lieutenant on Okinawa, Brewster fought in some the most savage combat of World War II. During the three-month siege, he was wounded seven times, including by one bullet that tore through his helmet. He was later decorated for valor. He returned from war bursting with ambition. He earned his law degree and quickly rose in politics: state legislature, Congress, and the Senate. He won his first 12 elections, almost always as the leading vote-getter. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer both got their start in Brewster's Senate office. He became friends with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

But Brewster's long marriage to Carol de Havenon collapsed after he reunited with Anne Bullitt, the ambassador's daughter who had jilted him 24 years before. Not long after their marriage, however, Brewster's drinking and other political missteps led to his 1968 election loss to Republican Charles McC. Mathias, Jr., a lifelong friend. After fleeing to Ireland, Brewster was hospitalized for alcoholism, only to learn that a once loyal aide had accused him of accepting bribes. It was rock bottom.

But Dan Brewster had a third act. He survived his six-year legal ordeal, quit drinking, and married Judy Aarsand, whom he had met in rehab. He became a doting father to their three children. Gradually, he reclaimed his dignity, helped other recovering alcoholics, joined hospital boards, and quietly found equilibrium and happiness in a life filled with enormous highs and lows.

Industry Reviews

"Daniel Brewster was a dedicated public servant in every sense of the word. His legacy can be found in his record of valor in World War II, his commitment to civil rights, his ability to find strength through adversity, and his devotion to the state of Maryland and its people." - Speaker Nancy Pelosi

"The devotees of civil rights in this country and freedom loving people the world over are greatly indebted to you for your support in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964." - The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"One of the best helpers I have in the United States Senate is my beloved friend Danny Brewster." - President Lyndon B. Johnson

"Dan knows how to get things done, an invaluable asset, I have found, in the United States Senate. His ability to get things done has made him Assistant Majority Whip, and I have watched him, with his special dignity and grace, rallying the Senate behind important Administration programs." - Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey

"Daniel Brewster had what many others did not - the determination to live life to the fullest. Unlike Hamlet, he did not consider succumbing to 'the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune' but rather fought against his 'sea of troubles.' In doing so, he made many worthwhile and commendable contributions to his community, State and Nation." - U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski

"I have great respect for men like Danny Brewster who served their country in war and peace." - Former U.S. Senator Bob Dole, 1996 Republican Presidential Nominee

"The measure of a man is not how he acts in the moments of ease, but in the tough times. In those times, Dan excelled. He could have looked on his life as defeat - but he did not. He came back with vigor, good cheer and enormous determination." - Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

"If this country is to continue to progress, then we need men like Dan Brewster in the U.S. Senate." - President John F. Kennedy

"This beautifully written and carefully researched biography portrays the fascinating life of Daniel B. Brewster, from his courageous fighting in the South Pacific, where he was wounded seven times but never relinquished command, to his rise in national politics, to a downward spiral that nearly destroyed him, followed by an amazing comeback." - Ambassador Tyler Abell, President Lyndon Johnson's Advisor and Chief of Protocol

"Senator Daniel Brewster became caught in the vortex of American politics of the 1960s: the New Frontier, Great Society, Vietnam War, Civil Rights Movement, and conservative reaction. How he coped with these challenges, personally and politically, and the price he paid, makes a powerful story." - Donald A. Ritchie, U.S. Senate Historian Emeritus

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