""Mr. Cunningham writes with an easy and nonacademic gusto befitting a literary hand from the new national center of conservatism."--Washington Times" --
""Cowboy Conservatism is an illuminating history of modern conservatism in the state of Texas.... It is a non-partisan, level evaluation and study about the rise of modern conservatism in the United States. It does what books on history should do. Tell a story."--New York Journal of Books" --
""Cunningham's book goes beyond party rivalries to explain how political parties position themselves in the minds of voters."--Texas Tech Today" --
""Cunningham chronicles the pivotal years between the assassination of JFK and Ronald Reagan's ascension to power in the 80s, which coincided with the swing of his state from blue to red.... Cunningham deftly weaves these threads into the tapestry of national politics."--Publishers Weekly" --
""A carefully researched and crafted look at Texas' role in the Republican Party's transformation from a political party controlled by northeastern moderates to one embraced by Southern and western populists."--Austin American-Statesman" --
""Cunningham... examines the political change in Texas [that] helped shape political change nationally...."--Bryan-College Station Eagle" --
""The book is easy to read and appropriate for anyone who likes political histories."--Choice" --
""Anyone who has ever wondered why once loyally Democratic Texas... has become a Republican and conservative stronghold today, will profit from reading this history." --Voice of Reason" --
""Cunningham provides a vivid, informative, and frequently insightful chronicle of Texas politics between 1963 and 1980." --Journal of American History" --
""Cunningham aptly describes the roots of Texas's political culture.... This book should be a needed addition for the political science and Texana collections of all academic and public libraries." --Review of Texas Books" --
""In his study of the demise of Democratic party dominance in Texas, Sean P. Cunningham provides a vivid, informative, and frequently insightful chronicle of Texas politics between 1963 and 1980."--Journal of American History" --
""Cunningham skillfully explains a timeline for change that makes sense and contributes to our understanding of this political transformation."--Journal of Southern History" --
""Cowboy Conservativism is a careful study that avoids polemics and oversimplifications while still presenting a clear, focused argument."--Reviews in American History" --
Cunningham, a native of Texas and a teacher at Texas Tech, chronicles the pivotal years between the assassination of JFK and Ronald Reagan's ascension to power in the ‘80s, which coincided with the swing of his state from blue to red. Texas has been a national political bellwether and was, by 1963 (when liberal LBJ carried the state in a landslide), a bastion of the growing conservative movement. By 1980, the state had adopted Reagan as a native son and moved into the Republican camp. Cunningham attributes some of the shift to postwar urbanization and the transformation of what had been a largely agrarian state into "the most vibrant economy in the country," oil rich and home to leading companies. Texas has a "unique political heritage notable for its colorful personalities, its conservative commitment to tradition and loyalty," libertarian values, racial conflicts, and a history that includes the Alamo. In a book that should interest students of political history, Cunningham deftly weaves these threads into the tapestry of national politics. "The rise of modern Texas conservatism not only coincided with a similar ascendancy nationwide, but also gave the movement shape and momentum." Photos. (May)
