Frankly Speaking: The Extraordinary Life of United States Senator Frank R. Lautenberg

Speaking Frankly is the Horatio Alger story of Frank R. Lautenberg, who rose from the streets of Paterson, New Jersey, to become a Fortune 500 CEO and then, the longest-serving senator in the history of New Jersey. Told as only his widow can, the book focuses on his history in Congress, from his underdog election in 1982 until his death in 2013 at age 89. The book reveals the senator's innovative political philosophy, which was centered on seemingly minor, unglamorous reforms that actually resulted in life-changing new realities for U.S. citizens: from his epic victories over the corporate powers of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms to his championship of the rights of women and the LGBTQ community, his unflinching campaigns to force the chemical industry to reveal its secrets, and his fervent opposition to the Iraq War and the military-industrial complex. The cast of characters includes Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Ted Kennedy.