An Unlikely Conservative: The Transformation of an Ex-Liberal

By Linda, Chavez

Book Overview

When President George W. Bush nominated Linda Chavez to be Secretary of Labor in January 2001, most political observers saw it as a nod to the right. Chavez had made her reputation taking on the civil rights establishment, the feminist movement, and the multiculturalists. What few people knew was that this hard-nosed conservative began her career among socialists and labor-union officials, teaching in college affirmative-action programs and writing political propaganda for the Democratic National Committee. In An Unlikely Conservative , Chavez recounts her political journey from the Young People's Socialist League to the Reagan wing of the Republican Party-and the sometimes shocking personal experiences that shaped her views. From excrement-smeared car seats to threats of attacks with bombs and switchblades, she learned quickly that opposing racial quotas and ethnic studies carried a high personal cost. But at its core, hers is the story of a working-class Hispanic girl who overcomes a difficult and painful childhood to become one of America's most prominent political conservatives.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0465089046
• ISBN13: 9780465089048
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.6"