Description: USA Today Bestseller!
The untold story of the longest Speaker's election since the Civil War--and what it reveals about power in Washington. Glory, Grief, and the Gavel takes readers deep into the high-stakes world of Capitol Hill, pulling back the curtain on what it takes to lead one of the most complex and unruly institutions in America: the US House of Representatives. While presidential elections hinge on tens of millions of votes, the speakership--the third-highest office in the land and second in line to the presidency--can be decided by just 218. Written by former top congressional advisor John Leganski, this vivid personal memoir chronicles a decade-long battle for the gavel that ultimately erupted in the dramatic January 2023 floor fight to elect Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. Over the course of five extraordinary days and fifteen ballots, the contest became the first multi-ballot vote for Speaker in a century, the longest such struggle since the Civil War, and a defining moment in modern House history. Filled with never-before-reported scenes from a showdown that captivated the nation and the world, this rare front-row account doubles as both a Rosetta Stone for understanding today's Republican Party and the unforgiving realities of Washington politics. Along the way, Leganski offers hard-won lessons in leadership, the art of vote counting, and the human cost of wielding power in the People's House. If you've ever wondered how Speakers are chosen, why congressional leadership elections turn into political warfare, or what really happens in the rooms the cameras never see, Glory, Grief, and the Gavel delivers an unflinching and unforgettable answer.Review Quotes: "John Leganski understands the House of Representatives in a way few others do. In Glory, Grief, and the Gavel, he tells the true story behind what it took to survive one of the most dramatic speakership battles in history. Over more than a decade of working together, Leganski became one of my most trusted advisors, and his perspective is unmatched." --Kevin McCarthy, former Speaker of the House
"The speakership is arguably the toughest job in American politics. John Leganski gives readers a rare inside look at the strategy, personalities, and power struggles that shape the House today. Anyone who wants to understand how Congress really works should read Glory, Grief, and the Gavel." --Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House and New York Times bestselling author "The House is a complex, often misunderstood institution where outcomes are shaped as much by relationships and timing as by ideology. John Leganski captures that reality with clarity and insight. Glory, Grief, and the Gavel offers a compelling, behind-the-scenes look at how leadership decisions are made and how power is actually exercised in Congress." --Patrick McHenry, former Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee "The best book on the inner workings of the House of Representatives since John Barry's classic 1989 account of the rise and fall of the late Speaker Jim Wright, The Ambition and the Power. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the contemporary Congress." --Tom Cole, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee "John Leganski was in every room for every critical meeting during Kevin McCarthy's speakership, the most fascinating time in the modern history of the House of Representatives. He had a front-row seat to the vote counting, arm twisting, and wrangling that led to the reshaping of the modern-day Congress." --Jake Sherman, founder of Punchbowl News and New York Times bestselling author "In Glory, Grief, and the Gavel, John Leganski weaves in and out of the tensions that underscore every legislative battle. A masterpiece of Capitol Hill political strategy, this is essential reading for staffers and reporters alike." --Kadia Goba, politics reporter at The Washington Sun "Leganski takes the reader deep inside one of the most consequential and least-studied contests in American government: the race to be the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. His candor, acumen, and gifted storytelling make this a must-read for scholars, political junkies, and the next generation of congressional staff." --Thomas J. Wickham Jr., former Parliamentarian of the House