Keeping Faith in Congress
Why Persistence, Compassion, and Teamwork Will Save Our Democracy
- History & Biography
- Publisher: Fortress Press (Augsburg Fortress)
- Published: 2018
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Publisher's Description
In 1996, Walter Capps won a seat in US House of Representatives. Less than a year later, he suffered a massive heart attack at Dulles Airport and died in his wife's arms. Lois Capps, a retired school nurse, decided just a few days later to run for her husband's seat. She won that election and went on to serve eight more terms in Congress, representing the central coast of California and advocating progressive causes. In Keeping Faith in Congress, Lois Capps poignantly tells her story--of her husband's death and her decision to run, of her daughter's death to cancer just a few years later, of her efforts to work across the aisle, and of her work on behalf of her constituents. No matter what personal or professional obstacles she faced, Representative Capps never lost faith in democracy. Instead, even the challenges taught her lessons. Now she shares those lessons, hoping that others can be inspired to work on behalf of the common good. Foreword by Nancy Pelosi.
Endorsements (8)
“Lois Capps and I served the people of California in Congress for many years, and I always admired her tenacity and her civility. It’s no wonder she was voted the Nicest Member of the House! Her career proves that you can treat people with respect—even your political opponents—and still get things done. Her career—and this book—should be a roadmap for all who want to serve in elective office.”
“Lois Capps has written an eloquent and moving account of the lessons learned during her decades of distinguished public service both on and off Capitol Hill. Weaving together stories and Scripture, Keeping Faith in Congress is a testament to the importance of balancing conviction with an open heart and an open mind. And it is a reminder of how sorely needed Capps’s model of 'servant leader' is in our current political moment.”
“For those of us who believe in progressive politics and progressive values, Lois Capps’s book is the answer to our prayers. A must read for everyone who, like Lois, has what FDR called ‘a strong and active faith.'”
“Lois Capps dedicated her life to the principles outlined in this book: honesty, faith, decency, and teamwork. I saw it firsthand when we served together on the Energy and Commerce Committee and when I traveled to her home district for a faith and politics event. Her words provide a timely, insightful, and powerful read.”
“This moving, perceptive memoir demonstrates what many of her former colleagues and constituents know full well about Lois Capps: she is fiercely dedicated to living out her principles and to being, to borrow her own words, a steadfast 'servant leader'—while also being one of the most thoughtful members of Congress. I miss Lois but am grateful that she continues to share her insights through this book.”
“Reading about Lois Capps’s service in Congress makes it clear that a person of faith can make a difference, for she presents an alternative face of Christianity that acknowledges and welcomes diverse experiences and convictions. Capps makes it clear that our country and communities are stronger when everyone has a place at the table.”
“This is an inspirational book, especially recommended for those of us who are fed up with the name-calling, hyper-partisanship, and cynicism that currently pervade American politics. Lois Capps served two decades in the House and earned a reputation for compassion, competence, and integrity. Capps is that rare person in modern American politics who practices bipartisanship as well as preaching it. Progressive in her own beliefs, she sought a Republican cosponsor for every bill she introduced. Listening more than she lectured, she forged strong friendships with members who did not share her political views. Lois Capps has faith in the great American democratic experiment and is optimistic that our present acrimony will in time succumb to what Abraham Lincoln called ‘the better angels of our nature.'”
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