Cowboy Conservatism

During the 1960s and 1970s, Texas was rocked by a series of political transitions. Despite its century-long heritage of solidly Democratic politics, the state became a Republican stronghold virtually overnight, and by 1980 it was known as "Reagan Country." Ultimately, Republicans dominated the Texas political landscape, holding all twenty-seven of its elected offices and carrying former governor George W. Bush to his second term as president with more than 61 percent of the Texas vote.Sean P. Cunningham examines the remarkable history of Republican Texas in Cowboy Conservatism: Texas and the Rise of the Modern Right. Utilizing extensive research drawn from the archives of four presidential libraries, gubernatorial papers, local campaign offices, and oral histories, Cunningham presents a compelling narrative of the most notable regional genesis of modern conservatism. Spanning the decades from Kennedy's assassination to Reagan's presidency, Cunningham reveals a vivid portrait of modern conservatism in one of the nation's largest and most politically powerful states. The newest title in the New Directions in Southern History series, Cunningham's Cowboy Conservatism demonstrates Texas's distinctive and vital contributions to the transformation of postwar American politics.

"" 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" -- , ""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" -- , ""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" -- , ""Cowboy Conservativism is a careful study that avoids polemics and oversimplifications while still presenting a clear, focused argument."-- Reviews in 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" --

Sean P. Cunningham, assistant professor of history at Texas Tech University, has published articles and book reviews in Southwestern Historical Quarterly, the East Texas Historical Journal, and other publications. He lives in Lubbock, Texas.