Furnishing the Mind | Interview: Chris Stirewalt

The Last Hurrah, written by Edwin O'Connor, tells the story of Frank Skeffington, a 72-year-old Irish-American politician running for another term as mayor in an unnamed East Coast city, widely believed to be Boston. The novel is a detailed and insightful view of urban politics, particularly the old-style machine politics that Skeffington has mastered. Through the eyes of his nephew, Adam Caulfield, the story follows Skeffington's final campaign, highlighting his flaws and achievements. The novel portrays the end of an era in American politics, marked by the decline of local machine politics and the rise of new campaign methods, such as television advertising. Skeffington's defeat and subsequent death symbolize the transition to a new political era, one that is less dependent on local patronage and more on national social welfare programs.