In the introduction to his part Just Permanent Interests: Black Americans in Congress: 1870-1991 Bill Clay writes that his project is not to "inflame, placate, or entertain, on the other hand to educate." In truth he is sometimes inflammatory, occasionally placatory, and frequently entertaining, thereby adding just the right amount of spice to the part He also does a great deal of educating. Along the way, Clay has written a solid volume on power in the U Congres
Indeed, Clay's work is a classic study forward how a small, well organized, highly
