AtWarwithCorruptionbeganasabiographyofBillPrice,theU.S.attorneyandRepublicancandidateforhighofficewhospearheadedprosecutionsinthemostpervasivepubliccorruptionspectacleinAmericanhistory:theOklahomacountycommissionerscandal.Price’sdeterminationtorootouttherascalsandrestorefaithingovernancebrandedhimasthebiggestcorruptionbusterinthestate’shistory.Price’scareerinlawandpoliticsservesasaportalintocorruptioninOklahoma.Episodesinthatnarrativeincludelandswindles(soonerism)atthedawnofOklahomahistory;theftofNativeAmericans’propertyandsteamrollingoftheirculturesthatreachedanadirintheOsagemurders;theSupremeCourtscandalof1964-65;LeoWinters’allegedmisuseofstatetaxes(whatwasthetreasurerdoingwiththepeople’smoney?);GovernorDavidHall’strialandconvictiononchargesofextortion;prosecutionsofdrugsyndicates,PennSquareBankinsiders,andOklahomaCorporationCommissionersonthetake;andthesystemicbriberyincountygovernancethatinspiredthisbook.PriceshattersthemyththatOklahomanshavebeenuniquelytolerantof,andsusceptibleto,corruption.Heblamesstructuralflawsandinadequatelegislationfortemptinglaw-abidingcitizenstoheedthecalloftheirdarkerangels.AlthoughPricefailedinhisgubernatorialandcongressionalcampaigns,hehasinfluencedpolicythroughphilanthropiesthatsetahighbarforcivicengagement.AtWarwithCorruptionrevealsthesinistersideofhumannature.Yetitsintentionisnottodepress,butrathertoupliftandtoshowwhatispossiblewhenpublicservantsworktogethertoframeeffectivelawsandpromotejustice.
