InlateAugust2004theRepublicanswerecelebratingthenominationofincumbentGeorgeW.BushforanothertermaspresidentoftheUnitedStates.Inthemidstofthefestivities,ChuckHagel,asenatorfromNebraska,wastellingreportersthattheRepublicanPartyhad“comelooseofitsmoorings.“ThiswasaboldpositionforsomeoneidentifiedbytheNewYorkTimes,LosAngelesTimes,andBostonGlobeasaprospective2008presidentialcandidate,butitwasnotsurprisingcomingfromaRepublicansenatorwhohadalsorecentlyremarkedthattheoccupationofIraqwaspoorlyplannedandthatithadencouragedthespreadofterrorcellsthroughouttheworld.WhoisChuckHagel,whatishisstory,andisheagenuineplayeronthenationalpoliticalstage?CharlyneBerenssetsouttoanswerthesequestionsinhercloseandcarefullookatoneofthemostinterestingandindependentfiguresonthecurrentAmericanpoliticalscene.HavingsurvivedatourofdutyinVietnamandhavingmadeafortuneasapioneerinthecellularphoneindustry,ChuckHagelseeminglycameoutofnowheretobeatapopularsittinggovernorinaracefortheU.S.Senatein1996.BerenschartsHagel’squickrisetonationalrecognitionandinfluenceandexaminesthebackgroundthathasledHageltoanoutspokeninternationalismthatoftenputshimatoddswithhisownpartyandpresident.Thiscomplex,plain-spokenNebraskanmaybeonhiswaytotheWhiteHouse.CharlyneBerensexplainswhyandhow.CharlyneBerensisaProfessorofJournalismattheUniversityofNebraska-Lincoln.SheistheauthorofOneHouse:TheUnicameral’sProgressiveVisionforNebraska(Nebraska2005)andPowertothePeople:SocialChoiceandthePopulist/ProgressiveIdeal.
