Lewis Gould brings to life the major figures of Republican history and uncovers a wealth of fascinating anecdotes about Republicans, from "e;the Plumed Knight,"e; James G. Blaine, in the 1880s, to Barry Goldwater in the 1960s, to Newt Gingrich in the 1990s. Gould also uncovers the historical forces and issues that have made the Republicans what they are: the crusade against slavery, the rise of big business, the Cold War, and opposition to the power of the federal government.