Congress and the Nation 1946-1964: A Review of Government and Politics, Published by the Congressional Quarterly Service, Two Volume Set

Congress and the Nation 1945-1964: A Review of Government and Politics in the Postwar Years. District of Columbia: Congressional Quarterly Service, 1965. First edition, two-volume set.

Presented is a first edition, two volume set of Congress and the Nation 1945-1964. The set was published by Congressional Quarterly Services in 1965. Both volumes are bound in period full leather boards with gilt embossing and decorative spines by Bayntun of Bath, England. The set was previously owned by Samuel E. Zeitlin in Chicago, Illinois, as indicated on the inside front boards. An introduction by Thomas N. Schroth summarizes the books’ purpose, organization, and reason for publication. Both books are now housed in a custom archival slipcase, designed to match the period binding.

Congress and the Nation is the first publication by the Congressional Quarterly (CQ) to cover such a sizeable time period. Before this 1965 publication, the CQ researched and wrote explanations of difficult political situations for use by journalists and professionals in the field. These overviews were published weekly and annually. It was not until 1960 when CQ attempted to analyze two decades worth of political and governmental events, resulting in this larger project.

Researching and discussing the events immediately following the Second World War, the writers recognized the importance of the postwar years and the impact of events like the atomic bombing of Japan, the formation of the United Nations, the Bay of Pigs, and the assassination of President Kennedy. The outcome, this two-volume set, is a synthesis of the legislative, political, historical analysis of two complex decades, thorough without being too cumbersome to read.

Henrietta and Nelson Poynter founded Congressional Quarterly in 1945. Available to subscribers, the company produced a weekly report, a quarterly index, and an annual almanac. CQ still operates today and is used by news media, libraries, lobbyists, and even government officials. 

CONDITION: 

Overall very good condition. Published in 1965 by the Congressional Quarterly Service. The period bindings are sunned along the spine and edges, making the blue leather boards appear green in some areas. The binding has four raised bands, gilt stamped decorations of the Capitol and a map of the United States, and gilt titles to the spine. Bound by Bayntun in Bath, England for Samuel E. Zeitlin. The front board of volume I has a 2” scratch that has been filled-in. Internally, the pages are clean and bright. Housed in a custom matching archival slipcase. 

Dimensions of Volume I: 11”H x 8 3/4”W 2 1/4”D. Dimensions of Volume II: 11”H x 8 3/4”W x 2”D. Dimensions of both volumes with slipcase: 11 3/8”H x 9 1/8”W x 4 5/8”D.





Related Items