One way to measure political/policy influence is to see whether congressmen quote Twain during debates.  I spent a lot of time reading the Congressional Record while I was researching God's Arbiters, and I was struck by the number of classical authors from whom those guys could--and did--quote.  Further research showed me that they were quoting from snippets of classical works they had all studied in school--mostly in rhetoric texts--long passages of which they had to memorize.  I guess if you are a politician that stuff stays with you.

In any case, this would mean reading through Congressional Records not from Twain's own time, but in the years after, as he moved from being a contemporary figure into being a cultural icon--and as his works became canonized and included in textbooks.  I wouldn't recommend trying to read all of the Cong Recs from the 20th century (they go on, and on, and on) but it might be interesting to isolate a couple of hot political topics on which Twain had been known to write and investigate them within a particular time-frame.  Another strategy might be to start with textbooks that include Twain's works, and then see if quotes from those works show up in congressional speeches 20-30 years later.

Just a thought.  --susan harris

Susan K. Harris


________________________________________
From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Kevin Mac Donnell <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2017 9:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A question for any and all on the forum: Twain and law

Back to Julie Ward's original question:

The only instance I know about where Twain explicitly claimed to have
"influenced public legislation" was in his Nevada days.

He spoke out on numerous issues and his opinion was constantly sought on
every issue of his time. His quotes were often used to promote causes like
suffrage (posters and leaflets) and Mother's Day (a card promoting it in
1908) without his knowledge. He joined groups that may or may not have
influenced legislation. His anti-Imperialist writings are often cited, but
I'm not sure any of them can be said to have influenced the outcome of any
bill. Ditto with copyright, vivisection, the Congo, speeding cars in NYC (a
letter to editor), Tammany Hall (NYC mayor's race), etc.  Just because an
issue was settled in a way advocated by Twain does not mean he influenced
it, and vice versa.

As for indirect influence, that could be a book (hint, hint), and it's a
worthwhile question because Twain was one of the first "public figures" who
was not a public office holder whose opinions were frequently invoked for
and against various social and political issues. "Celebrity endorsements"
are a commonplace today, but not so much in Twain's day. Not until the last
two decades of his life do I notice his name--along with other public
figures-- (authors, statesmen, etc.) on leaflets and ads endorsing various
non-commercial causes.

Connecting those dots and documenting actual influence would be hard work,
but interesting. The questions would center around influence during his
lifetime versus later on, whether he knew his words were being used for some
cause, his active personal endorsements versus simply joining a group or
adding his name to a list, his motivations (personal vs political), things
he first opposed but later supported (suffrage), and those causes he
declined to get involved with. I can't wait to see your book Ms Ward!

Kevin
@
Mac Donnell Rare Books
9307 Glenlake Drive
Austin TX 78730
512-345-4139
Member: ABAA, ILAB
*************************
You may browse our books at:
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-----Original Message-----
From: Bliss, Donald
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2017 8:25 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A question for any and all on the forum: Twain and law

Coined the phrase The Gilded Age, which continues to be invoked to describe=
an aspect of American culture. His work on  the Belgium Congo and the US o=
ccupation of the  Philippines demonstrated how a celebrity can be a voice f=
or oppressed people, which we see today in the work of celebrities like Bon=
o and George Clooney, among many others. His political commentary and satir=
e is replicated in numerous TV talk shows and political satires today.

Twain also spoke out/ lobbied/campaigned  for Civil Service Reform, Copyrig=
ht reform, judicial reform, women's suffrage, the rights of Chinese immigra=
nts, anti-lynching legislation, medical care reform,  the rights of unions =
and working men and women, animal rights, among other causes, much  of whic=
h eventually resulted in legislation at the federal or State level.

He claimed in a letter to his mother that in Nevada, he "passed every bill =
I worked for..., " including a bill that required every corporation to file=
its charter with and pay a fee to the Secretary of the Territory , who hap=
pened to be his brother.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Clay Shannon
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2017 9:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A question for any and all on the forum: Twain and law

This question makes me wonder if any of the Twain researchers/authors here =
=3D
would ever consider writing a book such as "How Mark Twain Saved the World"=
=3D
(as you are probably aware, there are such books as "How the Irish Saved t=
=3D
he World."
It would be interesting to see enumerated all the ways in which he has infl=
=3D
uenced culture, both American and world.=3DC2=3DA0- B. Clay Shannon

      From: Gregg Camfield <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2017 3:27 PM
Subject: Re: A question for any and all on the forum: Twain and law
  =3D20
It's widely believed that Twain's very political use of the term "new deal"=
=3D
i=3D3D
n _Connecticut Yankee_ inspired F. D.=3DC2=3DA0 Roosevelt's branding of his=
leg=3D
islati=3D3D
ve program.=3DC2=3DA0 Indirect, but big.

Gregg

Sent from my iPad

> On Feb 23, 2017, at 11:36 AM, Julie N Ward <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>=3D3D20
> Hello all,
>=3D3D20
> Does anyone know if a Mark Twain story/essay/piece ever influenced
> (directly or indirectly) public legislation?
>=3D3D20
>=3D3D20
>=3D3D20
> Thanks!


  =3D20