Talk on new Wheeler book at Montana House

The Montana House in Apgar will host guest author, Marc C. Johnson, for a presentation and book reading of his latest work, “Political Hell-Raiser, The Life and Times of Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana,” on Saturday, July 13, at 7 p.m.

Of significance to Glacier National Park, Sen. Wheeler, wife Lulu, and their family spent multiple summers living at their cabin complex located at the head of Lake McDonald.

With the relaxed pace of life and sense of renewal that Glacier offers, the Wheelers enjoyed ”time out” from the pace of Washington, D.C. life. Sen. Wheeler was also a well-known and familiar figure to the locals at the time.

A Democrat, Wheeler served as a U.S. senator from 1923 until 1947.

The Wheeler Cabin is now owned by the Park Service. The complex at the head of the lake was damaged by last year’s Howe Ridge Fire, but the main cabin still remains and in the future, there are plans to restore the structure.

After the presentation Johnson will be available to sign copies of his book.

Johnson’s book is the first full treatment of Wheeler’s colorful 24-year Senate career. During Wheeler’s tenure he lead a sensational investigation of the U.S. Justice Department, ran for vice president on the Progressive Party ticket in 1924, was involved in major New Deal-era legislation, opposed Franklin Roosevelt’s efforts to “pack” the U.S. Supreme Court and most controversially, opposed U.S. foreign policy prior to World War II.

Johnson has worked as a broadcast journalist and served as a top aide to Idaho’s longest-serving governor, Cecil D. Andrus. His writing on politics and history has been published in Montana the Magazine of Western History, the New York Times, and California Journal of Politics and Policy. His blog and podcast on history and politics is entitled Many Things Considered. Passionate about history and literature Marc is a book collector, a film buff and has been a long-time advocate of the humanities and civic education.

This event is free and open to the public (though a pass is needed to enter Glacier Park). RSVP to reserve a seat: phone, 406 888-5393 or email, 1960mthouse@qwestoffice.net.