History of Ohio Politics

revised edition by Kent State University Press (2007) now available.

clarification on edit: the title is, simply, Ohio Politics.

It's a collection of essays by various scholars and journalists, about all three branches of government, and it includes a chapter on legislators in Washington (called historically "notable" under-achievers) and a chapter that takes a critical look at the media's job of covering politics in Ohio.

The introductory essay that takes a circumspect look at the history of politics in Ohio is written by the father of Ohio history, George Knepper. The book is edited by Alexander Lamis, Case political scientist, and Brian Usher, who was a political writer and Statehouse correspondent for several Ohio newspapers and press secretary for former governor Richard Celeste. John Hubbell at KSU Press suggested the project, and guided it through to publication.

This book is well put together, and if you get discouraged about the present state of politics, you'll help yourself by putting things in perspective by reading this book. I started reading it this weekend, and was not disappointed.