6The book describes the public life experience of Richard Gephardt. As a former Congressman from Missouri, he rose from relatively modest beginnings to the leadership of the United States House of Representatives. His career in public service also included running for president twice. Across his tenure in public office, Mr. Gephardt dealt with a vast inventory off pressing issues - including Foreign Policy/Terrorism, Government Spending and Budget Deficits, Inflation, Health Care Reform, Impeachment, and many others. These issues are still timely today. Gephardt's compelling stories provide an insider's view on American Governance during his tenure in Congress, which began in 1977 and ended in 2005. Through warmth, humility, and love of the country, Mr. Gephardt seeks to tell his story in a way that will both entertain readers and offer important perspective on this moment in history.