Let the People In

The Life and Times of Ann Richards

By: Jan Reid

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

When Ann Richards delivered the keynote of the 1988 Democratic National Convention and mocked President George H. W. Bush - "Poor George, he can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth" - she instantly became a media celebrity and triggered a rivalry that would alter the course of American history. In 1990, Richards won the governorship of Texas, upsetting the GOP's colorful rancher and oilman Clayton Williams. The first ardent feminist elected to high office in America, she opened up public service to women, Blacks, Hispanics, Asian Americans, gays, and the disabled. Her progressive achievements and the force of her personality created a lasting legacy that far transcends her rise and fall as governor of Texas.

In Let the People In, Jan Reid draws on his long friendship with Richards, interviews with her family and many of her closest associates, her unpublished correspondence with longtime companion Bud Shrake, and extensive research to tell a very personal, human story of Ann Richards's remarkable rise to power as a liberal Democrat in a conservative Republican state. Reid traces the whole arc of Richards's life, beginning with her youth in Waco, her marriage to attorney David Richards, her frustration and boredom with being a young housewife and mother in Dallas, and her shocking encounters with Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter. He follows Richards to Austin and the wild 1970s scene and describes her painful but successful struggle against alcoholism. He tells the full, inside story of Richards's rise from county office and the state treasurer's office to the governorship, where she championed gun control, prison reform, environmental protection, and school finance reform, and he explains why she lost her reelection bid to George W. Bush, which evened his family's score and launched him toward the presidency.

Reid describes Richards' final years as a world traveler, lobbyist, public speaker, and mentor and inspiration to office holders, including Hillary Clinton. His nuanced portrait reveals a complex woman who battled her own frailties and a good-old-boy establishment to claim a place on the national political stage and prove "what can happen in government if we simply open the doors and let the people in".

©2012 Jan Reid (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Love Ann and Jan, but the narrator is no TEXAN

Very interesting tale of Ann's life & Texas politics. Jan is a legend! Unfortunately, the narrator's frequent mispronunciation of Texas towns, rivers, ect. is annoying as all get out.

Courageous and candid leader ahead of her time

Loved the long arc of the story and personal details of challenges and success. Really enjoyed this!

What I wouldn't give for a President Ann Richards

it's rare for a political biography to strike the elusive mark between informative narration and passionate storytelling, and this book does just that. when you start out learning about the travails of a young woman from Waco who barely knew how to order off of a menu, and finish the story of one of the toughest, truest governors in American history - you will be pounding your fist in joy and disbelief that such a journey could ever even happen in the first place. this book speaks deeply to the American experience for women in government, and I know that I will personally be using Ann Richards as a go-to role model for all women in government. and for that matter, for all Americans.

Into the weeds

I adored Ann Richards and enjoyed being reminded of the goings on in her day, but thought the book bogged down with a bit too much political detail and name-dropping. It might have been the reader, but the narrative flow was a bit jerky and seemed to lack smooth transitions and a story arc. And for a book about Texas, the reader mispronounced more than a few Texas names: Luckenbach, Bexar, etc. And after a long bit about Waco history, the book, unless I missed it, failed to say where the name came from.

Great Glimpse into Texas Politics!

The story of Ann Richards is a great and inspiring tail. My only issue with this is that the writer spends a significant amount of time sharing stories and anecdotes completely unrelated to the Governor.

Additionally, the sheer volume of names and detailed back stories can make it hard to stay engaged.

The material is well-written and a worthwhile listen for anyone who is interested in Texas politics from the 1970s-1990s. And the author does a great job of painting a picture for the audience.

Ann would’ve hated this narration.

Former Gov Ann Richards is TEXAS to the marrow of her bones. Jan Reid is a TEXAS writer. This of biography is set mostly in TEXAS and is about TEXAS and the people of TEXAS. Why on earth wasn’t someone with ANY knowledge of TEXAS chosen to narrate this very TEXAS book? The aahhcent of the naahhrator is distraahhhcting and her mispronunciation of Texas names and places makes it confusing at times. I’m finding myself struggling to continue listening, and had to stop cold just now after hearing Bexar as “Bex-R.” Ann would’ve hated this narration. (By the way, Bexar is pronounced like bear, or bare. The X is silent.)

As for the book itself, I’ve been reading Jan Reid’s Texas Monthly articles for ages, and he’s a great writer. But the narration is so weird and awkward and the cadence is off and the pronunciation of words is so distracting that the story gets lost. I want to really get into it, but I can’t. I wish I’d saved my credit and bought a hard copy of the book instead.