In this Book
- I Respectfully Dissent: A Biography of Edward H. Nakamura
- Book
- 2012
- Published by: University of Hawai'i Press
summary
Tom Coffman’s portrait of Edward Nakamura is both insightful biography and engrossing political history. The arc of the story may sound familiar (the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the GI Bill, Statehood), but it is strewn with surprise, resulting from Nakamura’s unshakable creed and unique angle of vision.
Translating the political gains of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Nakamura played a central role—unpublicized—in devising arguably the most progressive program of legislation in an American state: universal health care, temporary disability insurance, collective bargaining rights for public workers, and more—all of which forever changed the Hawai‘i worker’s landscape.
Vaulted from relative anonymity onto the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, Nakamura was acclaimed for his powerful intellect, his writing, and, most of all, his iron will and integrity. In retirement, he became a dissenting moral force. He fought mismanagement in the State Retirement System, helped to block a highly controversial Supreme Court appointment, and agitated for separating the high court from the Bishop Estate.
Against his background of comforting the afflicted, in retirement Nakamura afflicted the new “in” crowd, the smug and self-serving—fighting corruption, mismanagement, and the corrosive effect of Bishop Estate appointments on the Hawai‘i courts.
28 illus.
A Latitude 20 Book
Translating the political gains of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Nakamura played a central role—unpublicized—in devising arguably the most progressive program of legislation in an American state: universal health care, temporary disability insurance, collective bargaining rights for public workers, and more—all of which forever changed the Hawai‘i worker’s landscape.
Vaulted from relative anonymity onto the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, Nakamura was acclaimed for his powerful intellect, his writing, and, most of all, his iron will and integrity. In retirement, he became a dissenting moral force. He fought mismanagement in the State Retirement System, helped to block a highly controversial Supreme Court appointment, and agitated for separating the high court from the Bishop Estate.
Against his background of comforting the afflicted, in retirement Nakamura afflicted the new “in” crowd, the smug and self-serving—fighting corruption, mismanagement, and the corrosive effect of Bishop Estate appointments on the Hawai‘i courts.
28 illus.
A Latitude 20 Book
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Chapter 2: The Transformative War
- pp. 12-22
- Chapter 3: What Is Life’s Purpose?
- pp. 23-34
- Chapter 4: A Lawyer for Workers
- pp. 35-57
- Chapter 5: With Justice for All
- pp. 58-71
- Chapter 7: The Court’s Scholar
- pp. 89-115
- Chapter 9: The Public’s Conscience
- pp. 121-139
- Supporters
- p. 155
Additional Information
ISBN
9780824865740
Related ISBN(s)
9780824835729
MARC Record
OCLC
809317799
Launched on MUSE
2012-07-10
Language
English
Open Access
No