Can't wait to read Jon Lauck's new book- Prairie Republic

It's always a great day when I get a new book!  Today, Jon Lauck (Senior Advisor to Sen. John Thune) stopped by my office to drop off 15 copies of his just-released-today new book Prairie Republic: The Political Culture of Dakota Territory.  I plan to give signed copies to those who helped me launch my Congressional run - a little thank you from Kristen and I.  Note to those of you running for office this year in South Dakota - this is a great gift to thank the people helping you! Buy it here.

Here's the Amazon.com product description teaser: American democratic ideals, civic republicanism, public morality, and Christianity were the dominant forces at work during South Dakota's formative decade. Historian and attorney Jon K. Lauck is Senior Advisor to U.S. Senator John Thune of South Dakota and the author of Daschle vs. Thune: Anatomy of a High-Plains Senate Race and American Agriculture and the Problem of Monopoly. 

I will read it asap and review it right here at Voices Carry very soon.  Jon told me to pay careful attention to the chapter titled God's Country because that's not just a phrase folks like to use about our great state.  He said it was actually a serious suggestion when they were discussing what to name our state.

I think Jon envied the floor to ceiling bookshelves that cover the four walls of my office : )

Next Saturday is an event where Jon will talk about the book.  Here's the scoop on that:

The 42nd annual Dakota Conference on the Northern Plains on April 23-24 will examine paths, trails, roads and highways that crisscross this area and their impact on the lives of indigenous and immigrant peoples. The conference is hosted by the Center for Western Studies on the Augustana College campus. Travel by foot, horse, cart, wagon, stagecoach, bicycle, motorcycle and automobile will be considered, but also spiritual and metaphorical road journeys. The conference also will host a special panel presentation on “Prairie Republic: The Political Culture of Dakota Territory,” written by Jon K. Lauck and published by the University of Oklahoma Press in 2010. Scholars discussing the new book include Tom Kilian, Sioux Falls; John E. Miller, South Dakota State University; Michael Mullin, Augustana College; Gary D. Olson, Augustana College; and David A. Wolff, Black Hills State University. The author also will make opening remarks.