Writing

Books

Books
Rise, Decline and Renewal: The Democratic Party in Maine
Rise, Decline and Renewal: The Democratic Party in Maine

Rise, Decline and Renewal tells the remarkable story of the Maine Democratic Party – how it rose from irrelevance in 1954 with the election of Governor Ed Muskie, challenged the ruling Republican Party over the next two decades, and passed wide-ranging reform that produced a model government for a state long perceived as a cultural and economic backwater. Now, Maine’s largest political party can again seize the initiative, energize a new generation of young people, and govern in the public interest once more.

Statesman: George Mitchell and the Art of the Possible
Statesman: George Mitchell and the Art of the Possible

George Mitchell is much more than a Senator from Maine. From a time when opposing parties worked together to accomplish things for the good of the nation, rather than the good of the party, Mitchell was an attorney and then a judge in Maine before his Senate run. Known for his work on the environment, the brokering of the peace in Ireland, and efforts in the Middle East, Mitchell is one of Maine’s most famous political figures.

First Franco: Albert Beliveau in Law, Politics, and Love
First Franco: Albert Beliveau in Law, Politics, and Love

This richly detailed book adds to our understanding of the migration experience in the United States, particularly about the integration of French speakers into U. S. society. In its portrayal of Albert Beliveau as a first-generation Franco-American, this biography teaches us a great deal about such themes as acculturation, the rise from the working class, and the development of political consciousness among Maine’s largest ethnic group.

Calm Command: U.S. Chief Justice Melville Fuller in His Times, 1888-1910
Calm Command: U.S. Chief Justice Melville Fuller in His Times, 1888-1910

Melville Fuller, among the most prominent Maine natives of his day, is little known today. This groundbreaking biography, the first in 70 years, restores him to his rightful place amid one of the most turbulent, dynamic eras of American history, not stinting his flaws, but highlighting his considerable accomplishments in uniting a fractious Supreme Court behind his patient and steady leadership.

Transformational: Ken Curtis, Maine’s Reform Governor
Transformational: Ken Curtis, Maine’s Reform Governor

Ken Curtis was Maine’s Governor (1967-75) at a time of war and upheaval, disrupting longstanding social and partisan arrangements in state and national politics. Rather than create a stalemate, these conflicts ushered in a creative, large-scale revisioning of state government with strong bipartisan support, though Curtis never commanded a legislative majority. The breadth and durability of his achievements during a critical time of change in our country offer profound lessons from his time for our own.

Journalism

Douglas Rooks is a Maine journalist, author, and political history buff. He has edited daily and weekly newspapers in Maine and New Hampshire and written a weekly opinion column for over 45 years, winning state, regional, and national awards. Now a freelance writer and editor, the Colby alumnus covers Maine state government with a focus on environmental issues, public education, municipal affairs, business, and tax policy. He lives in the state capital of Augusta, Maine, with his wife.

Portland Press Herald
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Reviews of Doug’s Writing

  • —Former State Senator Paul Mills

    “Through decades of writing, Doug Rooks has chronicled, with unparalleled insight and devotion, Maine’s politics – a state that produced from 1.3 million people an outsized share of leaders with national and international significance.

    Now, Rooks tells us where these leaders came from, and in the process, tells Maine’s story: its sudden metamorphosis into a two-party state, the successes of reform, recent periods of strife, and the author’s prescriptions for future progress.

    Throughout the world, democracies are under stress. Rooks provides a case study [on] how to grapple with that stress, and meet the challenges citizens face in this continuing struggle.”

  • —Former Maine Governor Joseph Brennan (1979-87)

    “I felt I was with young County Attorney Albert Beliveau as he met a private detective in Oakland, hopped the train to Lily Bay, then took a car to Ripogenus and walked ten miles in pouring rain down ‘the worst tote road in Maine’ to arrest murder suspect Patrick Harrington. First Franco brings to life many more colorful characters in this fast-paced and informative book.”

  • —Former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe

    “A fascinating and comprehensive look at the life of a Maine icon and a giant on the national and international stage. What shines through is the example of an individual who not only personifies the American dream, but the inestimable power of intellect intertwined with integrity. Serving with Senator Mitchell, I saw firsthand how his remarkable story culminated in the kind of success that is measured in life changes and paths of history redirected for the betterment of humankind.”

  • —Mark Paul Richard, State University of New York at Plattsburgh

    “Few biographies exist of French-Canadian descendants in the U.S. This richly detailed book adds to our understanding of the migration experience and integration of French speakers through acculturation, rise from the working class, and development of political consciousness among Maine’s largest ethnic group.”

  • —Daniel E. Wathen, Chief Justice, Maine Supreme Judicial Court, 1992-2001

    “From a veritable treasure trove of letters, documents, court records, family history, and news reports, Douglas Rooks has crafted a detailed account of Maine’s first Franco-American justice. Contemporary readers will be struck by the civility, courtesy, and collegiality of Justice Beliveau and his peers. Overcoming racial and religious prejudice, his career was a triumph of the human spirit.”

  • —Former Maine Governor Ken Curtis (1967-75)

    “Albert Beliveau, who I knew as a friend, had a deep-rooted compassion for everyone who appeared before him in court. This remarkable biography tells his story, and that of his close-knit family, for a new generation, and helps show how Maine’s judiciary became one of the best in the country.”