A House Divided

A House Divided provides a fast-paced yet comprehensive account of one of the most significant shifts in U.S. political history as viewed through the career of Nevada's foremost state legislator, Senator Bill Raggio. He was known for his personal charm, exceptional competence, and political finesse, particularly in forging bipartisan alliances on crucial issues benefitting all Nevadans. A Republican, Raggio championed individual rights, limited government, and fiscal responsibility, but in a way that would, as he often said, deliver "lean government, but not a mean government." He prized civility and respect for government institutions. Ethics and intellect were his guides, not party politics.

As hardliner radical-right factions rose to power within the GOP, Raggio resisted what he considered their extreme policies and unwillingness to compromise across the aisle. For that, he was vilified and driven from his leadership position. Raggio subsequently resigned from his Senate seat yet defiantly continued his struggle for the soul of the GOP.

In 2011, he foresaw a future in which the party would fracture, weakening it to the point where it would no longer align with most American voters. "We have a Republican Party that seems intent on eating its own," he warned. "And it is going to have serious political consequences."

In addition to his extensive academic research, author Michael Archer has included information from his personal interviews with dozens of those on both sides of the issues that drove this dramatic change in the political culture of both Nevada and the nation.