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      It was hard to imagine a more apt title for Sidney S. McMath's biography than "Promises Kept." Robert Service well described Sid McMath when he penned the lines, "A promise made is a debt unpaid." Sid McMath lived by the code that "A deal is a deal," and his account of his long and productive life makes this quite apparent.
     Let me pause to point out that I do not submit this as a detached review. I practiced law as "of counsel" to the McMath, Leatherman & Woods law firm for six years, and continued a cordial relationship with "the General" (and his partners) through the years. Also, my first paying job was for handing out McMath cards on election day in 1952 ($1.00 from my dad for the entire day). Since reading biographies is a passion of mine, however, perhaps I can give a fair assessment of the book.
     Anyone who is interested in Arkansas history and the Arkansas political scene during the turbulent years from the end of Second World War until the 70s, and those who enjoy reading about a colorful character should read this book.
     Eric Sevareid made this pithy observation, "You can't learn poverty vicariously." This is true, but you can come close by reading Governor McMath's account of his childhood in rural Columbia County. These early years made a deep and lasting impression, and he spent most of his adult life working for the poor and disfranchised — the book reveals that he never considered pulling the ladder up after him, once he reached the top.
     After serving with distinction in the Marine Corps during the Second World War, Sid McMath returned to Hot Springs (where he had attended high school) and led the "GI Revolt" during which he defeated a a powerful political machine in Garland County. With this garland fresh upon his brow, he was elected Governor in 1948, and was re-elected in 1950.
     During Sid McMath's tenure as Governor, the University of Arkansas Medical Center was his "flagship" project. He also pushed better roads (paving in rural Arkansas was a major item).
     Few Arkansawyers 50 or younger can imagine life without electricity. But in the first few years after WWII, much of rural Arkansas didn't have access to this "necessity." The Governor's vigorous support for the rural electric cooperatives alienated the politically potent "power trusts" (AP&L). The book contends that their opposition cost him his bid for a third term in 1952.
     The so-called "Highway Audit" of the early 50s was, according to McMath, a political maneuver, underwritten by the established utilities to cripple him politically. I believe his account fairly states the case, although there are those who still believe that the failure of the "audit" to produce any convictions was a result of "politics."¹
     When his political career ended the Governor formed a law partnership with Leland Leatherman and Henry Woods. They never had a written agreement nor an argument during the twenty-five year life of the partnership. The firm primarily represented Plaintiffs against corporations, and achieved national recognition. They had one corporate client down through the years — the REA.
     The book includes a summary of several lawsuits that Sid McMath considered significant. Any lawyer should enjoy these summaries, as seen through the eyes of a premier trial lawyer. Any student of history often asks "what if." If Sid McMath had been re-elected in '52 he probably would have won the Senate race in 1954. From that pulpit it is hard to believe that he could not have made a major dent in the Faubus supported civil strife that erupted in 1957. His lifelong record is proof positive that he would have at least taken hide, hair and all in the effort.
     At the end of the 20th century, Sid McMath was one of the very few truly great orators of the "old school" still surviving. His written account of his long life compares favorably with his oral skills. I highly recommend this book to you, without reservation.

ENDNOTE

1. When Henry Woods (McMath's Executive Secretary while he was Governor and     his longtime law partner) was nominated for a federal district judgship, Ike     Murry, legal counsel for the "audit", wrote the Senate Judiciary Committee that     no evidence was discovered during the audit to suggest that either McMath or     Woods engaged in any wrongdoing. Murry should have known better than     anyone else, yet there are those who claim to "know better." •

Judge William R. Wilson, Jr. is a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.