opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of the author, not LSU, the Manship School nor the Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs.
A journalist and political historian, Robert Mann holds the Manship Chair at the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University and is director of the school’s Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs. He is the author of critically acclaimed political histories of the U.S. civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and American wartime dissent. One of his recent books, Daisy Petals and Mushroom Clouds: LBJ, Barry Goldwater and the Ad that Changed American Politics, was named by the Washington Post as one of the best political books of 2011.
Mann’s essays and reviews have appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, the Boston Globe, Politico and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. He has discussed his research and appeared as a political analyst on numerous national television and radio programs, including MSNBC, CBS News, ABC News and National Public Radio.
He is also the creator of the political blog, “Something Like the Truth,” named to “The Fix’s Best State-Based Political Blogs” list in the Washington Post in 2013. One of his posts during the 2012 presidential election, “Beware the Crowdsmanship,” was featured by Slate.com in the story, “Required Reading for the 2012 Election: The Best Stories about the Obama Romney Contest.”
At LSU, Mann teaches courses in political communication and is currently researching the history of U.S. war propaganda. He is also editor of the Media & Public Affairs book series, published jointly by the Manship School and LSU Press.
Prior to joining the LSU faculty in 2006, Mann spent more than 20 years in the political arena, working for three United States senators and a Louisiana governor. He was communications director to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, prior to serving 19 years as a U.S. Senate aide. He was state director to U.S. Senator John Breaux of Louisiana, and served as Breaux’s press secretary. He also served as press secretary to U.S. Senator Russell Long of Louisiana. He was also press secretary for the 1990 re-election campaign of U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston of Louisiana, the 1992 and 1998 Breaux re-election campaigns and the 2003 Blanco campaign.
He is the author of: A Journalist’s Diplomatic Mission: Ray Stannard Baker’s World War I Diary. (edited with John Maxwell Hamilton, LSU Press, 2012); Daisy Petals and Mushroom Clouds: LBJ , Barry Goldwater and the Ad That Changed American Politics (LSU Press, 2011); Political Communication: The Manship School Guide (edited with David Perlmutter, LSU Press, 2011); Wartime Dissent in America: A History and Anthology, (Palgrave Macmillan, 2010); When Freedom Would Triumph: The Civil Rights Struggle in Congress, 1954-1968 (LSU Press, 2007); A Grand Delusion: America’s Descent into Vietnam, (Basic Books, 2001); The Walls of Jericho: Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, Richard Russell and the Struggle for Civil Rights, (Harcourt Brace, 1996); The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Cold War, (Alpha Books, 2002); and, Legacy to Power: Senator Russell Long of Louisiana, (Paragon House, 1992).
In the early 1980s, Mann covered Louisiana politics as a reporter for the Shreveport Journal and the Monroe News-Star.
Bob, just discovered your blog. I would like to send you my weekly Fax-Net Update political newsletter. Can you give me an e-mail address?
Thanks, Lou. bobmann@lsu.edu
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Hey Bob, I also just discovered your blog. You’re insightful, objective and non partisan. You write with eloquence and sophistication. My friend “facebooked” the Tyran blog and I truly concur with your sentiments. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to reading more of your future work.
Peter, thanks much for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the post. Looking forward to hearing from you again. -Bob
My husband has served 19 years in the Louisiana DOC and is on the list fo interview at the State Police Barracks in Baton Rouge. I found your blog thru the chapel article. Thank you to you and your wife for what you do for prisoners. Prisoners and their families are a forgotten population. Its a very lonely world for us and it is refreshing to know there are people like you who care.
Thanks! Your’re kind to say that. And good luck to your husband. Blessings to you both. -Bob
Bob, have you scheduled any book signings for the holiday season? Your books are wonderful gifts.
Now very happily retired, Helen
Yes. I’ll be at LSU Press’s “Season’s Readings” on Thursday, 5-7 pm, at Circa 1852 on Government.
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As a graduate student in the higher education program here at LSU, I find your posts both insightful and bold. Thank you for your courage to publicly speak out when many people at LSU and Louisiana won’t. I look forward to your future works
Thanks for your kind words!!
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Mr. Mann I just finished reading your blog does Jindal have a prayer . I must truly confess I have a very deep hattred for this man. Reading your story has helped open my eyes and made me think why I go to church every Sunday . My feelings for Jindal are for the way he has gone about the undoing of our health care in Louisiana. Does any one have a clue to the amount of health care workers and OGB his out sourcing / privatetizing our hospitial’s . These State workers are loosing millions of $ in retirement money , sick time , annual leave , comp time, It is a sad day when one man can bring so much pain on the hard working people of this State. I pitty the folks that hold public office and are letting him get away with this. He will be gone in 3 years and they will be left to answer for his rath!!!
Thanks for the kind and thoughtful comment. Yes, he’s doing great harm to Louisiana. We do need to pray for a change of heart.
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HELLO! Strongly suggest you look into OPPT-IN as a method to hold JINDAL personally accountable to the free BE’ings of the fine state of Lousiana!!
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