Wounded Warrior: The Rise and Fall of Michigan Governor John Swainson - Hardcover

Few people today remember Michigan Governor John Swainson. As a teenage soldier he lost both legs in a WWII landmine explosion. Back in the United States, following a meteoric political rise in the Michigan State Senate, Swainson was elected as Michigan's youngest governor since Stevens T. Mason.

In 1970, Swainson was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court, becoming one of the few public officials to have served in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of state government. Then, in 1975, he was indicted on federal charges of bribery and perjury, and convicted of lying to a federal grand jury. Forced to leave the state Supreme Court and disbarred from practicing law, he became a pariah, sinking into depression and alcoholism. He virtually disappeared from public view.

Lawrence Glazer re-examines the FBI investigation of Swainson and delves into his 1975 trial in detail. He reveals new information from eyewitnesses who never testified and, in a poignant coda, relates the little-known story of Swainson's rehabilitation and return to public life as a historian.

B&W photos, notes, bibliography, index.

"Wounded Warrior" has been awarded the Independent Publisher Gold Medal as the best American biography of 2011.

The Independent Publisher awards, known as "IPPYs", are chosen annually from thousands of entries submitted by independent publishers and university presses. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded to the top three choices in over 50 categories.

"Wounded Warrior" also was named as a "Michigan Notable Book" of 2011 by the Library of Michigan.