Ben Barnes and the Inside Story of American Politics [audio 15min]

Ben Barnes was once a rising star in Texas politics, serving as speaker of the state House and lieutenant governor by the age of 30. He also was a protege of President Lyndon Johnson, who once declared that Barnes would be the next president of the United States. But the fallout from a bribery scandal, which he says was trumped up by Richard Nixon, cut short his thriving political career. He has since become a lobbyist and fundraiser. Barnes, 68, has released a memoir called Barn Burning Barn Building: Tales of a Political Life, From LBJ to George W. Bush and Beyond. He recently sat down for an interview with NPR. ~Website offers audio and print extras.