Step by Step - by Bertie Bowman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In 1944, Bertie Bowman-a poor, impressionable thirteen-year-old-heard South Carolina senator Burnet Maybank declare: "If you all ever get up to Washington, D.C., drop by and see me!" Bertie took those words to heart, and when he arrived in Washington, Senator Maybank, surprisingly true to his word, saw to it that the young runaway had a place to stay and a steady income-earned by sweeping the Capitol steps for two dollars a week. Bowman would rise to become hearing coordinator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the U.S. Capitol-and this is his remarkable story.

For sixty years, Bertie Bowman stood at the epicenter of change and witnessed history in the making, observing firsthand the clandestine backroom deals made in the name of democracy. Through it all, he lived by these guiding principles: Work hard. Be true to yourself. Take responsibility. Have a positive outlook. Expect the best from people. As Bowman recounts his extraordinary life, he also shares the lessons and values that have served him well throughout his career.

Review Quotes

"A great American story by a frontline witness to history." --Vice President Joseph Biden

"This is a marvelous and inspiring story about a man who, despite a difficult early life, did not lose faith in himself or other people. He is a person many of us aspire to be like-but often fall short of." --Barbara F. Allem, former chief clerk, Committee on Foreign Relations

"Bertie's integrity, work ethic, and good humor have earned him the trust and friendship of several generations of senators. His longevity in the Senate is a remarkable accomplishment, and he is one of the best-known and revered staffers within the Senate family."--Senator Richard Lugar

"Inspiring . . . a heartfelt, old-school American history lesson."--Kirkus Reviews

"A fascinating read . . . I highly recommend it."--Tavis Smiley, PBS

About the Author

Bertie Bowman has served as hearing coordinator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since 2000, when the executive appointment of then committee chairman Jesse Helms brought him back to the Senate after a ten-year hiatus. Before his retirement in 1990, Bertie Bowman had worked for the Foreign Relations Committee for twenty-five years, first as committee clerk and then as assistant hearing coordinator. He owns and operates Bertie's Limousine Service, a chauffeur company that provides services for Washington VIPs, foreign diplomats, and others in and around the metropolitan D.C. area. Bowman is an elected member of the board of directors of the Senate Federal Credit Union, a member of the D.C. Board of Funeral Directors, and active in many community volunteer organizations.