Birthday: The man who investigated a President

Ervin, Senator Sam, Humor of A Country Lawyer (University of North Carolina Press, 1st ed., 1983). ISBN 0-8078-1566-7. Ervin (1896-1985) graduated the University of North Carolina in 1917 and was a combat soldier in World War I, receiving the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and Two Purple Hearts.

He graduated Harvard Law School in 1922 and while awaiting admission to the bar was drafted as a candidate for the NC House of Representatives. After service there, 1923-31, he was elected a criminal court judge (1931-37), and superior court judge (1937-43).

In 1946 he won a special election to finish the congressional term of his brother Joe, and returned to private practice in 1947. In 1948 he was appointed an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

After the 1954 death of Senator Clyde R. Hoey, he was appointed to the US Senate, where his he won early renown as a foe of Senator Joe McCarthy. His twenty-year career was capped by his chairmanship of the committee investigation of President Richard Nixon’s misdeeds (1973).

Retiring in 1974, he practiced law and wrote several books. This is by far the best, a memoir of his life and tales he heard along the way.

Ervin’s son, Sam III, followed his dad’s footsteps, serving in the legislature, superior court and US Court of Appeals before his death in 1999. His grandson, Sam IV, was elected to the NC Court of Appeals in 2008 and the Supreme Court in 2012.

Hardcover, unclipped dust jacket, good condition, inscribed “To Bruce Wofford, with all good wishes” and dated October 23, 1983. HBB price: $40 obo.

______

Henry Bemis Books is one man’s attempt to bring more diversity and quality to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg market of devoted readers starved for choices. Our website is at www.henrybemisbookseller.blogspot.com. Henry Bemis Books is also happy to entertain reasonable offers on items in inventory; for pricing on this or other items, kindly private message us. Shipping is always free to US locations; local buyers are welcome to drop by and pick up their purchases at our location off Peachtree Road in Northwest Charlotte if they like.

We accept electronic payments via Facebook Messenger, powered by Stripe.

We regret that until California Assembly Bill 1570 (2016) is struck down by court order or amended to relieve out of state booksellers from its recordkeeping and liability burdens, we are unable to do business with California residents.

We offer 25% off to fellow dealers.

What’s your favorite social media outlet? We’re blogging at www.henrybemisbookseller.blogspot.com. We tweet as Henry Bemis Books. Have you liked us on Facebook yet? Henry Bemis Books is there, too. And Google+!

You can also see Henry’s alter ego, Lindsay Thompson, on a three weekly Facebook Live programs: Rare Book Cafe, a 2:30-3:30 pm EDT Saturday panel show about books; Book Week- Rare Book Cafe’s weekly Thursday noon news program (both on Rare Book Cafe’s Facebook page); and Gallimaufry, an occasional program about literary history on Henry Bemis Books’ Facebook page.

#Autographs #SenatorSamErvin #FirstEditions #HenryBemisBooks #Charlotte