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Pryor visits Benton for book signing |
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Wednesday, 01 October 2008 |
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Calling himself a “storyteller” rather than an orator, David Pryor captivated his audience Tuesday at Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton as the former Arkansas governor and U.S. senator shared excerpts from his recently released autobiography and anecdotes from his political career.  Former U.S. Sen. David Pryor signs a copy of his book, “A Pryor Commitment,” for Robin Young Bray of Benton on Tuesday during Pryor’s book-promotion visit at Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton. Bray served as an intern for Pryor in Washington, D.C., in 1988. Because she was celebrating a birthday Tuesday, her father, John Young, bought a copy of Pryor’s book as a gift for her. Observing the action were Ted Parkhurst of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, left, and Benton Mayor Rick Holland. (Courier photo by Lynda Hollenbeck)
Claiming that he isn’t skilled in oratory, Pryor, 74, pointed out that his time in public life happened to fall between two of “the greatest orators the country has ever produced” in Dale Bumpers and Bill Clinton. “I came into politics between these two giants,” he said.
He said his book, “A Pryor Commitment,” is as much about his home state as it is about his 40-year career in politics. His roots in Arkansas run deep and he shared incidents beginning with his childhood and youth in Camden.
Pryor is the only Arkansan to serve as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, with a stint as governor in between. He also was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
And he’s not done yet. Recently, Pryor was named by Gov. Mike Beebe to succeed the late Bill Gwatney as chairman of the state’s Democratic Party. Pryor read selected portions of the book at the event at the Benton library, noting that it offers political tales spanning his nearly 40-year political career. He said he hopes it also will serve as a history of his home state.
“It’s about us as a people, a state ... friends and neighbors you’ve known, events that have transpired over the last 74 years ... ,” Pryor said.
Pryor referred to his longtime connection with a Benton family, starting with his having roomed with the late David Demuth in college.
“From time to time, I would call him when I was in the governor’s office the night before going somewhere and ask him to ride with me to (wherever the event was being held),” he said. “A state trooper would drive us and we’d get in the back seat, and he would tell me about some historical event.”
The trip, in essence, became “a history lesson” through Demuth, he said, while noting the significance of the library’s Arkansas Room being named in Demuth’s honor.
As he began to do the research for his book, Pryor said he and an archivist sifted through “1,800 cardboard boxes” of memorabilia that included papers, newspapers, scrapbooks, scribbled speeches, letters, including some from Bill Clinton, “and 4,000 photographs.”
For his book, 50-60 of the photos were included, he said. “I saw my whole life coming out of nowhere. I got very emotional,” he said.
Pryor expressed gratitude to his lifetime friend and former chief of staff, Don Harrell, for his assistance with the book.
“He’s the one who came up with ‘A Pryor Commitment,’” Pryor said. “And it’s about us.”
Pryor recalled historic events in the state and country, including the day that Pearl Harbor was bombed to start World War II and the day the atomic bomb was dropped to end it.
In reference to the bomb, he pointed out that of the many people working on that most secretive of projects at Los Alamos, N.M., “not once was the nation’s security breached.”
Pryor reminisced about political campaigns that brought him to Saline County, including the now defunct speakings that for years took place on the lawn of the county courthouse.
Recalling both low moments and exhilarating moments from his political life, he said, “There’s nothing like election day. You’ve done everything you can do by then, and you try to keep busy.
“I’ve had the best time,” he said of his career. “No one has ever enjoyed public life more than I have ... It has been a great trip, and I thank you.”
Special presentations to Pryor at Tuesday’s event included a commemorative coin depicting the Saline County Courthouse during its centennial celebration in 2002, which was presented by County Judge Lanny Fite, and a plaque bearing a ceremonial “key to the city” from Benton Mayor Rick Holland.
Later in the day, Pryor was honored at a reception at the Bryant branch of the Saline County Library. During that event, Bryant Mayor Larry Mitchell presented him a “key” to that city.
Pryor’s book sells for $30. Being sold in conjunction with the autobiography is a $20 poster that depicts a timeline of Pryor’s life in Arkansas history.
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