Frederick Hale (1874–1963) was Senator from Maine for four terms, 1917 to 1941. The seat was previously occupied by his father, the somewhat more distinguished Eugene Hale, who retired in 1911.
The cover is intended to make you think that this splendid work was just one of a series of similar biographies. But as it turns out, it’s all part of the joke. If Hale’s life story and achievements, as summarized in the present book, put you in mind of other well-known political figures before or since . . . well, there’s not a thing I can do about that.
Full disclosure: Other sources say that Hale was admitted to the bar in 1899, not 1901, and that he served in the Maine legislature from 1905 to 1906, not “in 1903”.
This ebook is based on a copy at the Library of Congress. The book is undated, but the Internet Archive says it was published in 1910. I tend to think that 1916—after direct election of Senators had gone into effect—is more likely. The six years between Eugene Hale’s retirement and Frederick Hale’s election were filled by a one-term Democrat, Charles Johnson. (Don’t feel bad for him. He was promptly appointed to a Federal judgeship, and never had to run for anything again.) History does not record whether Johnson’s campaign had anything to do with the present publication.
