The Political Life of Reverend Roland D. Sawyer

Roland D. Sawyer was a Western Massachusetts state legislator who, over a half-century in politics, tackled some of the state’s thorniest issues. The Political Life of Reverend Roland D. Sawyer by Tyler L. Wolanin offers insight into legislative politics in Massachusetts as it underwent political and economic transitions, urbanization, and unrest. Though Sawyer never attained high office, his longevity and influence allowed him to shape the policy debate on issues such as voting and elections, prohibition, and criminal justice reform. As a minister, socialist, radical, and “cog in the machine,” Sawyer instigated investigations and impeachments, saw a friend become President, lost elections, had half of his district flooded to make a reservoir, and fell into and out of favor with some of the most famous power players in Massachusetts history. A picture of Sawyer emerges from this book as one of the most interesting Massachusetts political figures of the first half of the twentieth century.