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RICHARD COKE: TEXAN
By Rosser Coke Newton, Sr.
History / Biography
Publisher: Stoney Creek Publishing
Pages: 300
Publication Date: November 4, 2024
SYNOPSIS
Richard Coke played one of the most crucial roles in Texas history. His leadership of his beloved Texas still resonates today—150 years after he became governor. Richard Coke: Texan weaves a rich mosaic of real people and events, immersing the reader in the life and times of Richard Coke.
Coke brought Texas out of Reconstruction following the Civil War and is often credited with restoring democracy to the state after this perilous time. Richard Coke: Texan tells the story of a young Virginia lawyer who emigrated to a Texas frontier village and changed history. It follows Coke as he starts a new life in Waco, Texas, serves in the Civil War, endures the hardships of Reconstruction, and is called to serve as governor to rebuild the state and restore rights to local government and the people of Texas. The story of Coke and his legislature taking office is one of the more dramatic moments in Texas history, with Coke’s predecessor, Edmund Davis, engaging armed forces to occupy the Capitol in an attempt to remain in office. But the true story lies in the leadership Coke demonstrated as a committed citizen, an honored soldier, a dedicated governor, and later as a respected senator—the effects of which still influence the government of Texas today.
Before the advent of digital technology, much of the record of this time was inaccessible to researchers. Authored by Rosser Coke Newton Sr., an indirect descendant of the governor, the book is enriched by first-person accounts, Coke family records, Richard Coke’s direct correspondence, and documented events from journals and debates of constitutional conventions, the Secession Convention, and legislative sessions. These are supplemented by newspaper articles, census records, city directories, and a myriad of other sources compiled at the time. These sources have been combined into Richard Coke: Texan, which not only delivers a rich history of the era but also offers a personal look at one of Texas’s greatest leaders.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rosser Coke Newton Sr., a native Texan and prominent Dallas businessman, is an indirect descendant of Richard Coke, the 15th governor of Texas. From an early age, he developed an interest in Texas history and 19th-century frontier life, a period in which Richard Coke played a crucial role.
Newton connects his love of history with philanthropy, serving in key positions with the Dallas Historical Society and the Alamo Letter Society. He is a founding member of the Dallas Arboretum Foundation, a director emeritus of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, and a supporter of many cultural and civic organizations.
He holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. In 2002, he founded Petro Capital Group and has held leadership roles in numerous petroleum-related companies.
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REVIEW
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to embrace the idea that life is more about “both/and” rather than “either/or.” Duality is often the way of things; rarely are they truly dichotomous.
Reading Richard Coke: Texan was another lesson in this paradigm. As Texas’s 15th governor and later senator, Coke was a critical figure in our state’s past.
Yes, he was well-respected during his lifetime. Yes, he is credited by some with “restoring democracy to [Texas]” after the Civil War. Yes, he spent his three terms as a senator “working diligently for Texas and for Texans.”
And.
Yes, he was a slave owner. Yes, he was a delegate to the Texas Secession Convention and later—before he was appointed governor—expressed that “his only regret was that he and his [Secessionist] comrades had not prevailed.”
Given the knee-jerk, extreme reactions in today’s social climate—defend or dismantle, celebrate or censure—it would have been easy to simply remove myself from the review team for this book. However, my commitment is to stand resolutely in the “both/and” space. This was a moment where the rubber met the road for me—an opportunity to live out what I believe.
As a history enthusiast (it was one of my college majors), I’ve long felt that there must be a middle ground in dealing with our country’s sordid past. My questions have been, How can we study people of the past with equanimity? How can we find ways to share the stories of those who have been largely ignored or excluded? What knowledge and wisdom can we glean from people who fell on the wrong side of history?
I approached Richard Coke: Texan with those questions in mind. What I found was a factually written, well-researched account of Texas history. The author spent a large portion of the book describing the world of Richard Coke, including the years leading up to Texas secession, the major political players of his era, and the postwar years when he served in government.
Several facts about Texas’s history with border issues, our quest to join the Union, and Texans who supported the Union during the Civil War were new to me—things I enjoyed learning.
The author walked a fine line in his descriptions of Richard Coke: “He was motivated by the intent to ‘do good’ in his life, and he did so for Texas for four decades” and “In many ways, Richard Coke’s life and work in Texas define the essence of being Texan.” While I’m not sure I agree with these assertions, I do acknowledge that writing without bias must be difficult when the subject matter is an indirect ancestor.
For the level of research demonstrated, the historical insights gained, and the attempt to portray a flawed historical figure with a “both/and” mindset, I’m giving Richard Coke: Texan 3.5 stars.
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