Peter Vallone was one of the most interesting politicians I ever met. Although somewhat conservative for his time, he was well liked by liberal good government groups and they viewed him as an ally. Over the years, a number of pieces of "liberal" legislation, such as gay rights and campaign finance, passed the New York City Council under his leadership. But if one looked closer at Vallone, one began to understand why this occurred despite his moderate political positions. Peter Vallone was a firm believer in "procedural due process." A constitutional scholar will tell you that procedural due process is designed to ensure that all the proper procedures are followed in making decisions that effect liberty and democracy in this country because if the process of making a decision is fair, most likely the decision will be fair. In that respect, while most theorists just discuss "procedural due process", Peter Vallone may have been the most important elected official in New York City history in which a dedication to procedural due process is his lasting testament.

While City Charter Revision Commissions issue a report and legislative proposals, most of the time history is left with no other record of the political ins and outs of their deliberations. "Learning to Govern" gives the reader a bird's eye view of the leading proponent for the empowerment of the New York City Council at a time when monumental changes were occurring. In that respect, it is both an interesting book and an important book, although it is not a scholarly civics text. Vallone's book is an autobiography and such a criticism would miss that point. It is a personal viewpoint, more akin to a good government version of "Plunkitt of Tammany Hall" or "Don't Make No Waves, Don't Back No Losers", one a book on New York City politics by a famous boss, the other a look at the Chicago Democratic machine (circa 1960) from an insider. And while it lacks the organization of a civics textbook, its contribution to the history of New York City should not be undervalued.

If you did not know Vallone before reading this book, you might come away with some doubt regarding Vallone's faith in government and democratic values. But having worked with Vallone for ten years, I can avow that the book does accurately reflect his philosophy and how he lived it. Vallone was and is a firm believer of the simple concept that if people of good faith assemble together to address an issue, they will come together and find a common ground. Throughout "Learning to Govern" Vallone provides examples of the bases of that faith. While today's cynical body politic may roll their eyes at such an idealistic belief and not give credence to Vallone's claim that it was important just "to do the right thing", frankly, it governed Vallone's attitude for his entire Council career.

From the book, it is also evident that his Catholic faith helped drive Vallone's belief in democracy with a small "d". But it is also clear that his faith was never dogmatic and never forced upon other elected officials. It is clear throughout the book that Vallone felt a need to separate his religion's stance with that of public policy. In an era where mixing politics and religion was becoming all too common place, and in a life where religion was a key component, Vallone felt compelled to ensure that religion and politics were kept separate in the political sphere, once even telling Cardinal O'Connor's office to refrain from becoming involved in a political dispute. In doing so, Vallone sets a rare example for today's national public officials.

Despite his idealism, Vallone never was elected to a higher office than City Council member (and by his peers, elected Speaker). Vallone discusses briefly three campaigns for higher office (a Congressional race early in his career, and attempts at becoming governor and mayor). Despite working hard and being appreciated by numerous entities, for years Vallone had to shake an image of a parochial 'pol' from Queens. Vallone does not fully address this issue in the book, but it was there (as I frequently heard from many good government leaders, "he's really good for someone from Queens"). Vallone never addresses this issue, because for the most part, he refuses to address the negatives that he faced. It would have been interesting had he done so, but it also would not have been in keeping with his personal philosophy.

Ultimately, "Learning to Govern" is one man's testament to a faith in democracy and how that faith changed City government. Without any other text that discusses the human element of the changes in City government in the late 1980's and early 1990's, Vallone's book will stand alone. Maybe that is a good thing, because no other person will probably understand the value of and articulate the importance of procedural due process as well as Peter F. Vallone.

Robert S. Altman is a lobbyist and an attorney with the law firm of Szold & Brandwen, PC. From 1986 to 1996, he worked as an attorney with the City Council, during the years that Peter F. Vallone was the Speaker.