BETHEL – The political career of James G. Blaine will be the focus of the Thursday, June 12, lecture in the 2008 Bethel Historical Society Series, “Maine History: Varied and Vivid,” by Maine author and publisher Neil Rolde of York. The talk will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the exhibit hall of the Dr. Moses Mason House.

Rolde’s topic will be “The Enigma of James G. Blaine.”

Born in 1830 in West Brownsville, Pa., Blaine’s life in Maine did not begin until 1854 when he assumed ownership of the Kennebec Journal following his marriage to Harriet Stanwood, an Augusta native.

The Journal, under Blaine’s influence, soon became an organ of the emerging Republican party. In 1856, Blaine attended the first national convention of the new party. Two years later, he was elected to the State House of Representatives, where his considerable political skills were soon recognized.

During his second term in the Maine House, he was elected to the speakership, which in turn provided a launching point for his run for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1862.

As a member of the U.S. Congress, Blaine generally supported hard money policies, high protective tariffs, subsidies for railroads and the Radical Republican reconstruction program.

Six years later, Blaine was Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, a post that complemented his skills as a skilled debater and his mastery of the intricacies of parliamentary maneuvering.

From that point, Blaine developed a following that would be central to his political activities for the rest of his life, and he was known as “the plumed knight.”

It was during that period that he was accused of using his office for political gain. Blaine responded to these charges with an impassioned defense, which seemed to answer most questions about his ethics, but he never was able to exonerate himself completely.

Yet even with this “cloud” over him, he ran for president several times, nearly winning in 1884, and served in two administrations as secretary of state.

Rolde, who is the author of numerous books on Maine history, has written a biography of Blaine, titled “Continental Liar from the State of Maine: James G. Blaine.” Rolde will speak on Blaine and attempt to explain his popular appeal and his political legacy for present and future generations.

The lecture is free and open to anyone interested. The talk is made possible in part by a grant from the Maine Humanities Council.

More information about the society and its activities may be obtained by calling 824-2908 or 800-824-2910, e-mailing [email protected] or visiting www.bethelhistorical.org.