Ben Barnes: A Biography
Out of humble beginnings, Former Lt Gov of Texas Ben Barnes, the son of a peanut farmer from Gorman, Texas, emerged as one of most prominent Texas political leaders and the confidante of one of the most powerful American presidents in history.
Born on April 17, 1938, Ben Barnes made his mark in Texas history as one of the remaining stalwarts of the Democratic Party before the state fell into Republican control. In 1960, the 22-year old Barnes successfully waged an election campaign that earned him a seat at the Texas House of Representatives. Former Lt Gov of Texas Ben Barnes also served diplomatic roles in the NATO and the United Nations. He would advance quickly to become Speaker of the House at the age of 26, and eventually win the powerful post of Lieutenant Governor in 1969 at the age of 30.
Following his frustrated bid for reelection in a campaign mired by false accusations of corruption, Former Lt Gov of Texas Ben Barnes left public office and turned to business and other civic endeavors. He eventually set up a lobbying and consultancy firm called EntreCorp in 1989 and today remains a very influential member of the Democratic Party, being one of its top campaign contributors and lobbyists.
Ben Barnes recently wrote of his experiences in a memoir titled, “Barn Burning, Barn Building: Tales of a Political Life, From LBJ to George W. Bush and Beyond.”
