A Conversation and Book Signing with Congressman Duncan
The honorable John J. Duncan Jr., retired member of the U.S. House of Representatives, will sign copies of his new book “From Batboy to Congressman: Thirty Years in the U.S. House” (UT Press, $24.99) on December 2, 2021, at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum (ALLM) on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) in Harrogate, Tennessee.
Duncan served as a respected criminal defense lawyer and judge before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Tennessee’s Second Congressional district in 1988. He retired from Congress at the end of his 16th term in January of 2019. Throughout his decades-long career, Duncan was known for his commitment to his constituents.
In “From Batboy to Congressman: Thirty Years in the U.S. House,” Duncan tells stories about his family, early life and time as a lawyer and judge. He details unique experiences meeting celebrities, presidents, and sports stars and reflects on leadership within the government, war, and poverty issues. Duncan offers a new perspective on relationships across the aisle and bipartisanship. He names conservatives, moderates, and liberals who are among his closest friends.
“As you will read in this book,” Duncan said, “Every job I ever had gave me strange, funny and unusual stories to tell.”
Duncan served as a ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Highways and Transit Subcommittee. He also held seats on the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Prior to his election to Congress, he served as a State Trial Judge, having been appointed by Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander in 1981. He started his career in law in 1973 with a private law practice in Knoxville with Zane Daniel. Duncan graduated from the University of Tennessee and The George Washington University National Law Center. He was married to the late Lynn Hawkins Duncan, and they shared four children and eight grandchildren.
The event will be held in the ALLM’s Arnold Auditorium. Duncan will reflect on the book and recount some of his favorite stories at 5 p.m. and will be available for a book signing and a meet and greet at 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 pm
Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is located in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or email at admissions@LMUnet.edu.
