It's the Brian Larry Show on WNYC.

Good morning again, everyone.

Congressman James Clyburn is with us, the longtime Democratic congressman and former Majority Whip.

He's out with a new book called The First Eight, a personal history of the pioneering black congressman who shaped a nation,

which uncovers the lives and legacies of the eight black congressmen elected from South

Carolina before him. For decades, many people have assumed that Clyburn was the first black person to represent

South Carolina in Congress, at least since the Civil War. But as he reminds us, he was actually the

ninth, following a generation of men who rose from slavery and struggle to build one of the most

progressive state governments in the country at that time. Jim Clyburn, representing District 6 in

South Carolina and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, joins me now to discuss his

book. We'll also talk about some things in the news, including the suspension of SNAP benefits

by the Trump administration and the government shutdown, the possible abolition of the

centerpiece of the Voting Rights Act that the Supreme Court may be about to order, and more.

Congressman Clyburn, thank you so much for joining us. Welcome to WNYC.

Well, thank you very much for having me. You write that when people see the portraits of the

first eight in your office, they're surprised.

They assume you were the first black congressman from South Carolina.

You've been correcting that misunderstanding your whole career.

What finally made you decide it was time to write this book?

Well, just after I finished and released my memoir, 10 years ago, 2015, some visitors to my office commented about those eight pictures asking who they were.

And when I explained to them who these eight people were, one of them expressed a surprise that having thought that I was the first African American from South Carolina.

And I kind of playfully said to her, no, no, before I was first, there were eight.

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