Before entering politics, Chris Shays served in the Peace Corps in Fiji along with his wife Betsi from 1968 to 1970. At the age of 29, he ran and won a seat in the Connecticut House of Representatives as a Republican in 1975. Twelve years later, he won a seat in Congress, where he represented the 4th congressional district for 21 years, from 1987 through 2008. When he lost his seat in 2008, he was last Republican serving in any state in New England.
In this episode, Congressman Shays shares some amazing stories from his time with the Peace Corps in Fiji. He also talks about the time he spent a week in jail as a congressman as a result of protesting judicial corruption, and about the time he stayed overnight in the notorious Cabrini Green housing projects in Chicago to understand the reality there before a Congressional hearing. He ends the interview by sharing his thoughts on the current state of our politics.
