Jerks in History

[Gene C]

The problem I have with Brooks is his response to Sumner, he didn't respond in kind to Sumner's verbal attack. As far as I know, prior to his attack Brooks didn't publicly say anything insulting about Sumner or his family.

Brooks attacked an unarmed man who was not expecting it, and who was positioned where he could barely defend himself. While Brooks may not have been a coward, his acts were cowardly by the standards of his time and today.