U.S. Rep. Barney Frank '61 (D-Mass.) likes to "speak frankly."

On Capitol Hill, he is a model of legislative acumen and fiery oratory. But his caustic nature and liberal tendencies make him as controversial as he is esteemed.

"I think he's a genius," says Joe Ventrome, staff director for the Republican Housing Committee. "He's one of the brightest members of Congress and as a legislator, he is one of the most effective on the Democractic side."

But, his "downfall," says Ventrome, is his tendency to be impatient "and his impatience can be construed as rude."

Frank, 52, has been extremely successful in Congress because he has established a reputation as a hard worker who always does his "homework."

But for someone who says politics has always been his ruling passion, the road to becoming a politician has been circuitous.

Frank spent many years as an academic before entering public service. The 1957 graduate of Bayo High School in Bayo, New Jersey enrolled in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences soon after graduating from the College.

While he sought a Ph.D. in government, he was teaching fellow for government, general education and social science courses as well as assistant senior tutor at Winthrop House.

By this time, Frank says, he realized he was more interested in politics than in academic life.

"I've always been interested in politics," he says. "I realized that I was better adapted to politics than to academics."

But Frank says he was nonetheless surprised when then-Boston mayor Kevin White offered him his first job in politics.

"In college I was a part of the Young Democrats Club and I thought about volunteering," Frank says. "But I didn't think about it as a career."

After spending three years as White's executive assistant, Frank says he was sure that his "temperament" was better suited to politics than academics. Yet, Frank returned to Harvard in January 1971 to complete his thesis.

Frank was again steered away from his studies when, later that year he took a leave of absence to work as Administrative Assistant to U.S. Rep. Michael Harrington (D-Mass).

By 1972 Frank had an impressive resume, but he says friends had to persuade him to campaign for an empty seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.