(Originally published 1969, paperback edition 519 pages)
The late Mr. White's third chapter in his impressive four-volume series, yet
again, is a stellar example of great reporting and wonderful writing. The book
was originally published in 1969. Beyond documenting notable events in the
horrible year of 1968, the author takes pains in depicting the major players as
all too human. It is very interesting to read the hopes, fears and expectations
of such an accomplished reporter while our country was dealing with the Vietnam
War scarred by an American body count of over 27,000, political assassinations,
race relations and violent student unrest.
For this book, Mr. White had close access to such notables as Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, Lyndon Johnson, Bobby Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy, George Romney, Ronald Reagan, Nelson Rockefeller and Chicago's Richard Daley. 1968 was a mess. Here's just some of the stuff that happened: the Tet Offense occurred in January which made our nation realize the government had been lying about our progress in Vietnam; Martin Luther King was assassinated in April; President Johnson decided not to run for reelection; student demonstrations on campuses culminating in their childish, violent antics at the Democrats' national convention in Chicago; race riots; and George Wallace's racist campaign that did have a major impact on the election. You also get to witness the new Republican strategy of capitalizing on the cultural divisions between the North and South and hints of Ronald Reagan's road to future victory. It was especially haunting to read Mr. White's passage about interviewing Bobby Kennedy on the afternoon before the candidate was killed. The nation was scared and angry. You certainly can't blame them. Yet, despite all the problems, the liberal Mr. White had high hopes for President Nixon. Watergate was four years away.
This is simply outstanding reporting and topnotch history. The book helps put the silliness of the 2012 election into proper perspective.
For this book, Mr. White had close access to such notables as Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, Lyndon Johnson, Bobby Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy, George Romney, Ronald Reagan, Nelson Rockefeller and Chicago's Richard Daley. 1968 was a mess. Here's just some of the stuff that happened: the Tet Offense occurred in January which made our nation realize the government had been lying about our progress in Vietnam; Martin Luther King was assassinated in April; President Johnson decided not to run for reelection; student demonstrations on campuses culminating in their childish, violent antics at the Democrats' national convention in Chicago; race riots; and George Wallace's racist campaign that did have a major impact on the election. You also get to witness the new Republican strategy of capitalizing on the cultural divisions between the North and South and hints of Ronald Reagan's road to future victory. It was especially haunting to read Mr. White's passage about interviewing Bobby Kennedy on the afternoon before the candidate was killed. The nation was scared and angry. You certainly can't blame them. Yet, despite all the problems, the liberal Mr. White had high hopes for President Nixon. Watergate was four years away.
This is simply outstanding reporting and topnotch history. The book helps put the silliness of the 2012 election into proper perspective.
(Meyers - A few years ago, I started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #290)
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