Customer Reviews

The Prince of Darkness: 50 Years Reporting in Washington

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4 star:		(21)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Robert Novak is a throwback to a time when being civil to people you
disagreed with was the norm rather than the exception. In many ways this
is a very sad autobiography, since you can see the bleak contrasts to
the current standards where people with different viewpoints are regarded
as "the enemy", and being polite to the enemy is close to treason. But
those same contrasts also make this book essential reading: if there were
more Novaks on the left, right, and middle the country would be much
better off.

Novak is not hesitant to describe his own mistakes and shortcomings--
another stark contrast to most of the current politicians and pundits.
Time and again he relates how various people "used" him in underhanded
ways through carefully selected leaks. Leaks are like Oxycontin--
a drug that can be beneficial, but which can also be very harmful.
Novak, of course, survives on leaks--but he also acknowledges that you
can't criticize your leakers, any more than an addict can attack his
dealer, and I get the sense from the book that he's not entirely happy
with this arrangement--that it's a little bit as though people could buy
you off.

Novak is very candid about his warts, so to speak--smoking, drinking,
fighting, etc, and also very candid about the things that changed his
life, personally and politically, such as his conversion to Catholicism
and his epiphany vis-a-vis Ronald Reagan. Novak is astute, and accepts
that his initial judgements can be mistaken--other qualities lacking in
most politicians and pundits nowadays.

Of particular interest to me were the descriptions of his cable TV work.
Capital Gang was the only political show I could enjoy--and it was my
favorite TV show of any kind. The chemistry was excellent--as Novak
describes--and Novak could take being kidded and could laugh at himself.
There were always plenty of things I disagreed with him on, but the show
would not have been worthwhile without him. My favorite episode, which
most unfortunately is only lightly alluded to in the book, came when
Novak had (on live TV) goaded Mark Shields beyond endurance, and Shields
shouted at Novak "That's [cow manure]!". The Gang looked back and forth
at each other for what seemed like a minute and finally Pat Buchanan said,
plaintively "This is a family show". But that didn't affect the personal
relationship between Novak and Shields. Novak in the book describes other
shouting matches--Novak and Shields, Novak and Al Hunt, Novak and Evans,
etc. He looks candidly at himself in the book--he's not Mother Teresa.

One of the saddest and most disturbing parts of the book comes near the
end, where he is accused by neocons of wanting to see the US defeated and
of hating his country. Most of the accusers/fellow travellers (so to
speak) never served their country, as Novak did, and the attack on his
patriotism is a bizarre kind of Kafka-Stalin mix.

Overall, from this fine book--you'll find that Robert Novak is like your
favorite uncle. He at times drinks too much, smokes too much, gets into
fistfights, swears, and pontificates. But in spite of all that--maybe
because of all that--you love the cantankerous old fart!

A very good book for national political junkies, fans of cable TV news/opinion programing, and those interested in the extended column-writing career of Robert Novak. (The reverse side of this coin is that those who did not watch The Capital Gang and Cross Fire will not have much interest in the ins and outs of these CNN programs.)

Old scores are settled, past dust-ups are explained (notably the author's role in the Valerie Palme/CIA story), and personal views by Mr. Novak on decades of both national political leaders -- and those who reported on them -- are set forth with hard-edged clarity.

This is a much better book than many recent Washington, D.C. memoirs (such as the late Jack Valenti's, also published this year.) Mr. Novak writes with the honest abandon that comes from not caring too much what others in his nominal circle might think.

I appreciated most in this book the author's personal evaluations and insights devoted to past political figures and administrations, such as that of President Johnson.

Whatever you think of Robert Novak's political views, it's hard to deny that he's played a large role in American political life since the late 1950s. It's hard to think of too many reporters that covered the Eisenhower years who are still active today.

PRINCE OF DARKNESS is a remarkably enjoyable book about Novak's life as a reporter, which provides a lot of insights into American history. Novak is undeniably ideological, but that's half the fun of reading this memoir. I grew up watching Novak on CNN, and I always found him enjoyable to listen to, even if I sometimes violently disagreed with his mostly conservative opinions.

This book is pretty much what you think it is. It is filled with a lot of anecdotes, fun stories, and a ton of Novak's blunt opinions and evaluations of people. It also provides some insights into the nature of political journalism and how its evolved over the last fifty years. If you're a political junkie and enjoy watching Novak on television, you should really enjoy this book. But if you can't stand the sight of him, as some people clearly do, then this book is obviously not for you.

Apparently the original manuscript of this book was 1,400 (!) pages long and Novak's editors forced him to cut it down quite a bit. There is still a lot of minutiae in this 672-page book, some of which will go over the heads of people who are not obsessed with politics. But overall, this book is very enjoyable and I recommend it to conservatives and liberals alike who are interested in political history.

Robert D. Novak will never be confused with Pollyanna! He is a tough, conservative, vituperative, combative and pugnacious reporter. Along with his fellow columnist Roland Evans he has served over 50 long years in the trenches of national politics in that la-la land called Washington DC. (or Disneyland East!). (Evans died a few years ago)
Regardless of the reader's political proclivities this is a very enjoyable, informative and disillusioning look at the leaders of our fair land. As one who disagrees often with the acerbic Mr. Novak I can recommend this book highly due to such qualities as:
Novak's ability to succinctly etch in a telling anecdote the character of the politician coming under his scrutiny. He rates Ronald Reagan highly and disdains such liberal chief executives as Jimmy Carter (who he calls a practiced lier); and his bete noire Bill Clinton. Whether you concur in his opinions the author does express himself in forceful prose.
Novak is an Illinoisan by birth;majored in English Literature at the University of Illinois; became a print reporter (most notably with the Wall Street Journal) and served as a conservative reporter on CNN for a quarter of a century. Novak appeared on such stalwart CNN shows as "Crossfire"; "The Evans-Novak Report" "Capital Gang" and other lesser programs. Novak details his battles with the "suits" at CNN and his disdain for liberal journalist. He has also had major feuds with such neocons as Bill Kristol.
Novak is honest in listing his many faults. He is moody, tempermental and often quick to take offense. The reporter has survived several scary incidents with cancer, broken hips and spinal menigitis. Novak was born a secular Jew but has converted to Roman Catholicism. I applaud his commitment to his newly discovered faith. Novak has been married twice and
he and his wife have a beautiful relatiionship. She has remained at his side despite his heavy drinking, late hours and long trips to cover politicians on the stump.
Novak's recent turn on the stage was due to his being involved in the Valerie Plame scandal. He was also let go from CNN after using a crude expletive in a debate with leftwinger James Carville.
Robert D. Novak has written one of the best insider looks at Washington that I have read. Even a political junkie can learn from this well done memoir by a political reporter who has earned his stripes. Whatever your opinion of Novak you have to admire his patriotism, faith and honesty in sharing his opinion. Highly recommended!

I would have to rate this as one of my favorite autobiographies.

If you enjoy Robert Novak's columns, you should also enjoy this book---the writing style is similar, in that, for every 100 words of his writing, you are probably getting the same amount of information that another writer would need 200 words to convey.

Mr. Novak's stated objectives are these:
1) To provide the reader with a history of his life, career, triumphs, and tribulations.
2) To give insight into the REAL Washington D.C., via his experiences and column excerpts.
3) To give us a chronilogical history lesson of the last fifty years---the Presidents, powerful Senators, Congressmen, Judges, Lobbyists, etc., and the myriad number of "operatives" who helped shape that history.

IMO, he hits a grand slam. Not being able to put the book down longer than a day, much less at a reasonable hour on each day, I've lost a lot of sleep over the last three weeks. Had the end not come after 600 pages, I probably would have required a small vacation before finishing. I do wish it was longer though---surely he just scratched the surface of his experiences.

A lot of people dislike and even hate Robert Novak. I have never understood this. He was just one of those "guys on TV" that I tended to gravitate towards (since my teenage years), and I cannot explain why. `could be that he just always had an aire of credibility and knowledge. This book verifies that suspicion because his reporting has created many enemies and exposed the true colors of several lifelong "friends". Novak has a lot of true friends too though, and that's what counts in life. Luckily for the reader, he tells detailed stories about both. The saying goes that you can judge a man by his friends. Well, you can also judge a man by his enemies, and based on both the former and the latter, I would say that Robert Novak is top-shelf in my book.

For me, the final paragraphs of his book get to the meat of his philosophy. His view is that one "should love their Country, but never trust the government." To that I say AMEN Brother, you are a wise man Mr. Novak.

I never much cared for Bob Novak and was reluctant to get this book, but I'm glad I did. It's a concise, brutally honest and well written series of fascinating anecdotes about pols and pundits over his 50 years of reporting in Washington D.C. He interviewed every president since Kennedy and dealt with many of their aides and cabinet members. His inside-the-beltway take on these people and the media is hypercynical, and with good reason. Although he considers himself conservative (I have my doubts on some issues), he is an equal opportunity basher of both sides.

You learn a great deal about the symbiotic relationship between the media and politicians. Journalists want scoops and politicians leak--each to further their own interests. For the most part, Novak is able to name his leakers over the years because they have died or given permission. Many of the names will be familar to even a casual political observer.

Novak was amazingly energetic, at the same time writing columns and books, covering political campaigns and elections, and participating in numerous TV programs. He was well paid for all of this activity, as he discloses in detail. He even adjusts his income for inflation.

The book was written when Novak was 77 years old and he is often self-critical, wondering whether his reporting on someone was compromised by how that person treated him. This lends credibility to his version of events.

I have followed politics for the last 35 years, so I am generally familar with most of the people and events Novak covers. I doubt someone who is younger or has only a limited interest in politics will find this book nearly as enjoyable as I did.

My measure of a fascinating book is how often I'm interrupting my wife to read her a paragraph or a page. Based on dozens of irritating interruptions this past month, my wife would agree that Novak's book met and exceeded my standards.

Bob Novak has penned a remarkable memoir spanning 50 years of political reporting in Washington, D.C. If you're over 50, you'll be amazed and alarmed at the political background info and revelations. (He names names and doesn't hold back on his strong, conservative opinions.) If you're under 50, I'd humbly suggest this be required reading--because it's possible you've missed the all-important context that only a 50-year in-the-trenches reporter/commentator can deliver. Though written a year ago, the book immediately sheds light--and context--on the current U.S. presidential campaign.

Novak comments on Reagan, "I came to understand that the presidency is a leadership position that has very little to do with management." On Bob Dole: "Dole was a hopeless micromanager, inappropriate for a presidential candidate and indeed for a president." Ross Perot and Jimmy Carter fared no better on the management-o-meter. Albeit in my book, Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit, I argue that leadership and management cannot be separated, Novak, in fact, demonstrates a very savvy insight into all things leadership.

Novak also reveals his extraordinary access to "senior administration officials" at the highest levels--and what motivates Democrats and Republicans alike to leak such info. It will surprise you--and discourage you. You may also want to re-think the expectations you have regarding the loyalty of your own team members at your workplace.

There's minimal gray area in Novak's historical travelogue. When Vice President Al Gore reneges on a verbal commitment to Novak, it's not forgotten. Lack of integrity always causes relational damage, as was the case with MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews. (By the way, and for balance, I also recommend Matthew's book, Life's a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation, and Success.)

Ten years ago, following a four-year investigative journey from his Jewish roots to the Christian faith, a college student challenged him, "Mr. Novak, life is short, but eternity is forever." He writes, "I became convinced that the Holy Spirit was speaking through this Syracuse student." He embraced Christ and was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick's in Washington, D.C. in 1998.

Warning: it's 662 pages long. Guarantee: you'll wish it was 1,000 pages. And yes, I read every page. While the chapter titles make it easy to scan, don't--you'll miss the morsels. It gets my highest recommendation.

Robert D. Novak's memoir is for those who enjoy the arcana of politics. If you enjoy reading about the wheeling and dealing; if you like reading about the people, personalities, perceptions, policies,pitfals, and pratfalls of most of the biggest names in American political life for the past half-century, you will find this book totally engrossing.

I started reading Novak's columns when I worked on my college newspaper (St. Xavier University in Chicago)reporting on politics back in the 1980's. Conservatism was coming into full force and Evans and Novak was part of my steady diet of conservative reading.

This book is written in the same avuncular style that Novak writes his column. Sometimes self-effacing, often insightful, sometimes bitter (he takes ample opportunity to settle many old scores), always entertaining, The Prince of Darkness will surely be the topic of many-a political conversation for years to come.

Like many reviewers on this board who lamented that they did not like Novak (judging from his appearance on CNN, PBS and other media outlets) but after reading the book, their minds changed. I am one of them. I am a libertarian and tend to prefer Novak's politics, however, every time I saw him on CNN, he came across as mean and lack of "sentiments". So I did not like him. However, after reading his book, I realized he is not really a people's person but he tells the truth always. I also respect him tremendously that he is really a self made guy, trying very hard to make a paycheck always. I feel he is more a working class guy than your typical DC fat cats and "famous journalists".

In addition, as a new citizen to US (legal immigrant via technology specialty), I really learned so much about contemporary US history from Novak's book. I did not know that JFK, a liberal, proposed tax cuts and believed high tax will kill workers' incentive. I also did not know the hard work Reagan put in to pacify communism (in hindsight, we thought everything was pure luck) and finally, I found the episode of Al Gore compelled by Gore Sr. to fulfill the dream of Presidency illuminating.

I personally learned a lot from this book. I also consider myself lucky as Novak is a straight shooter who told his story honestly without spin. This is the best teacher a student like me can hope for.

I've never been a fan of Robert D. Novak. I rarely read his column and the only time I saw him on CNN "Crossfire", I changed the channel because he and his co-panelists did nothing but scream at each other. (That, of course, is more attributable to CNN's concept of programming than anything else.)

But I knew Novak was a "name", so I figured I'd give his autobiography, "Prince of Darkness" a shot. It's so big - 638 pages - that I could always use it as a door stop, boat anchor or lethal weapon.

Call me surprised that I found "Prince of Darkness" to be a true page turner.

This is three or four books in one. The first is the biography of Robert D. Novak, the son of a lower middle-class Jewish family in Illinois who was attracted to journalism early in life, married twice, had a problem with alcohol, faced some life threatening health problems and at 75 still has an active working life.

It's also the story of Robert D. Novak who, by a very lucky break, teamed with Rowland Evans, a well established name, and for the next forty or so years turned out a political column that at one time ran in a few hundred papers and broke many and exclusive story.

Another sub-ordinate thread is the story of the relationship between Novak and Evans which was primarily business for all the time with both men leading leading remarkably separate personal lives.

Next is the often ugly story of how politics and journalism intertwine. From Novak's telling, you either have a thick skin or you're quickly going to be crushed. Friendships are as deep as the other person's immediate needs. Honor and honesty are increasingly obsolete terms. Novak never says so explicitly, but his condemnation of the left-wing is thorough.

Finally this is a story of the stories Novak has covered in the past fifty years including, of course, the Valerie Plame affair.

There is a fascinating depth of detail here, enough to keep one reading past their bed time.

To be sure, Novak has an ego and it shows. It is not over powering and doesn't detract from the book.

Overall, Novak adds an important resource which historians of the era will benefit from. Political junkies will absolutely love it, particularly if they tend toward conservative views.

Jerry