Right in the Old Gazoo: What I Learned In A Lifetime Of Meeting The Press [Hardcover]

Alan K. Simpson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 1997

U.S. Senator Alan Simpson gives his views -- most often critical -- of the press.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Retiring Republican Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming is an opinionated and cagey fellow gifted with a folksy sense of humor. He leaves the Senate with a respected record, distinguished by his farsighted work for social security reform. But Simpson can't leave without a few parting jabs at the press, and his book Right in the Old Gazoo is both a reflection upon the role the press has played in Simpson's political life and a thoughtful outline of how the media could better serve the democratic process. In the beginning of his Senate career, Simpson curried favor with the press corps, chumming up with the media at swank soirees and earning favorable coverage for his down-to-earth character. But later, particularly during the Gulf War and the debates over the Supreme Court nomination of Clarence Thomas, Simpson was vociferous in his condemnation of the press, and the press returned fire with unfavorable profiles that turned Simpson's homespun image into that of a cantankerous and stooped crank. With his natural wit and his recently acquired perspective, Simpson distills the lessons he has learned into this intelligent memoir, which may serve as more than just another poke in the eye of the press if it fosters a saner relationship between those in public life and the media that covers them.

From Publishers Weekly

The tart-tongued Sen. Simpson (R-Wyo.) retires this year after three terms, so this readable mix of memoir and criticism serves as his valedictory. "[T]he media need to rein themselves in," declares this participant in and observer of numerous media controversies. Indeed, Simpson knows that the news business isn't pretty. During his early days in Wyoming, he saw underprepared reporters focus on controversy, not substance. In Washington, the situation has worsened, he says, contending that the media too often dig dirt instead of analyzing national problems. He has had a Washington Post reporter misquote him and refuse to apologize when confronted with a tape. These experiences lead Simpson to propose useful reforms?the press should admit errors, focus on substance, resist off-the-record sources?that recall more thorough journalistic critiques by James Fallows and Howard Kurtz. More controversially, Simpson declares that the landmark 1964 libel case New York Times v. Sullivan "turned public officials into raw meat," and argues that it should be undone. While that proposal is worth debating, other Simpson segments sound merely partisan. He criticizes CNN correspondent Peter Arnett for broadcasting Iraqi propaganda during the Gulf war but declares that the rules for American reporters were reasonable. And he maintains that his statements during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings?"I really am getting stuff over the transom"?were no worse than the media attacks on Thomas. Author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1st edition (January 6, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688113583
• ISBN-13: 978-0688113582
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #994,515 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simpson doesn't miss a lick, July 27, 2002

By 

Andreas Drexler (Goleta, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Right in the Old Gazoo: What I Learned In A Lifetime Of Meeting The Press (Hardcover)

With his usual wit and a graceful writing style, Sen. Simpson draws on a lifetime of unfortunate encounters with a steadfastly biased press to explain just how it harms American democracy. He draws on plenty of examples to show how lockstep liberalism and a haughty unaccountability, based on the disastrous New York Times v. Sullivan decision, have created a monster that distorts, fabricates, and attacks, causing either public officials to withdraw in fear or qualified candidates to shun running for office.

This book, now 5 years old, looks prescient in light of Bernard Goldberg's expose from INSIDE the media monster. Read Simpson for the real story of his battles with the biased Nina Totenberg and Peter Arnett and the press's savage abuse of Clarence Thomas, who had the effrontery to be black and conservative.