From Library Journal
These two fine photographic collections feature different aspects of the quadrennial race for the presidency and the victors of each election. Campaigns includes more than 350 mostly black-and-white photos from the archives of the New York Times, beginning with William McKinley's 1900 victory. Distinguished historian Brinkley (American History: A Survey) offers an excellent introduction on the evolution of modern campaigning, while Widmer (director, C.V. Starr Ctr. for the Study of the American Experience) provides an overview of the elections themselves. The photographs are accompanied by a front-page facsimile of the issue of the Times announcing the winner, which is fully transcribed. Notable articles include Arthur Krock's coverage of Franklin Roosevelt's 1932 triumph, James Reston's review of Kennedy's razor-thin win in 1960, and Tom Wicker's portrayal of Lyndon Johnson's decisive if short-lived mandate. Until Krock, election coverage consisted mostly of unsigned articles providing little more than tedious vote counts. Krock set the standard for future Times reporters covering the presidential beat by providing voting analysis and insights into the candidates' personalities. Consequently, the articles dating from the FDR elections through the contentious 2000 contest are fascinating.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Rutgers political scientist Barber, author of
Strong Democracy (1984) and
Jihad vs. McWorld (1995), was one of several dozen academics and intellectuals who participated in an ongoing conversation with the Clinton White House. His book describes "my affair with Clinton," giving Barber an opportunity to muse about the relationship between ideas and politics, the shifting ideology of the Democratic Party, and "the President's remarkable personality." Barber took part in seminars, contributed ideas to speechwriters, and hoped, for a time, to be nominated to head the National Endowment for the Humanities. (He lost out to Mississippi folklorist Bill Ferris, whose advantages included political invisibility and the support of Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott.) Barber is enough of a "strong" Democrat to recognize that, given the choice of responding to intellectuals or to polls, Clinton did the right thing in responding to polls. Assessing Clinton's legacy, Barber focuses on his failure to articulate an inspiring vision to unite his many small-bore programs: a failure for which Barber (and his fellow intellectuals) must accept some responsibility.
Mary CarrollCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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