|
|
1 |
James Reston Jr. Deadline: A Memoir
Three Rivers Press 1992 0812920716 / 9780812920710 Paperback Very Good
0812920716 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches From Publishers Weekly Although a self-described unreconstructed Scotch Calvinist, the 82-year-old Reston clearly has mellowed, by evidence of this captivating memoir. Perceptive, frank, uncommonly interesting, avuncular, he relates with seemingly total recall "everything he saw" during 50 years with the New York Times as correspondent, D.C. bureau chief, executive editor, columnist. We learn much from Reston's close readings of the characters of our era's major political figures: the 10 presidents he has covered, cabinet members, presidential advisers, legislators, international leaders. His shop talk of the Times , revealing of internal workings, analyzes coverage of various controversial events and profiles colleagues. The integrity of the Times , Reston writes, has been one of the "dominant forces" in his life, along with his wife and the stern teaching of his parents. "Don't breathe on the window, ye'll get it dirty," his mother was wont to chastise, but "Scotty" gives the admonition no mind in his impressive memoirs. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From Library Journal "Scotty" Reston emerges unscathed from Russell Baker's The Good Times ( LJ 5/1/89), an ironic memoir of the New York Times political beat, and after reading Reston's memoirs, it's not hard to see why. Reston is one of those writers whose simple sentences seem so only for seconds; then the acuity of the expression hits. Reston provides a solid summary of his days covering the London blitz, being chief Washington correspondent during the Cold War, and achieving the executive editorship in 1968. While Reston lacks Baker's fine sense of absurdity, he has other admirable qualities: he is fiercely proud of his Scottish heritage (he emigrated to the United States as a child) and dedicated to his job (he now writes in retirement for the Times ) and most of all his family. With so much media-bashing going on these days, it's nice to hold up an exemplar of the profession. Recommended to anyone interested in reporting on this time period and for all journalism collections. --Judy Quinn, "Library Journal" Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Price:
4.50 USD
|
