Robert D. Novak (1931–2009)

5493. The Prince of Darkness 50 Years Reporting in Washington, by Robert D. Novak (read 16 Aug 2017) The author's politics tended to be repugnant to me though in his earlier years he was more open-minded, actually voting for JFK in 1960 and for LBJ in 1964. But he became steadily more right-wing as the years went by. In his book he has seldom good words for Democrats, bashing Harry Truman, Adlai Stevenson, Jimmy Carter, Alan Baron, the Clintons, John Kerry, and others but he also has disdainful words for Jerry Ford, George H. W. Bush, Bob Dole.and any Republican who is not far right-wing. But I found his account full of interest, as he tells how he worked to get his column newsworthy. He was a partner of Rowland Evans for years, though he often disagreed with him and frequently makes snide remarks about him in the book, though saying admiring words at times. It is more fun to read authors I agree with but it is educative to at times see what the people who are wrong say, and I have done that at times, For instance, I read (on 20 Jan 1963) read Nixon's Six Crises So I found reading Novak consistently interesting and while certainly not scintillating prose it is journalistically well-written.… (mais)

"The Prince of Darkness," is absolutely outstanding. I'm a bit of a "political junkie" and this book covers the entire gamut of my own personal period of political consciousness (first recollections in childhood of the Little Rock school crisis and my folks wearing "Adlai" pins).

I discovered that my own political views have undergone a similar evolution as Mr. Novak's -- from Democrat to Republican but with a sharp rejection of the G. W. Bush/Cheney policies.

This book is marked by excellent writing and painstaking detail. Mr. Novak obviously kept very good records throughout his career. I gave copies of his book to friends for Christmas.

Just to select one of a multitude of favorite passages, I loved the story of a very intoxicated Senator Patrick Moynihan doing the "Shakespeare on Shakespeare" recitation while helping himself to drinking Attorney General Meese's glass of wine (incidentally, I like to refer to the former A.G. as "Meester Ed.")… (mais)

Just loved this book. Generally journalists write well so when they take the time at the end of their life and write over the generations sometimes the book is very interesting but all informative. Starting with JFK the author writes about how he writes and talks about leaks, and his opinions. I was shocked to hear how many people shared their information (probably like Bob Woodward today). Not afraid to talk about this private life (lots of eating and drinking). Talks too much about money. This is a history book written in an lively manner.… (mais)