Reston started in sports writing, but moved to politics and was a firsthand observer of all presidents, cabinets, and important events from Roosevelt through the first Bush, of whom he was very critical. He has chapters on his personal life, showing a good marriage and wonderful children. There is a delightful WWII photograph of him and his wife in their journalists uniforms in England. The chapters devoted to particular men in government who he interviewed in depth are excellent.

Deadline by NYTimes journalist James Reston..memoir. Although the book is written in 1991 ...He has a good chapter on Secretary of State Achenson who he knew. He quotes Achenson as saying" We have trouble with the Arabs because they have power...from oil" Achenson recommends not relying on "fossil fuels" for electrical power, but on nuclear power. This was a new source for the world. Reston thought...writing a the end of his career in his eighties...that Achenson was the best of the 15 Sec of State he had known. This was the early 50s in Truman's administration.

This is a very worthwhile read, especially if you're not a history major. Great perspective of 1936 -> 1970-somthing. This editor of the New York Times was mostly "stationed" in Washington DC. Personal annedotes of his relationships to many of the movers and shakers of that era. ( )