James Reston (1909–1995)

The point of the title is clear: Newspaper columns are ephemera, yet at their best repay rereading long after they appear. That is eminently the case with these collected columns by James B. ("Scotty") Reston. The fly-leaf begins by calling him the most influential columnist of the most influential newspaper in America, and that was not overstating the case. To a degree hard to imagine today, when anyone with an internet connection can share his or her views in the hopes someone will read show more them (sort of what I'm doing now), newspapers were commonly called then the Fourth Estate, a recognition of their necessary role in a thriving democracy. And the conscience of the newspaper was its columnists. And like Bond, nobody did it better than Reston.
The columns contained in this 480-page volume are sensibly arranged in thirteen thematic chapters. Those who might conclude based on Reston's land of birth and his Calvinist upbringing that the best adjective to describe him might be "dour" are advised to start with Chapter 8, Spoofs, although the chapter with the widest interest might be the final one, a collection of columns about JFK.
Reston would have never claimed that his judgments were always correct, but he knew how to think and write clearly.
I found my copy on the $2 remainder table of a D.C. bookstore in the summer of 1975. Money well-spent. show less

Thoroughly enjoyable memoir from an insightful writer whose life spanned nearly the entire 20th century. Some very surprising bits, like Dean Acheson's attempt to include electric cars in future planning in the 1940's, post WW II (p 148). The author describes his attempts to eat with chopsticks (p 386-7) that I found hilarious and very close to home. One mix-up - on p 385 the Vietnamese and S Koreans are transposed (I can't help it, I notice these things) but so it goes. This is especially show more relevant for those of us that grew up in the 20th century, in particular the second half of it. Probably 4.5 stars if that was possible. So much first person insight into his times, and much that is still relevant in 2024. show less

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.

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 show more 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. show less