Uncle Henry: A Documentary Profile of the First Henry Wallace Book

Germond, Jack W. Fat Man in a Middle Seat: Forty Years of Covering Politics. New York: Random, 1999, 2002.
I found this book more engaging and relevant than I ever imagined it would be. Like many, I knew Germond only from television. This book makes me wish I had followed his whole career in print. I also wish I could have spent a night eating, drinking, and talking with him, though I am sure I could not have kept up with him in any of these arenas. His analysis of George Wallace is especially relevant in this Trumpian era, as is his take on the strengths and weaknesses of the Clintons. His take on Reagan makes me realize that the mental decline was setting in earlier than I had realized and I was stunned to find out how similar the symptoms of his decline are to the those of Donald Trump. Reagan had the advantage of being well protected by a competent staff and a geniality that made everyone forgive him his lapses.