Drew Pearson (1897–1969)

Diary collection by the well-known Washington columnist. One flaw -- which may be tied to the originals -- is that there are some significant time-gaps, gaps during which some interesting things might have happened. One surprising fact that comes out is that for all Pearson was regularly reviled in Washington, he seems to have done a lot of back-channel discussions, at least with the Democrats (he has next to nothing, save for Arthur Vandenburg, nice to say about the GOP). There's not quite as much as one would expect about Joe McCarthy, with whom Pearson had a nasty relationship. Pretty interesting read.… (mere)

A sequel to the authors' "Washington Merry-Go-Round" of the previous year, 1931; this book continues to cover Congress and the Presidency (caustically), but also has quite a lot to say about the Supreme Court, the Army, and the Navy, as well as the crime scene in Washington. The chapter on the Supreme Court (which examines each of the then-members, in turn) is quite interesting, as the authors wax indignant about the Court interfering with the legislative process, and preventing experimentation by legislatures. They give a fairly good overview of the development, up through the early 1930s, of the commerce clause. The section on the Army is rather interesting, in particular because Gen. Douglas MacArthur features fairly prominently, as he was Chief of Staff of the Army at the time (and also responsible for clearing the BEF out of Anacostia). For the most part, the authors are hardest on the GOP, though the Democrats (generally the more conservative ones) come in for a few shots. Fiorello LaGuardia generally comes off fairly well in this book (and in the previous book); LaGuardia, at this time, was some months away from being elected Mayor of New York. Definitely a book for history and political junkies.… (mere)

A definite slice of what Washington was like late in the Hoover administration, with a great deal of bitchy gossip about the President, the Senate, the State Department, the House, and the media. Of note is that Pearson mentions himself twice, and lards praise upon his then-newspaper, the Baltimore Sun. How much of what is written is truth, and how much is bitchy gossip, is an open question, though I don't believe there were any libel suits that came out of the book. The Republicans come off very poorly; Hoover in particular gets a whipping. The Democrats, being the party out of power at this point, don't get as much, though "Cactus Jack" Garner, the future Speaker, gets some pokes. (Notably, the odious John Rankin of Mississippi is mentioned as a colourful figure.) Pretty much a historical curio for political animals wanting to see what Washington was like before World War II (in the area that David Brinkley's memoirs "Washington Goes to War" covers).… (mere)

213. The Nine Old Men, by Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen (read 14 Oct 1945) I started reading this book on Oct 1, 1945 and said it was 'very good." There was so much going on while I read this book that I did not comment on it substantively in my diary. Not only was my brother Roman newly home from the war and my sister Colette home on furlough from the Marines and another brother, Verner, going off to the Army, but the Cubs were in the World Series. So my reading was overshadowed by exciting family and sports events..… (mere)