Word: perlsteinã
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Dates: during 2001-2001
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...Clinton’s adoption of many of Reagan’s political positions in 1995—Perlstein argues that Clinton actually took many of his positions from Goldwater’s example. While his assertion that Clinton and Goldwater share many of the same stances is doubtful, Perlstein??s essential point is correct. Post-Reagan, only a New Democrat like Clinton could have retaken the White House from the GOP. The entire underpinning of American politics had changed by the 1990s. But while Perlstein astutely tells the story of Goldwater’s rise to national...
...Perlstein??s greatest strength is his ability to craft a good narrative—even if, at 516 pages, Before the Storm is a whopper. In the book’s opening chapters Perlstein nicely depicts the Arizona cowboy milieu from which Goldwater emerged, even as he reinforces the emphasis the stately senator placed on duty throughout his life. It’s also a narrative that expertly explores the political landscape of the times. Despite his own leftist views, Perlstein carefully manages to leave his personal political biases out of the story, giving the reader an enjoyable...
...Perlstein??s attention to detail is part of that resurrection. Amusing anecdotes appear often throughout the book, helping along a text which, while well-written, could have been significantly shorter and just as effective. If a politician was militant and conservative in the postwar era, the reader quickly learns, then he was automatically labeled another “Hitler.” While driving to work, Charlton Heston suddenly converts to Goldwaterism. Writes Perlstein, “Looking up at an ‘In Your Heart, You Know He’s Right’ billboard...
...concludes, “At that there seemed nothing more to say. It was time to close the book.” Goldwater’s post-1964 life, and how the Republican Party was able to make such a quick and remarkable recovery, are barely touched upon. Despite Perlstein??s claim that his is only a book about how the conservative revolution began, Before the Storm’s sudden ending leaves much to be desired...