5557. Journals 1952-2000, by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. Edited by Andrew Schlesinger and Stephen Schlesinger (read 16 May 2018) This is the 12th Schlesinger book I've read. I look on it as the sequel to his A Life in the Twentieth Century Innocent Beginnings 1917-1950 which I read clear back on 13 Feb 2001. I should have read this book when it was published in 2007 but it is still excellent and enjoyable reading even though Schlesinger has been dead since 28 Feb 2007. It tells of his life from 1952 to 2000, consisting of journal entries he made during that tme. It is edited by two of his sons and as far as one can tell the journal has not been changed from what he wrote periodically during the years. It is always interesting to see his comments on the people he associated with and observed. He was a very talented and opinionated observer and participant in the political life of the country. I often agreed with his outlook but not always. His support for JFK and Bobby Kennedy resonated well with my position in the years involved, but he was not as supportive as I thought he should have been of LBJ in his domestic policies at least and I was disturbed that he did not even vote for Jimmy Carter in either 1976 or 1980. I am a great believer in voting for the better person who has a chance to win and it was bothersome that he did not vote for the Democratic presidential candidate in 1976 and 1980.. But the account over the years was full of interest and the gossip and the name-dropping actually made the book high in vivid historical fascination, I thought.. ( )

Impressive and long view of a history and policy career starting with Adlai Stevenson and ending with the start of the Bush years. Schlesinger has a lot of friends in the higher circles, and it's interesting to hear of his conversations and portraits of them.

On a side note, he mentions my hometown early on, and describes it is full of 'juvenile delinquents' and the 'worst crowd in years'. Not much has changed in 60 years, it seems. ( )

Very interesting review of historian Schlesinger's involvement in history. Brought back many memories of the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon eras. Arthur is definitely a name dropper! And, while pleading poverty how did he manage such a courtly lifestyle? ( )

A wonderful recapturing of some of Mr. Sclesinger;s pivitol moments, as well as this Country's pivotal moments of history. ( )