A Walk Toward Oregon: A Memoir

Like the more gifted Bernard DeVoto (who might have been his teacher at Harvard had not the Depression intervened), Alvin Josephy (1915- ) mucked about in journalism and fiction writing for some years before finding his métier doing history--in Josephy's case, the history of American Indians. Not surprisingly, Josephy writes gracefully, and parts of his memoir--the stories of his New York City childhood and his heroic World War II service, for instance--carry real emotional punch. Nevertheless, Josephy easily slides over important subjects he doesn't care to discuss, such as the dissolution of his first marriage, the difficulties of writing history from oral tradition, and the decisions he made as editor of American Heritage. Furthermore, although Josephy is proud of his New Deal liberalism, he pulls punches when describing the political personalities of his era. For instance, he describes Harry Bridges as "a tough Australian-born dockworker" and Howard Fast as a "successful author honored for his writings by the Soviet Union" without noting that both were Communists. In other words, early on the reader begins to suspect that Josephy's political views were either more naïve or a bit further to the left than he now cares to admit. Also depressing is his glorification of all things Indian, including Native American superstition--as if rattles and medicine bundles were privileged in a way that the mumbo jumbo of Mexican Catholic priests was not. Josephy worked at Time magazine a few years after Whittaker Chambers, the nemesis of Alger Hiss, had resigned. Josephy's family was nurturing, Chambers' dysfunctional. Josephy's autobiography is nicely structured, Chambers' Witness (1952), misshapen and overlong. Nevertheless, in Chambers' autobiography we encounter a soul, here only the persona of a facile writer lucky enough to have chosen a topic popular in his own age.

Mr. Josephy is 84 years old but this personal account of his "walk", which takes him from the sidewalks of NYC to the mountains of Oregon, from the nineteens to the nineties, is more contemporary and intriguing than any of the more high profile accounts of the 20th century recently published.I'm a big fan of the author's, having read his books about the American Indians (Josephy does not call them "Native Americans") and their struggles. An Indian friend of mine credits him -- by exposing their plight through the articles he wrote in the 1950's and 1960's in Life and Time magazines -- as being the individual most influential in changing the perception of the Indian in this country.But the book is about much more than that. Like an intellectual Forrest Gump, Josephy witnessed and participated in much of America's history this century. He begins as a kid on the west side of NYC, goes to Harvard briefly then leaves because of the depression. Gets a job in the 30's as a screenwriter at MGM and as he travels by bus to California, he witnesses the exodus of the dust bowl families and becomes committed to helping the less fortunate of this country. And he does.He works as a journalist for newspapers, magazines, radio, the Marine Corps; interviews Trotsky, tapes the invasion of Guam as a WW2 Marine sergeant war correspondent as the enemy is firing on him...and receives a bronze star, fights for Indian recognition and rights, helps change the U.S. environmental policies, works for JFK, marches with Martin Luther King...His is such a fascinating account that it makes history personal and alive. We should all read this not only for the facts of our past, but also for the example Mr. Josephy has set. The "lesson" that much can be accomplished by one person with courage who cares would be well learned by schoolchildren and adults of all ages. I recommend this book to each of them.

There have been several 20th century retrospectives published recently by high profile authors, but none as fascinating as "A Walk Toward Oregon" by Alvin Josephy. Here's a book written by a man that has "walked the walk" from NYC to the west coast -- from the early part of the 20th century to present day -- with stops in Mexico and the WW 2 Pacific along the way. Mr. Josephy's personal account and participation in some of the most significant events of the 20th century reads like a novel, yet informs like no history book I've ever read. His account of the streets of NYC as a kid in the early 1900's; trying to find a job during the depression (he did...selling stamps in Macy's); interviewing Trotsky as a young reporter; taping the invasion of Guam as a Marine sergeant; writing for Time and Life about the American Indians and changing the public's perception of their plight; serving with Kennedy; marching with MLK; and on and on. Yet it's easy to read and fascinating.I think "A Walk Toward Oregon" should be at the top of reading lists for schools and book groups. I enthusiastically recommend it!