Old Faces of 1976: A Few Thousand Fairly Well-Chosen Words on Jerry Ford, Nelson Rockefeller, Teddy Kennedy, George Wallace, Hubert Humph

Journalist Richard Reeves provides revealing portraits of major figures cerca mid-1970's such as Hubert Humprhey, Gerald Ford, Senator Henry (Scoop) Jackson, Ronald Reagan, etc. Reeves claims that Ted Kennedy has the brains to be President, and credits colorless Governor Hugh Carey for rescuing a then-bankrupt New York City. Reeves also does something smart that journalists rarely do - he asks Senators who among them should be President (their top choice was Henry ¨Scoop¨ Jackson). Ironically, his portrait of mediocre NY Mayor Abe Beame (1906-2001) is most inspiring. This poor immigrant pulled himself from poverty and succeeded at every level (except mayor) through persistence and determination. This book was timed for the 1976 Presidential contest, yet still makes interesting reading for political junkies and others. Also, if I recall correctly, a certain Governor from Plains, Georgia who got the job didn't make the cut.