Even to insiders, Washington, D.C. doings dwell in the absurd. With the primaries under way, I propose a few nonfiction books that take a lighter (if often still outraged) look at national politics.
The first is a seminal look at electoral politics by the dean of Gonzo journalism: Hunter S. Thompson. Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail 1972 covers Nixon's reelection and Eugene McCarthy's hapless attempt to stop him. Thompson puts Nixon next to Satan, but admits he's a fascinating devil. Add drugs and general craziness to the mix, and you have classic Thompson.
Tim Crouse wrote about the other reporters covering the same campaign in The Boys on the Bus. Apparently, Hunter S. Thompson was not alone in his madness or chemical consumption. This may be the press covering the press, but at the time it was a new concept and is still an eye-opener.
After Nixon, Thompson was nowhere near done with politics. He published periodically from the National Affairs Desk of Rolling Stone throughout the rest of the 1970s and 80s. When Bill Clinton came on the scene, Thompson went back in harness and covered the campaign, shamelessly plugging Clinton. The collection of articles, memos, and faxes became Better Than Sex. Just as funny and certainly more cheerful than Fear and Loathing, it is an atmospheric portrait of the spirit of the times.
Showdown at Gucci Gulch, by two Wall Street Journal reporters, covers the 1986 Tax Reform Act. Basically, a few government officials outwit well-heeled lobbyists and pass the act, which has lukewarm public support at best. Dan Rostenkowski has a co-starring role in the success of legislation, which brings fiscal conservatives and liberals together. Thrilling and witty at the same time, this is a compelling read.
Finally, there's This Town, Mark Leibovich's little bomb of a book, taking on pretty much everyone and everything in D.C. as of the 2012 election. Starting with and circling back to the funeral of Tim Russert, Leibovich hilariously savages the Washington mentality and the games people play in Show Business For Ugly People. Think you hate career politicians and the media now? Check out this book for ammunition.
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