The Best Man, 1964: To Pick Him, We Must Choose between Nostalgic Extremism and Overwhelming Moderation
Mailer's review of Lyndon B. Johnson's My Hope for America, published two days before the 3 November 1964 presidential election. The second half of the review's title is most likely the work of the editors of Book Week, according to Mailer. Reprinted in 65.14 (partial), Cannibals and Christians (66.11), The Idol and the Octopus (68.11), and 98.7.
“The Best Man, 1964: To Pick Him, We Must Choose between Nostalgic Extremism and Overwhelming Moderation.” Book Week (New York Herald Tribune), 1 November 1964, 1, 7–8. Review of My Hope for America, by Lyndon B. Johnson (Random House, 1964).
The piece appears two days before the 3 November 1964 presidential election between Johnson and Barry Goldwater — the election Johnson would win in the largest popular-vote landslide in American history (61.1% to 38.5%). The “nostalgic extremism” of the subtitle is Goldwater; the “overwhelming moderation” is Johnson. The second half of the review’s title is most likely the work of the editors of Book Week, according to Mailer.
Rpt: 65.14 (partial), Cannibals and Christians (66.11), The Idol and the Octopus (68.11), 98.7.
Related pages
- 1964 | A Vote for Bobby K. — Possibility of a Hero | In the Red Light: A History of the Republican Convention in 1964
- A Farewell to His Honor (61.1) | Norman Mailer on LBJ (65.14) | Cannibals and Christians (66.11) | The Idol and the Octopus: Political Writings by Norman Mailer on the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations (68.11)