Required Reading: A Decade of Political Wit and Wisdom

by Eugene J. McCarthy

Articles, essays, and columns by the former senator and presidential candidate tackle a wide range of issues--including defense, the media, the race for the presidency, and the responsibility of public officials

Genres: Nonfiction

299 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1988

About the author

Eugene Joseph "Gene" McCarthy was an American politician, poet & a long-time member of the Congress from Minnesota. He served in the House from 1949 to 1959 & the Senate from 1959 to 1971.
In the 1968 presidential election, McCarthy was the first candidate to challenge incumbent Lyndon B. Johnson for the Democratic nomination for president, running on an anti-Vietnam War platform. The unexpected vote total he achieved in the New Hampshire primary led Johnson to withdraw from the race & lured Robert F. Kennedy into the contest. He would unsuccessfully seek the presidency five times altogether.