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Paul Begala on What Obama's Reading
The president-elect has been reading a life of Franklin Roosevelt and appears to be taking to heart history's lessons on how to fix the Depression.
How wonderful to have a literate president once again. I can still recall scrambling for a copy of David Ellwood’s Poor Support to get a sense of what was influencing Bill Clinton’s thinking on welfare reform, and the wide-ranging dinners he would convene with authors and historians, poets, and playwrights.
The presidential reading list is a window into the president’s mind. I still chuckle when I think of the Bush White House claiming George W. Bush had plowed through Camus’ L’Etranger. And book sales soared when the First Reader was photographed carrying a copy of Bernie Goldberg’s moronic screed Bias.
And so bibliophiles everywhere swooned when President-elect Barack Obama mentioned that he was reading a book on FDR. The New York Daily News has confirmed Obama was referring to Jonathan Alter’s The Defining Moment. (In fact, I’d told CNN’s Larry King that I’d heard Obama was reading Alter’s book a few weeks ago.)
Barack Obama is comfortable in the world of ideas, he is rooted in the life of the mind. And now he is charged with translating those ideas into reality.
I could not be happier or more impressed. Alter has a first-class writing style and a first-class sense of the moment. The book, published in 2006, was not intended as a veiled memorandum of advice for the 44th president, but in some ways it may have become just that.
Alter recounts the story of an exuberantly hopeful new president—winning the White House after overcoming enormous obstacles. As he prepares to take office, the ongoing economic collapse worsens. Convinced the Depression was caused by incompetent Republican economic theories, he refuses to be used as a prop.
The failed Republican administration wanted to convince the public that the Depression was a lightning strike: random, unavoidable, and tragic. FDR knew it was a case of arson—and he made sure the country understood the man-made causes of the collapse.
In his remarkable speech the night he won the Iowa caucuses, Senator Obama spoke of a defining moment. “They said this country was too divided, too disillusioned to ever come together around a common purpose,” he said. “But on this January night, at this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn’t do.”
And one of the closing ads of his campaign was called “Defining Moment.” Could this be an echo of Alter? I don’t know for certain, but this we know: Barack Obama is comfortable in the world of ideas, he is rooted in the life of the mind. And now he is charged with translating those ideas into reality.
Maybe I’m reaching, but I thought of FDR when Barack Obama wisely resisted attending George W. Bush’s G-20 economic summit. And again when he reminds the public we have one president at a time. And yet again when I see Obama preparing for a clean break and a fundamental change in America’s economic policy.
And I am comforted that the busiest man in the world has made it a priority to read history.
Paul Begala is a CNN political contributor and a research professor at Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute. He was a senior strategist for the 1992 Clinton-Gore campaign and served as Counselor to President Clinton in the White House.
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SWPAnnA
Not surprising that the Selected One is causing swoons because he reads. Geez! Does that mean we can expect decisions to be made upon the basis of whatever he's reading at the moment? In my view, that makes him an ACADEMIC and he should be reading about the Presidency of Woodrow Wilson for chrissake.
cheeky
I swooned like a nerd when Obama said he was reading a new book about FDR. I knew it was Alter's...I swooned mainly because I'm reading it too..
mrcreosote
"And I am comforted that the busiest man in the world has made it a priority to read history."
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
Studying history is necessary to avoid repeating past mistakes. This
saying comes from the writings of George Santayana, a Spanish-born
American author of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Sienna607
Well I'm a shameless nerd so I'm even excited that someone else is excited enough about reading to make it the subject of an article! See?-This is just one more reason to love Paul Begala. I'm supremely curious about what our leaders are reading. One of the first things I do upon walking into someone's house is take a gander at their bookshelves-I find them extremely revealing and insightful, an almost intimate portrait of personality. Paul Begala-you're the best! Keep bringin' it to us! Speaking of books-I'd love your autograph for my 16 year old son's copy of "Buck Up..." any way to get it?!
skinnyblackgirl
I have to agree. I'm just happy to have a president that actually READS and THINKS!
cfiler
I'm so glad we are going to have a president who is intelligent. It's a shame that the United States see's intellectuals as "elitist", and views academics as un-American.
rightconservative
The Bible? He needs to.
kokuaguy
rightonconservative -- where would you suggest Obama start in the Bible -- the part about stoning gays and adulterers? Or the part about not eating shellfish? Or perhaps the part where Jesus of Nazareth told his followers to "judge not", "turn the other cheek", and love the meek and poor? Aren't you afraid he'll read the part about the rich man's chances of getting into heaven? Here's a link to some of your favorite parts, no doubt: http://www.thebricktestament.com/
Sienna607
For "rightconservative": Aside from your name being redundant, re. your "Bible" comment is inappropriate since church and state are separate in this country. However, I'm compelled to say that I feel Obama has embodied a most gracious attitude toward his opponents and to others, so it boggles the mind as to what you could be referring. Is "rightconservative" like a super-duper conservative?
ShyLaBoof
Bush is one of those guys that squinches up his eyes when he sees a "SPOILER ALERT"
shyamalee
How fantastic to have a literate President again! After Bush completely shattered the image of an intellectual America and made USA the laughing stock!
Kewalo
Paul, I hope you come around and keep us up to date on what he's reading. It's kind of like having a window into his mind.
And it makes me swoon too.
Coolingstar9
Obama gives us the hope, the spirit of success.
Emerald1943
Great post, Paul! I'm a big fan of yours!
How wonderful to have a president-elect who actually reads!!!
His intellect is stunning...and as far as I can see, he is handling the transition beautifully. He must "walk on egg shells" until Jan. 20th, but after that, expect the best from this man! I believe he will deliver! (Is that swooning?)
CracklinMcSnaps
Nobody can conclude whether or not Bush reads or not. It's something the left wants to believe in an effort to feel comfortably superior.
edson2
BO reads, Karl Marx maybe. Destroying a country has to be an art form. The more he ruins this great country the more you lefty loons will wake-up. It won't make you pant wetters realize what is going on until you see highest taxes, lowest health care just like the socialist countries of the world. mediocrity in a shiny suit. Go SARAH kick butt.
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