STATES IN CRISIS: Politics in Ten American States, 1950-1962

by James Reichley ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 30, 1964

James Reichley capsulates the recent political history of ten states, then projects the practicality of these events on to a theoretical plane in order to discuss the forces which motivate politics and politicians. His selection of the ten stems either from the peculiarity of situation (as in Virginia, Nebraska and Ohio) or from the chance that the state has fostered a figure for the '64 Presidential campaign (Michigan- Romney, New York-Rookefeller, Pennsylvania- Scranton, California- Nixon, for examples). The first section is the most interesting because of the intrigue of the current events which the author has collated; in the second part, the author tells what is needed to get elected and to stay in power in terms so realistically ""inside"" that he maintains the level of interest. He falls short by mistiming the stories included; the drama in the tension of everyday politics is consequently understated, and the excitement that comes through is due to the factual material, not to the author's ability as a stylist or organizer of material. The theoretical section contains nothing novel,-- in fact, in States of Crisis no crisis is stated, but information worth knowing is made available.

Pub Date: May 30, 1964

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Univ. of North Carolina Press

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1964

Categories: NONFICTION