First published 1977
The 1976 Democratic National Convention unfolds through Richard Reeves's observant eye as delegates, politicians, and party operatives navigate the complex machinery of American politics. Behind the carefully orchestrated television spectacle, real people make deals, form alliances, and pursue their ambitions in hotel rooms and convention hall corridors. Reeves captures the tension between public performance and private calculation as the Democratic Party works to select its presidential nominee. Through carefully observed moments and revealing encounters, the novel exposes how political theater actually operates when the cameras stop rolling. The story reveals the human drama that drives the democratic process, showing how individual motivations and institutional pressures shape the decisions that affect millions of Americans.
Genres: 20th-century, american, political-science, politics, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: behind-the-scenes, political-intrigue
Setting: United States
Period: 1976
246 pages · Hardcover · see notes for publisher info