First published 1986
Norman Mailer takes on the role of "the reporter" to chronicle two pivotal political gatherings in 1968. He travels first to Miami for the Republican convention, where he witnesses Nixon's transformation from "Tricky Dick" to party hero through the power of the American comeback story. Mailer observes delegates who venerate Nixon for his service to Eisenhower and his political resurrection. He also spots Ronald Reagan's potential as the next rising star, recognizing both the clever rebound from the Goldwater defeat and the pure showbiz appeal. The scene then shifts to Chicago for the Democratic convention, where the atmosphere grows more intense and confrontational. Here Mailer encounters the harsh reality of Mayor Daley's machine and the Chicago police department. He struggles with his own conflicted feelings about the war, the police, and the Democratic establishment while finding Eugene McCarthy brittle and his supporters addicted to defeat. Throughout both conventions, Mailer grapples with a central question about what price he's willing to pay for change in America.
Genres: 20th-century, american, political-science, non-fiction, journalism, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, social-commentary
Setting: Miami, Chicago
Period: 1968
224 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Plume