Washington Books and Movies Archives
Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies - Brad Fitch
We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite books and movies. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies."
Brad Fitch (bio), author of Media Relations Handbook, shares his favorite books and movies. (You can see some of Brad's favorite things about living in our nation's capital here.)
Favorite Book
- The Day Lincoln Was Shot (Jim Bishop, 1955). The first time I read this book it felt so much like fiction that I found myself hoping that President Lincoln might not get killed in the end. (Sorry if I spoil it for you, but Old Abe doesn't make it.) This amazing depiction of one of the most important 24 hours in American history includes rich descriptions of Washington in 1865. You'll "see" streets that are not much different from today, and get a feel for 19th Century political intrigue in a post-Civil War capital. Plus you'll hear the story of how a band of terrorists cooked up a plan to kill the president and his entire cabinet -- and nearly succeeded.
Favorite Movies
- Mr Smith Goes to Washington The classic tale of good versus evil, innocence versus indulgence, Jimmy Stewart versus Claude Rains. Inspired by the real life Senator Rush Drew Holt of West Virginia (whose son now serves as a congressman from New Jersey), this is the quintessential Washington movie.
- Advise and Consent This sometimes overlooked movie of Congress probably best portrayed the personalities that inhabited that Great Body of the Senate in the middle part of the 20th Century. Great acting by Henry Fonda, as an embattled Secretary of State Nominee; Walter Pigeon, portraying the Sen. Everett Dirksen-like character; and the great Charles Laughton (yes, the Hunchback of Notre Dame) in his last movie role. It also has the historic value of being the last film the Congress allowed to be shot on its premises -- it disrupted government so much they wouldn't allow filming on Capitol grounds in the future.
- All the President's Men Bob Woodward should be paying royalties to Robert Redford for ensconcing Woodward as the archetype journalist-hero. What most people don't know is that this film almost was never made. Robert Redford funded it with his own money.
For more, also see our Political and Government Classics page.
July 30, 2008 08:07 AM Link Comments (0)
Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies - Jim Bayless
We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite books and movies. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies."
Jim Bayless (bio), a veteran legislative and regulatory attorney who has lived in Washington for more than 25 years, shares his favorite books and movies. (You can see some of Jim's favorite things about living in our nation's capital here.)
Favorite Books
- Manhunt, a thrilling, detailed account of the assassination of President Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth and his several co-conspirators, aiders, and abettors and the frenzied chase and capture.
- Team of Rivals, a masterpiece of how Abe Lincoln prevailed against his much more qualified rivals for the presidential nomination and integrated this extraordinarily accomplished group of political adversaries into his own Cabinet.
Favorite Movies
- Mr Smith Goes to Washington-a Frank Capra-produced classic starring Jimmy Stewart and portraying the fundamental role and operation of the U.S. Senate.
- Advise and Consent (1962)-a classic political novel portraying zealots in the president's party resorting to blackmail to insure the approval of their nominee for Secretary of State; demonstrates the advise-and-consent role of the U.S. Senate; starring Henry Fonda.
- The Seduction of Joe Tynan-another portrayal of the ideological and moral conflicts of being a member of the U.S. Senate; straining his already part-time family life. But it could be a big boost to his career, so he takes it on. Starring Alan Alda.
- No Way Out-a tense thriller starring Kevin Costner and Gene Hackman; a tale of national security and blackmail filmed at the Pentagon and elsewhere around Washington.
- Executive Action (1973)-A group of powerful and wealthy men hires mercenaries to assassinate John F. Kennedy.
- All the President's Men (1976)-True story of how two Washington Post reporters uncovered the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of President Nixon; starring Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford.
For more, also see our Political and Government Classics page.
July 17, 2008 10:07 AM Link Comments (0)
Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies - Peter Loge
We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite books and movies. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies."
Peter Loge (bio), a public affairs professional, shares his favorite books and movies. (You can see some of Peter's favorite things about living in our nation's capital here.)
Favorite Books and Movies
- My taste in DC fiction tends to run to campaign ads and public assurances of 100% support.
One terrific political thriller that takes place largely in Washington is Executive Actions by Gary Grossman – among other things there is scene in one of my favorite restaurants, Tabard Inn.
Of all the DC-centric movies, my favorites include The Day the Earth Stood Still, a classic for so many reasons, and Strangers on a Train, which is a terrific film. I like The American President mostly for the joke about getting lost in Dupont Circle.
For more, also see our Political and Government Classics page.
July 9, 2008 07:57 AM Link Comments (0)
Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies - Jill Kamp Melton
We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite books and movies. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies."
Jill Kamp Melton (bio), a communications consultant, shares her favorite books and movies. (You can see some of Jill's favorite things about living in our nation's capital here.)
Favorite Books and Movies
- As for books and movies, my taste is back in the 19th century. I love anything by Jane Austen and have watched ALL the versions of Pride and Prejudice and Emma many times. The novels by Catherine Cookson that have been made into movies by the BBC for TV are also compelling.
The only modern movie I have liked recently is The Devil Wears Prada, because of the fashion angle. In addition, seeing the personal price that is paid for someone to sacrifice ethics and relationships for position and power could be seen to echo DC shenanigans.
For more, also see our Political and Government Classics page.
April 9, 2008 04:57 PM Link Comments (0)
Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies - Michael Koempel
We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite books and movies. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies."
Michael Koempel (bio), a senior specialist in American National Government for the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress, shares his favorite book and movie. (You can see some of Mike's favorite things about living in our nation's capital here.)
Favorite Book and Movie
- There are many good books and movies about Washington, but my favorite book and movie about Washington are the same: Allen Drury's Advise and Consent. The book, and the movie on which it was based, was written by someone who knew the Senate and Senators very well and respected the institution and its people, captured the essence of congressional politics in a real way, successfully invoked the political backdrop prevailing at the time (anticommunism; there's always a political backdrop), was based loosely on a real event, and, in the case of the movie, was wonderfully cast and directed.
For more, also see our Political and Government Classics page.
April 2, 2008 09:07 AM Link Comments (1)
Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies - Claudia Thurber
We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite books and movies. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies."
Claudia Thurber (bio), a veteran of over twenty-two years of federal government service, shares her favorite books and movies. (You can see some of Claudia's favorite things about living in our nation's capital here.)
Favorite Books
- I am addicted to mysteries so I will limit my selections to those. (There are many good novels, but I will leave those for someone else to mention). There are many good writers who have set their mysteries in DC. Two of my favorites are: David Baldacci's The Camel Club and George P Pelecanos' Right as Rain and The Sweet Forever. Pelecanos is not for the faint of heart. His books are gritty and disturbing, showing a side of DC that few of us know. Nevertheless, I like him!
Favorite Movies
- As to movies, there are many good ones set in DC. Here are a couple of my favorites: Mr Smith Goes to Washington; All The President's Men; No Way Out and, of course, The Exorcist, which has always given tourists something to look for in Georgetown!
For more, also see our Political and Government Classics page.
March 12, 2008 11:07 AM Link Comments (0)
Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies - Bill Noxon
We asked our faculty and authors to share with us some of their favorite books and movies. Their responses are posted in "Faculty Favorites: Books and Movies."
Bill Noxon (bio), a public relations practitioner, shares his favorite book and movie. (You can see some of Bill's favorite things about living in our nation's capital here.)
Favorite Book
- The World is Flat
-- My favorite book (recently) was Tom Friedman's "The World is Flat." I was interested in it for a couple of reasons. I read many of Friedman's columns in the New York Times about the changing nature of the world economy, as well as science, technology and education. He quite often cited our National Science Foundation statistical studies and analyses in building his individual columns. The book dramatically yet eloquently stated a view he championed for years that the rest of the world is slowly catching up to the United States in innovation, wealth generation and in some ways, passing the U.S. in educational achievement. The reality of this "flatness" is in this growing global economy and interaction, and the challenges we have in maintaining world leadership in areas the U.S. often has taken for granted until the dawn of the new century we are now in.
Favorite Movie
- Schindlers List-- My favorite movie is no longer new. But it left my wife and me speechless as we left the theater. Schindler's List left an emotional impression on me about the realities of the Holocaust, and as I recall the evening we first saw it, not only did it leave us speechless, but as we looked around, we saw an entire theater empty with almost no sound, as though we were caught in a stuper that rendered us totally overcome by the horrors of the time, seeing it in ways we had never seen or known about previously. The end of the movie, where former Holocaust survivors get together, and stories were shared, drove home the emotional experience to a level that seems indescribable, even now.
For more, also see our Political and Government Classics page.
March 8, 2008 11:07 AM Link Comments (0)
