Drew, Elizabeth 1935-

views updated

DREW, Elizabeth 1935-

PERSONAL: Born November 16, 1935, in Cincinnati, OH; daughter of William J. (a businessperson) and Estelle (Jacobs) Brenner; married J. Patterson Drew, April 11, 1964 (died September 2, 1970); married David Webster, September 26, 1981. Education: Wellesley College, B.A., 1957.

ADDRESSES: Home and office—3000 Woodland Dr. NW, Washington, DC, 20008-3543. Agent—Morton Janklow, 375 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022.

CAREER: Writer magazine, Boston, MA, editorial assistant, 1957-59; Congressional Quarterly, Washington, DC, writer and editor, 1959-64; freelance writer, 1964-67; Atlantic Monthly, Washington, DC, Washington editor, 1967-73; host of television program "30 Minutes With," Public Broadcasting System (PBS), Washington, DC, 1971-73; New Yorker magazine, New York, NY, writer, 1973-92; commentator for Washington Post-Newsweek stations in Washington, DC, and various other cities, 1973—; Monitor Radio, commentator, 1992—.

MEMBER: Phi Beta Kappa.

AWARDS, HONORS: Society of Magazine writers award for excellence, 1971; Wellesley College Alumnae Achievement Award and DuPont Columbia Award for broadcast journalism, both 1973; D.H.L. from Hood College and Yale University, both 1976, Trinity College, 1978, Reed College, 1979, and Williams Colleges, 1981; Ladies's Home Journal Woman of the Year in Communications award, 1977; Missouri Medal for distinguished service in Journalism, 1979; LL.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, 1981; Sidney Hillman award, 1983; Books across the Sea Ambassador of Honor award, 1984; New York Library Literary Lion award, 1985; Edward Weintal prize, 1988; L.H.D. from George Washington University, 1995; L.H.D. from Trinity College, 2000.

WRITINGS:

Washington Journal: The Events of 1973-74, Random House (New York, NY), 1975.

American Journal: The Events of 1976, Random House (New York, NY), 1977.

Senator, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1979.

Portrait of an Election: The 1980 Presidential Campaign, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1981.

Politics and Money: The New Road to Corruption, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1983.

Campaign Journal: The Political Events of 1983-1984, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1985.

Election Journal: Political Events of 1987-1988, W. Morrow (New York, NY), 1989.

On the Edge: The Clinton Presidency, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1994.

Showdown: The Struggle between the Gingrich Congress and the Clinton White House, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1996.

Whatever It Takes: The Real Struggle for Political Power in America, Viking (New York, NY), 1997.

The Corruption of American Politics: What Went Wrong and Why, Carol Publishing Group (Secaucus, NJ), 1999.

Citizen McCain, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 2002.

Fear and Loathing in George W. Bush's America, New York Review Books (New York, NY), 2004.

SIDELIGHTS: "All my writing in some form or another is meant to illuminate the political process," Elizabeth Drew told Stella Dong of Publishers Weekly. Drew's books, which were originally serialized in the New Yorker, all focus on aspects of modern American politics. Explaining what motivated her to write about politics and politicians, Drew related, "Those people in Washington are deciding matters which mean a great deal to us, which is why we have a stake in understanding how they do it, what they're like—and in raising their standards as high as we possibly can. My job, as I see it, is to explain how it works and why it works as best I can."

Drew's first volume, Washington Journal: The Events of 1973-74, chronicles the Watergate incident from Spiro Agnew's resignation in September, 1973, to Richard Nixon's exit from office in August of the following year. According to critics, Drew presents an objective, accurate account of the events of the episode. "Her journal is unique among Watergate books in the author's refusal to pass judgment, argue a thesis, or proffer any 'inside story,'" commented William V. Shannon of the New York Times Book Review. "Rather, it is a sober, thorough and sensitive report of what is known to have been said and done by the many participants in the Watergate drama during its final year. The book's distinctive value lies in its careful rendering of the whole scene and of each event." Greil Marcus of Rolling Stone concurred, "Unquestionably the best book yet on Watergate, and conceivably, the best we will ever get." Chicago Sun Times reviewer Peggy Constantine voiced, "This is one Watergate book—of some 200—that surely will last."

In her second work, Drew recorded her impressions of the 1976 election against the backdrop of the American bicentennial and the issues before the nation. Similar in format to Washington Journal, American Journal: The Events of 1976 also was warmly received. Godfrey Hodgson of the Washington Post Book Review assessed it as "thoroughly successful" and "one of the more intelligent and readable books I have read about an American presidential election, written by a reporter who combines in a way that is sadly rare, access to accurate information about what is going on with some sense of what this means to those who are not insiders." The Houston Post's Arthur Wiese commented, "Drew's work in consistently thoughtful, witty, perceptive and reassuringly free from bias. American Journal is grand reading, entertaining, enlightening, and strangely poignant." And Alyn Brodsky, in a Miami Herald review, remarked that Drew offers "both delicious reading (no other cliché will do) and an awareness of how much we missed by concentrating on the overall picture." However, Richard Reeves, who also wrote a book on the election and bicentennial, noted in the New York Times Book Review that "although the book is marked by a clear intelligence … American Journal just doesn't work. It is without passion; chances are not taken; it is edited as if readers had no other sources of information, sometimes reducing copy to a style reminiscent of 'see Spot run.'"

In writing Senator, Drew followed one senator's activities, interviewed other senators, and used her years of experience covering Capitol Hill to show how the Senate functions. In the process she revealed that "there are a lot more good ones [politicians] out there than we think." For ten days she trailed Senator John C. Culver of Iowa as he worked with his colleagues and aides, met with constituents, and spent time relaxing with his family. Her observations illustrate the pressured, hectic life of a senator, especially an active one who is concerned with a broad range of issues.

Senator elicited praise from critics such as Bruce Dexter of the Los Angeles Times who wrote, "Drew brings to the work the same narrative gifts and meticulous prose along with an objectivity so rare in the era of 'involved' journalism." Eric Redman of the Washington Post Book World felt Drew successfully portrayed the "demand and tedium of Senate life," and recommended, "This is the book to read if you're wondering why so many members of Congress are declining to seek reelection."

Portrait of an Election: The 1980 Presidential Campaign, Drew's fourth book, reviews the political scene from November, 1979, to November, 1980. Drew begins her chronicle by discussing the candidates' decisions to run in the presidential race, including Senator Edward Kennedy's reluctance to throw his hat into the ring. In more than three hundred fifty pages, the author characterizes and appraises the major candidates—Anderson, Bush, Carter, Kennedy, and Reagan—and describes both the Republican and Democratic conventions, highlighting the particularly tense moments, such as the premature announcement of Gerald Ford, instead of George Bush, as Ronald Reagan's running mate. Drew also outlines the campaign strategies used by the office seekers, including memos on strategy from Carter and Reagan advisers. To the events she documents, Drew adds commentary and personal interviews with the candidates, making Portrait of an Election a record of the pre-election year as seen by a Washington insider.

Drew continues her writings on modern politics with Politics and Money: The New Road to Corruption. As the title suggests, this work examines the role of the "great rivers of money" that have cascaded through recent congressional and presidential elections. She found that much of this money had dubious origins and was put to dubious ends. The revelations in this book, and in Drew's other studies, are widely credited as major influences on the push to reform campaign finance laws. In this, Drew was successful in her mission to help "bring the nation back closer to the fundamental principles of democracy." In Campaign Journal: The Political Events of 1983-1984 and Election Journal: Political Events of 1987-1988, Drew utilizes a diary format, as well as in-depth interviews with Washington insiders, to unravel the complexities of those years' presidential races.

Interviews were also a driving force behind Drew's next work, On the Edge: The Clinton Presidency. In her research for this book, she interviewed main political figures from Capitol Hill to the Cabinet to the White House. Drew, "clear-eyed and judicious … gives the Clinton team credit for its substantial accomplishments, but she documents personal, organizational, and policy inadequacies that should disturb even Clinton loyalists," wrote Mary Carroll in Booklist. Even with only eighteen months of material to work with, and without the benefit of historical hindsight, Drew is able to make a strong analysis of a dynamic, multifaceted president. Michael Johnston wrote in America that this book "portrays a man and an Administration constantly living 'on the edge.' On the Edge explicates the modern Presidency and its countervailing forces." It also has much to say about the modern stage of politics and social life in America. "Years from now, anyone wondering why Americans living in the peace and comparative prosperity of the mid-1990's were so disenchanted with their leaders will find much to consider in Drew's book," Johnston wrote.

Drew's next book, Showdown: The Struggle between the Gingrich Congress and the Clinton White House stands almost as a companion piece to On the Edge. Much of this book is a portrait of Clinton's opposite number, then-Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Again, Drew strives for exhaustive detail, made possible by her observation and interviewing of pertinent figures. Some critics have commented that the meticulous detail given each topic in several cases is out of proportion to the actual importance of the topic. Others have applauded Drew's unerring sense of focus. Carroll wrote in Booklist of Drew's "vivid, textured portraits" and "vital perspective on both the short-term political motives of the various sides and the long-term political, social, and economic consequences" of their visions. Christopher Georges, writing in the Washington Monthly, agreed that Drew was level-headed in her depictions: "[Drew] doesn't overreach. Political analysts can't seem to resist linking congressional and presidential debacles to grander points about the failure of the System… Drew sticks to the nuts and bolts."

Drew returns to her examination of campaign finance improprieties with Whatever It Takes: The Real Struggle for Political Power in America, the story of the 1996 presidential campaign and the political interest groups who raised funds for the candidates. The monies, both 'hard' and 'soft', that pour in from the interest groups frequently bypass campaign finance laws, which can make for a corrupt, uneven presidential race, a fact which Drew works to explicate. Again, Drew bases her book on careful detailing and examinations of the people around the candidates. Many critics found that her continued reliance on this technique made for dry, sterile text. "The inevitable result of Drew's outside-the-Beltway phobia is a narrative studded with Washington talking heads and little else…. As she declares … in what may be an inadvertent self-portrait, 'Washington is filled with driven, humorless people,'" wrote Walter Shapiro in the Washington Monthly. Other critics found the insights in this book both interesting and informative. Whatever It Takes is "highly recommended for all collections," concluded Patricia Hatch in Library Journal.

The Corruption of American Politics: What Went Wrong And Why, Drew's next book, traces the degeneration of the U.S. government since Watergate. Among the growing cancers Drew finds in modern politics are that money plays too big a role, while ethics and intelligence play too small a role; the result is another problem in itself—Americans are losing faith in their government. Michael A. Genovese expressed in Library Journal that Drew "has written a profoundly important and disturbing work … a portrait of the evil effects of big money on the political system." Again, one of Drew's main focuses here is the need for campaign finance reform. In The Corruption of American Politics Drew "nimbly brings to life the machinations on Capitol Hill and the White House with fresh perspective, behind-the-scenes detail and convincing analysis…. In fact, Drew's examination of campaign finances makes a compelling narrative," wrote Richard L. Berke in the New York Times BookReview. What is Drew's prescription for ending government corruption? A reviewer for Business Week noted that the solution "lies in voter revulsion…. Drew's message: Hold your nose, but vote."

With Citizen McCain, Drew continues her "franchise in instant beltway political history," as Mary Carroll explained in Booklist. The titular allusion to Orson Welles's crooked Citizen Kane is not carried out here—Drew honors Senator McCain's brave and honorable deeds, particularly in his crusade for campaign finance reform. "Drew's keen portrayal gives hope to the reader looking for elected officials who are dedicated to draining the campaign-financing swamp," wrote Karl Helicher in Library Journal. However, the focus on the man may have obscured important details of his endeavors. "Perhaps because Drew knows the history and context of the campaign finance struggle so well … she provides little of either in this slim volume," questioned Robin Toner in the New York Times. "Instead, she concentrates on McCain's thoughts, strategies, and moods as he pressed his fight." Many critics found the book's tone in regards to McCain inappropriate; in National Review, Richard Lowry called Citizen McCain a "short hagiography … [Drew] chronicles here the utterly forgettable legislative minutiae, relieved only by periodic gushing pronouncements about McCain's virtue, courage, and kindness to small children and puppies." Regardless, McCain and his story are worth examination. Dori DeSpain concluded in School Library Journal that "the saga that is Citizen McCain provides much-needed insight."

Constantly following the ever-changing world of American politics, Drew authored Fear and Loathing in George W. Bush's America, a book outlining the massive changes that took place during Bush's presidency. These changes, Drew writes, were almost all negative. Divisiveness that began in Washington extended out to divide the whole country. Drew states that this "brought out bitterness and knife-wielding of a sort that Washington has seldom seen … the increasing unwillingness to compromise is not only blocking legislation but, it is not overdramatic to say, is subverting fundamental concepts of democracy."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

periodicals

America, January 30, 1982, review of Portrait of an Election: The 1980 Presidential Campaign, p. 78; May 6, 1995, Michael Johnston, review of On the Edge: The Clinton Presidency, p. 26.

American Enterprise, March, 1995, Brock Yates, review of On the Edge, pp. 85-86.

American Prospect, November 23, 1999, Micah L. Sifry, review of The Corruption of American Politics: What Went Wrong and Why, p. 77.

American Spectator, May, 1984, review of Politics and Money: The New Road to Corruption, p. 26; December, 1984, review of Politics and Money, p. 25; December, 1994, review of On the Edge, p. 76; July, 1996, Philip Terzian, review of Showdown: The Struggle between the Gingrich Congress and the Clinton White House, pp. 11-15; July, 1997, John H. Fund, review of Whatever It Takes: The Real Struggle for Political Power in America, pp. 64-65.

Antioch Review, spring, 1995, review of On the Edge, p. 243.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 15, 1999, Rebecca Carr, "The Culture of Money: Longtime Political Writer Elizabeth Drew Explores the Assault on a Political System in Which It's Not Who You Know but How Much You've Got," p. L10.

Best Sellers, November, 1983, review of Politics and Money, p. 301; May, 1985, review of Campaign Journal: The Political Events of 1983-1984, p. 67.

Booklist, June 15, 1983, review of Politics and Money, p. 1303; January 1, 1985, review of Campaign Journal, p. 603; February 15, 1989, review of Election Journal: Political Events of 1987-1988, p. 962; October 1, 1994, Mary Carroll, review of On the Edge, p. 186; February 15, 1996, Mary Carroll, review of Showdown, p. 962; June 1, 1999, Mary Carroll, review of The Corruption of American Politics, p. 1739; March 1, 2002, review of Citizen McCain, p. 1050.

Book World, September 4, 1983, review of Politics and Money, p. 1; March 17, 1985, review of Campaign Journal, p. 1; November 6, 1994, review of On the Edge, p. 5; April 7, 1996, of Showdown, p. 5; July 18, 1999, review of The Corruption of American Politics, p. 11.

Boston Globe, December 13, 1977; June 3, 1979.

Business Week, September 5, 1983, review of Politics and Money, p. 8; November 28, 1994, review of On the Edge, p. 20; July 8, 1996, review of On the Edge, p. 15; May 26, 1997, Howard Gleckman, review of Whatever It Takes, p. 19; August 30, 1999, review of The Corruption of American Politics, p. 19.

Chicago Sun Times, August 15, 1977.

Choice, January, 1982, review of Portrait of an Election, p. 682; October, 1996, review of Showdown, p. 360.

Christian Century, April 12, 1989, review of Election Journal, p. 394.

Christian Science Monitor, November 9, 1977; December 7, 1984, review of Politics and Money, p. B16; January 3, 1995, Marshall Ingwerson, review of On the Edge, p. 13.

Economist, January 21, 1984, review of Politics and Money, p. 83.

Entertainment Weekly, December 2, 1994, review of On the Edge, p. 65.

Foreign Affairs, March, 1995, David C. Hendrickson, review of On the Edge, p. 151.

Fortune, July 8, 1996, review of On the Edge, p. 30.

Guardian Weekly, September 25, 1983, review of Politics and Money, p. 17.

Houston Chronicle, September 1, 1996, John W. Sloan, "Ride the Seesaw of Gingrich and Clinton Fortunes," p. 21.

Houston Post, November 13, 1977.

Human Events, March 17, 1984, review of Washington Journal: The Events of 1973-74, p. 17.

Journal of American Studies, August, 1982, review of Portrait of an Election, p. 303.

Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 1983, review of Politics and Money, p. 744; December 15, 1984, review of Campaign Journal, p. 1181; February 1, 1989, review of Election Journal, p. 177; September 15, 1994, review of On the Edge, p. 1238; February 1, 1996, review of Showdown, p. 192; June 15, 1999, review of The Corruption of American Politics, p. 933; March 1, 2002, review of Citizen McCain, p. 304.

Kliatt Paperback Book Guide, winter, 1985, review of Politics and Money, p. 47.

Library Journal, August, 1983, review of Politics and Money, p. 1469; April 15, 1985, review of Campaign Journal, p. 65; April 15, 1989, review of Election Journal, p. 89; October 15, 1994, review of On the Edge, p. 74; March 15, 1996, review of Showdown, p. 85; July, 1997, Patricia Hatch, review of Whatever It Takes, p. 106; June 1, 1999, Michael A. Genovese, review of The Corruption of American Politics, p. 140; April 1, 2002, Karl Helicher, review of Citizen McCain, p. 118.

Los Angeles Times Book Review, June 3, 1979; September 19, 1983, Carolyn See, review of Politics and Money, pp. 12-13; May 5, 1985, Harry S. Ashmore, review of Campaign Journal, p. 4; November 20, 1994, review of On the Edge, p. 2; March 24, 1996, review of Showdown.

Miami Herald, September 18, 1977.

Nation, March 24, 1984, review of Politics and Money, p. 355.

National Forum, winter, 1985, review of Politics and Money, p. 47.

National Review, September 30, 1983, Thomas W. Skladony, review of Politics and Money, p. 1216; August 9, 1985, Gary Maloney, review of Campaign Journal, p. 43; June 3, 2002, Richard Lowry, "McCain Strain," p. 46.

New Leader, December 16, 1985, review of Campaign Journal, p. 21; February 13, 1995, Steven V. Roberts, review of On the Edge, p. 19; August 9, 1999, Andrew Glass, review of The Corruption of American Politics, p. 14.

New Republic, September 5, 1983, review of Politics and Money, p. 28; March 13, 1995, Nicholas Lemann, review of On the Edge, p. 31.

Newsweek, October 13, 1975.

New York Review of Books, January 12, 1995, review of On the Edge, p. 3; June 6, 1996, review of Showdown, p. 11; August 14, 1997, review of Whatever It Takes, p. 4; August 12, 1999, Lars-Erik Nelson, review of The Corruption of American Politics, p. 9.

New York Times, November 4, 1994, Michiko Kakutani, review of On the Edge, p. C29; June 30, 2002, Robin Toner, "I Can Be Your Hero," p. 15.

New York Times Book Review, September 14, 1975; September 11, 1977; May 13, 1979; September 11, 1983, Dennis H. Wrong, review of Politics and Money, p. 12; September 16, 1984, Dennis H. Wrong, review of Politics and Money, p. 42; July 1, 1984, William V. Shannon, review of Washington Journal, p. 28; March 17, 1985, Nicholas Lemann, review of Campaign Journal, p. 20; April 2, 1989, Cory Dean, review of Election Journal, p. 29; November 27, 1994, Godfrey Hodgson, review of On the Edge, p. 19; December 4, 1994, review of On the Edge, p. 79; November 5, 1995, review of On the Edge, p. 36; December 3, 1995, review of On the Edge, p. 88; April 14, 1996, Matthew Cooper, review of Showdown, p. 24; February 23, 1997, review of Showdown, p. 24; September 19, 1999, Richard L. Berke, review of The Corruption of American Politics, p. 15.

Nieman Reports, spring, 1995, Joseph Sterne, review of On the Edge, pp. 63-64.

Policy Review, August-September, 1999, Todd Lindberg, review of Money and Politics, p. NA.

Political Science Quarterly, spring, 1995, review of On the Edge, p. 127.

Presidential Studies Quarterly, spring, 1995, Barbara Kellerman, review of On the Edge, p. 319.

Publishers Weekly, May 7, 1979; July 8, 1983, review of Politics and Money, p. 52; July 20, 1984, review of Politics and Money, p. 80; January 11, 1985, review of Campaign Journal, p. 63; September 15, 1994, review of On the Edge, p. 45; October 2, 1995, review of On the Edge, p. 69; March 4, 1996, review of Showdown, p. 46; June 14, 1999, review of The Corruption of American Politics, p. 56; April 8, 2002, review of Citizen McCain, p. 216.

Reason, December, 1997, John J. Pitney, Jr., review of Whatever It Takes, p. 42.

Rolling Stone, December 4, 1975.

San Francisco Chronicle, April 14, 1996, Larry Bush, review of Showdown, p. 3.

School Library Journal, October, 2002, Dori DeSpain, review of Citizen McCain, p. 197.

Seattle Times, July 22, 1979.

Times Educational Supplement, June 4, 1982, review of Portrait of an Election, p. 27.

Times Literary Supplement, April 30, 1982, review of Portrait of an Election, p. 482; November 25, 1994, James Bowman, review of On the Edge, p. 7; September 20, 1995, review of Showdown, p. 14.

Tribune Books (Chicago, IL), November 5, 1995, review of On the Edge, p. 8; March 2, 1997, review of Showdown, p. 8.

Village Voice, October 25, 1983, review of Politics and Money, p. 53; August 20, 1985, review of Campaign Journal, p. 43.

Virginia Quarterly Review, winter, 1982, review of Portrait of an Election, p. 10; winter, 1984, review of Politics and Money, p. 19; winter, 1986, review of Campaign Journal, p.24.

Wall Street Journal, July 17, 1985, Fred Barnes, review of Campaign Journal, p. 27; May 28, 1997, Matthew Scully, review of Whatever It Takes, p. A16.

Washington Journalism Review, April, 1985, review of Campaign Journal, p. 56.

Washington Monthly, November, 1994, review of On the Edge, p. 42; June, 1996, Christopher Georges, review of Showdown, pp. 50-51; July-August, 1997, Walter Shapiro, review of Whatever It Takes, pp. 53-54; May, 2002, Timothy Noah, "Saint John," pp. 55-56.

Washington Post, October 23, 1994, Ann Devroy, "New Book Portrays a Clinton Subject to Startling Changes of Mind," p. A11; March 25, 1996, Ann Devroy, "Book Portrays Clinton Adviser at Qar with More Liberal Staffers," p. A4; April 21, 1997, Peter Baker, "Book Reexamines '96 Election Strategies: Clinton's Regrets on Fund-Raising, GOP's Sacrifice of Dole Are Detailed," p. A4.

Washington Post Book World, September 25, 1977; May 27, 1979.

West Coast Review of Books, November, 1983, review of Politics and Money, p. 45; May, 1985, review of Campaign Journal, p. 37; May, 1989, review of Election Journal, p. 41.

World and I, November, 1999, Andrew Busch, "Win, Lose, and Drew," p. 271.

Yale Law Journal, November, 2000, John Copeland, review of The Corruption of American Politics, p. 293.